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Associate RSD Officer

Kuala Lumpur

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Kuala Lumpur
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Legal - International Law
    • Refugee rights and well-being
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
  • Closing Date: Closed

This vacancy is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the USA and is addressed exclusively to candidates WITH THE US NATIONALITY ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT.

The Associate RSD Officer is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team.  Under the direct supervision of the RSD Officer (RSD Supervisor), s/he is responsible for conducting RSD interviews to determine eligibility for refugee status, undertaking country of origin (COI) and other research related to the claim, as required, and drafting RSD assessments, including for complex cases.  The incumbent is also responsible for carrying out supervisory responsibilities in the RSD procedure, as delegated by the RSD Officer (RSD Supervisor), which may include responsibilities related to the reception and registration of asylum seekers and refugees, file assignment and scheduling of RSD interviews, coordination of the work of interpreters, reviewing RSD assessments of members of the RSD team and providing legal and procedural guidance and coaching, as required.  The Associate RSD Officer may liaise with Government authorities and other partners about issues related to UNHCR's RSD procedure and relevant UNHCR guidelines and standards related to RSD.  S/he may carry out training for Government authorities and other partners on legal and procedural issues related to RSD and provide technical advice to strengthen national asylum procedures.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT.

Accountability
- UNHCR¿s RSD procedures are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies,
               including policies related to age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming (AGDM). 
- Persons of concern have fair and transparent access to the RSD procedures.
- Fraud in the RSD process is identified and appropriately addressed.

Responsibility (
-- Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
- Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise.
- Contribute to the development and enhancement of regional and global RSD standards and policies.
- Assist in the supervision and oversight of RSD and RSD-related activities to promote full compliance with written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Review and endorse RSD decisions and provide appropriate feedback and guidance to RSD staff. 
- Conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD Assessments in accordance with applicable standards and guidelines.
- Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases.
- Provide counselling to asylum seekers and refugees.
- Assist in designing, implementing and revising operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of the RSD operation in accordance with applicable standards and policies.
- Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and persons of concern.
- Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing to identify and respond to developments or issues impacting on the efficiency or quality of RSD decision-making, and to propose remedial measures.
- Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and legal issues related to RSD and assist in maintaining a local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation. - Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice.
- Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making.
- Regularly assess training needs of UNHCR staff engaged in RSD and related activities and provide on-going training and coaching on legal and procedural RSD issues.
- Support the development and implementation of RSD training initiatives for Government authorities and legal partners.


Authority
- Approve decisions to accelerate RSD processing for cases meeting established criteria.
- Enforce compliance by UNHCR staff engaged in RSD and related activities with UNHCR standards, policies and operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of the RSD operation.
- Decide and endorse RSD decisions.


ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION: Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Law, International Law, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) may also be accepted. The degree must have been obtained in an accredited institution listed under www.whed.net.

WORK EXPERIENCE: With a Master's degree, minimum 2 years of professionnal work experience relevant to the function (3 with a BA and 1 with a PhD), preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law.
-        Minimum 1 year of experience working directly with procedures and principles related to RSD.
-       

SKILLS: Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
- Strong research and analytical skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent analytical and legal drafting skills;
- Computer literacy;

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES. 
- Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures.
- Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees.
- Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.
- Experience in supervising and in providing training or coaching, guidance or advice to staff. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES, which illustrate behaviours that are essential to achieving deliverables described above, and that are critical to successful performance. All jobs require the staff to abide to the Values and Core competencies of UNHCR.

Code Managerial Competencies               
M001: Empowering and Building Trust
M002: Managing Performance
M003: Judgement and Decision Making

Code Cross-Functional Competencies     
X001: Analytical Thinking
X005: Planning and Organizing
X006: Policy Development and Research LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

- Essential: English,
- Desirable: another UN language SUPERVISION: The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the manager indicated under `Supervisor title and position number¿.  The supervisor will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the JPO. The manager will also ensure that the JPO is provided a thorough induction and orientation briefing, followed by on-the-job training as well as continuous guidance for training/learning opportunities throughout the assignment. In support to the manager, the JPO Unit provides the Supervisory Guidelines upon recruitment/reassignment of the JPO. TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS

TRAINING COMPONENTS:
- Mandatory training courses:
1. Basic Security in the Field (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
2. Advanced Security in the Field  (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
3. Protection Induction Programme (PIP)
4. UN Course on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
5.    Orientation to IPSAS

- Recommended training courses
Please indicate at least 1-2 training courses relevant to the particular JPO function, available through Learn &Connect platform.

Training components: Training shall be received through regular coaching and feedback sessions
with the supervisor. Access to online and GLDC learning programmes such as the RSD and
Protection Learning Programme will be supported should they become available during the deployment



LEARNING ELEMENTS
Please indicate what the incumbent will learn during the assignment, defined in measurable results through applied skills or demonstrated competencies and specified per year.

Learning elements:
- Experience of all aspects of individual case management including the drafting of
              Individual assessments according to RSD procedural guidelines.
- Experience of drafting complex case assessments, including those concerning exclusion
              issues and consistent with the output expected in the office.
- Experience in the assessment of operational guidance material and its implementation.
- Experience in researching country of origin information.
- Experience in providing coaching and guidance to staff.
- Identifying gaps in procedures and country of origin information and finding ways to address these.
- Experience in ensuring and monitoring accurate data manegement entries of processed cases for the purpose of generating reliable and accurate statistics to reflect the activities of the RSD Unit LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DUTY STATION

Housing/accommodation: There are many suitable housing areas around KL, but none are within walking distance of the office. There are a few areas you could consider to stay which are convenient and centrally-located.

Health care: Health services in Malaysia are both world class and economical. All Public Government hospitals and the majority of private hospitals have Emergency treatment rooms.

Educational facilities: Several international schools.

Security:A/Family duty-station. The current security level for Kuala Lumpur is Low (2) according to UNDSS.

Other (transports, banks, etc): Malaysia has excellent domestic air links and a well developed public transportation system served by buses, taxis and trains. Malaysia has a highly advanced communications infrastructure. Banking services and ATMs are available Please note that the closing date for this JPO advertisement is Saturday 23 December 2019 (midnight Geneva time).
This vacancy is now closed.
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