H (no hardship)

Family

Family

NOC

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2024-04-01

February 12, 2024

Durable Solutions Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Durable Solutions Officer is a focal point for solutions related issues in a country, and normally reports to the Senior Durable Solutions Officer, Senior Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Assistant or Deputy Representative. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff, who may include staff within the functional groups of durable solutions, reintegration, repatriation, and resettlement. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff and ensures operational standards and practices in solutions delivery at the country level.

The Durable Solutions Officer is relied upon to assist in the development, implementation and adherence to protection, resilience and solutions strategies and to advise on all solutions topics. These include: voluntary repatriation (refugees) or return (IDPs) and sustainable reintegration; local integration and other local solutions; relocation, resettlement and complementary pathways for admission to third countries; Global Compact on Refugees commitments and opportunities; housing, land and property; statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024); age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection. The Durable Solutions Officer should provide planning and foresight to advance progress in Protracted Refugee situations, where applicable, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted. Assisting the Country Office in fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he also coordinates durable solutions activities between and among country offices in the region ensuring consistency with relevant Global Strategic Priorities and Policies. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he works closely with protection, registration, information management, education, development, programme and technical staff including cash, livelihoods and shelter, and promotes operational standards, policy and practices in comprehensive solutions delivery. The incumbent may maintain close working relations with regionally based UN sister entities, other intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organisations on durable solutions matters.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

– Support the development of multiyear comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant.
– Monitor the implementation of, and implement interventions under, the protection and solutions strategy/ies; identify challenges and report on achievements.
– Serve as focal point for durable solutions, including chairing Durable Solutions Working Group(s) and achieving a schematic overview of country/regional Durable Solution Working Groups or other solutions coordination mechanisms.
– Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of external partners to promote all durable solutions.
– Ensure close linkages with staff that oversee data and information production to deliver fact based advocacy and support for durable solutions.
– Support the internal UNHCR processes related to voluntary repatriation and returns, including data management, the preparation of Exchange of Letters, Tripartite Agreements, standard operating procedures and other agreements as required.
– Support country operations in the development and implementation of the local integration and other local solutions aspects of solutions strategies, ensuring inclusion of persons of concern in national systems and services, and in national and local development processes.
– In the absence of dedicated resettlement and complementary pathways staff, and in close collaboration with multi-functional teams: ensure UNHCR’s resettlement and complementary pathways for admission standards are correctly and coherently applied; efficient, fair and transparent procedures are in place across the AOR, targets are met and fraud prevention mechanisms are in place; operations are supported to develop advocacy strategies and operational responses to pursue the identification, development, promotion and facilitation of access to complementary pathways for admissions to third countries; ensure that country operations plans reflect the strategy on RST/CP and that the necessary resources are allocated to address gaps across the AOR.
– Represent UNHCR’s Resettlement and Complementary Pathways positions with Resettlement and other third countries, host government and at regional level.
– Building on the commitments made in the Global Compact on Refugees, support the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with UN and other development agencies, civil society, peacebuilding actors, and the private sector, engaging on areas including resilience, rule of law and governance, and housing land and property.
– Ensure that UNHCR’s analysis of the risks and obstacles to solutions, including sustainable reintegration and integration, is instrumental in development actors’ priority areas of engagement.
– Provide planning and foresight to advance progress for protracted refugee situations, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted.
– Liaise with colleagues for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing durable solutions needs and ensuring adequate and timely interventions.
– Support Communication staff in developing a communication plan to support the durable solutions strategy, including media.
– Serve as focal point on durable Solutions-related issues for communities to ensure good communication.
– Advise on populations of concern’ appropriate engagement for the identification of the most appropriate solutions, including through enhanced two-way communication, participatory assessments, intentions and perceptions surveys, and other forms of community based assessments.
– Promote the strengthened involvement of persons of concern in the design and implementation of solutions strategies, transition projects, peace-building and development initiatives.
– Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
– Participate in training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner staff on durable solutions, peace building/coexistence and partnership.
– Monitor the implementation of the programme through managing the human and financial resources and identify gaps to ensure optimum use of available funds.
– Represent UNHCR in meetings related to durable solutions.
– Clear documents and reports coming out of the Durable Solutions Unit.

In addition to the main duties listed above, for positions located in regional bureaux:
– Support the development of multiyear regional situational comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant, together with UNHCR’s stakeholders in Bureau and country operations, governments and other partners.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law
International Law,
Political Science,
Social Science,
Economics,
International Relations;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme;
Protection Learning Programme;
Management Learning Programme;

Relevant Job Experience

Essential
Previous experience in solutions contexts. Thorough knowledge of International refugee law and its application.

Desirable
Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.

Functional Skills
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Durable Solutions/Comprehensive Solutions Strategies implementation
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications
*PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework
PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The desired candidate should have excellent knowledge of the National Integration Strategy and the governmental structures (Ministries and other services) with concurrent competence for its implementation, be fully familiar with international, EU and national legislation regulating access to rights and services for refugees and other persons supported by UNHCR. S/he should have a profound knowledge and understanding of Greek administrative law and practice, in particular regarding the interface between State front desk services and refugees.

S/he should be fully conversant in all solutions topics, have extensive experience in building and managing strategic partnerships with governmental and non-governmental actors including with actors from the corporate world.

S/he must have demonstrated strong coordination skills as a catalyser and a convener and be able to work as part of a multi-functional team and reconcile diverging views and proposals by internal and external stakeholders.

The desired candidate should have a thorough understanding of GCR and GRF coordination processes and be able to act as a lien between HQs and various internal and external stakeholders tasked with the follow-up to and implementation of pledges.

Previous experience in operationalising solutions for stateless persons is an asset.

Greek

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English

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations: To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Currently, some 91,000 asylum-seekers and refugees are hosted in Greece. So far in 2023, over 28,500 people have arrived either by sea or land. UNHCR provides expert advice to the State and evidence-based information that helps inform programmes and policies for asylum-seekers and refugees. Access to international protection, identifying durable solutions and support to vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees, such as unaccompanied children and survivors of gender-based violence, are UNHCR’s key priorities. UNHCR also works with national and local authorities, the private sector, civil society and refugee communities to advance inclusion, develop support networks and create employability and training opportunities for refugees. The Office retains a readiness to respond to emergencies and new arrivals, with a focus on immediate support to the most vulnerable. UNHCR Greece plays a strong advocacy role since continued support is needed particularly from EU countries and EU institutions in providing immediate protection to those most at-risk through sufficient resources, ensuring capacity in the country and responsibility-sharing. UNHCR will continue to assist Greek authorities in responding to both short and long-term challenges.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative, the Durable Solutions Officer leads the Solutions Unit at the Country Office, provides thematic guidance and advice to field offices across Greece operation, advises senior management on the scope and content of strategic advocacy & operational interventions and works closely with protection and program staff to coordinate the planning, delivery and reporting of the UNHCR’s integration and other solutions program for refugees in the country.

S/he liaises with authorities, UN and EU agencies as well as from private sector actors. In coordination with Program and External Relations staff, s/he participates in targeted briefings and advocacy interventions with Embassies and potential donors from the corporate sector. S/he is the focal point of the Greece operation for Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and Global Refugee Forum (GRF) issues including on the pledges made at the GRF.

The Durable Solutions Officer is also responsible for advising senior management on building and expanding sustainable partnerships (including non-financial partnerships) to advance the solutions agenda of the Greece operation. S/he is also responsible for the continuous evaluation and alignment of the UNHCR local integration programme to the National Integration Strategy and the evolving legal and political context in Greece characterised by frequent changes in the legislation and/or its implementation guidance.

S/he is the focal point of the operation for the design, development and coordination of project activities in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by UNHCR and the Ministry for Migration and Asylum in October 2021 as well as for the strategic approach to UNHCR cooperation with Municipalities on integration and inclusion.

In addition to the particular focus on local integration, the position requires extensive experience in the development, implementation and adherence to protection, resilience, and solutions strategies across the full spectrum of solutions topics which are: voluntary repatriation (refugees) and sustainable reintegration; relocation, resettlement and complementary pathways for admission to third countries; Global Compact on Refugees commitments and opportunities; statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024); age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection.

Living and Working Conditions:

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens is a family duty station, classified as H by ICSC. Public Transportation and medical facilities are well-developed and easily accessible. The educational institutions at all levels are available. The climate can be described as Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and cool and mild winters.

In accordance with UNDSS security risk assessment, the whole Greek operation is classified as Security Level 2 (low). Security Clearance is required for travelling in the country.

For more detailed information please consult the continuously updated living conditions booklet on Intranet.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

HCR Management Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program – UNHCR

Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This is a NPO position. NPOs should be nationals of the country where the office concerned is located. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and will have to undergo an oral interview.

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance