Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family

UNOPS IICA1

2024-07-01

June 20, 2024

Title: Assistant RSD Officer
Project: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Duty station: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Section/Unit: Protection
ICA Level: IICA-1
Corresponding level: P1/NOA
Duration: from 01/07/2024 to 31/12/2024
Supervisor: Associate Protection Officer

1. General Background

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, UNHCR reopened its office in the Dominican Republic to provide coordination and humanitarian response to the thousands of people who came seeking International Protection. Since 2014, UNHCR has also been accompanying the Dominican authorities to achieve the effective implementation of Law 169-14, as well as finding document and nationality solutions for people of concern in line with our mandate.

UNHCR also implements its mandate to supervise the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, through technical cooperation with the institutions responsible for the refugee protection system in the Dominican Republic. In addition,
UNHCR is one of the agencies in charge of leading the coordination of the humanitarian response to the refugee population and asylum seekers in Venezuela, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other members of the R4V Inter-Agency Platform. UNHCR and partners deliver humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable persons of concern in the Dominican Republic, and fosters community mobilization and empowerment, following age, gender, and diversity criteria.

2. Operational Context

The Dominican Republic Office has substantially increased its resettlement submission numbers over the past several years. The resettlement quota for 2024 is about 1080 persons and includes submissions of Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans and other regional and extra regional nationals. The Resettlement unit works in close cooperation with the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Unit, in order to meet the operational goals.
The Assistant RSD Officer is a member of RSD team. 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. S/he reviews RSD assessments of less experienced members of the RSD team, seeking the advice of a more senior RSD/Protection Officer on complex cases, and may assist in developing and implementing RSD training and other measures to enhance the quality and efficiency of RSD decision-making. The Assistant RSD Officer provides counselling to asylum seekers and refugees on UNHCR’s RSD procedures and on their status, rights and obligations in the country of asylum. The successful candidate is expected to operate in a fast-paced environment under strict deadlines for submission of work products.

3. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Assistant RSD Officer is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. 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. The Assistant RSD Officer provides counselling to asylum seekers and refugees on UNHCR’s RSD procedures and on their status, rights and obligations in the country of asylum. S/he may review RSD assessments of less experienced members of the RSD team, seeking the advice of a more senior RSD/Protection Officer on complex cases, and may assist in developing and implementing RSD training and other measures to enhance the quality and efficiency of RSD decision-making.

4. Duties

– 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.
– Conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD Assessments in accordance with applicable standards and guidelines.
– Review and endorse RSD decisions and provide appropriate feedback and guidance to RSD staff.
– Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to work on individual cases.
– Provide counselling to asylum seekers and refugees.
– 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
– Ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and legal partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice.
– 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, policies 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.
– Assist in evaluating and projecting RSD staffing needs using the RSD Staffing Benchmarks.
– Decide and endorse RSD decisions.
– Perform other related duties as required.

5. Minimum Qualification

Education & Professional Work Experience

For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Law, Political Science, International Relations or other relevant field.

Essential
Minimum 1 year of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law. Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.

Desirable
Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD is highly desirable. 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.

Functional Skills

DM-Data Collection and Analysis
PR-Counselling Asylum Seekers or Refugees
CO-Drafting and Documentation
LE-Legal Research
PR-RSD – Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
SO-Research
PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures
WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals
MG-Decision Making

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.

Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:
Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Policy Development and Research

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No