ABOUT THE COMPANY:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is mandated to protect and assist men, women and children forced to flee their homes due to violence, conflict or persecution. UNHCR is dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless people. The Agency provides protection, shelter, food, water, medical care and other life-saving assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers around the world.

The dream of most refugees is to return home. If and where possible, UNHCR helps refugees make this dream a reality. When refugees cannot go back home, we work to find solutions for them, to rebuild their lives in another country. Since its formation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950, UNHCR has helped millions of refugees restart their lives and has received the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

JOB SUMMARY

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family

CONS Local

2024-03-01

August 11, 2024

General Background of Project or Assignment:

UNHCR’s consultant, Ms.

Clara Odofin, has undertaken preliminary research to examine the ways in which the Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status (HB) and Guidelines on International Protection (GIPs) are currently being used, how their authority is understood, and to canvas informed and expert perspectives on their currency and relevance, as well as any significant gaps or issues that would require attention in the event of any process to update that guidance.

This preliminary research was conducted in the period between March 2023 and August 2023.

The research found that there is a pressing need to revise the HB and GIPs, given the conspicuous absence of an update (for over 40 years for the Handbook and 20 years for the earliest GIPS), and the consequent lack of currency of much of their content – creating the risk that these documents are becoming less and less relevant.

UNHCR has concluded that based on these findings, there is a pressing need to revise the HB and GIPs to protect its reputation and standing as the lead refugee protection agency, and to uphold international law and key protection principles and standards.

Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Concise and detailed description of activities, including measurable outputs and delivery dates, impact indicators (what qualitative and quantitative results would be achieved upon completion of individual contract), performance indicators (time lines, value of the service rendered in relation to the cost, timeliness) and work plan:

Duties and responsibilities

The consultant is engaged to advance the process of revising and updating the HB and GIPs, including through preparation of a detailed proposed model and multi-year workplan for the revision process, developing a plan for consultations with internal and external end users of the HB and GIPs, framing and guiding the process of identifying gaps in the current HB and GIPs, as well as inconsistencies with existing UNHCR guidance and doctrine, leading jurisprudence and general state practice; and setting out modalities for monitoring legal developments, identifying the need for updated and/or new UNHCR legal guidance and accessing UNHCR’s legal guidance.
For this purpose, the tasks and proposed deliverables are as follows:

A.

Prepare a workplan for the tasks and deliverables set out below.

(finalized by 29 March 2024)

B. Prepare a detailed proposed model for a revised HB and GIPs including the core issues addressed by the existing HB and GIPs in a series of four volumes addressing criteria for international protection (volume 1); procedures and evidentiary standards (volume 2); the rights of refugees and other people in need of international protection (volume 3); and non-refoulement (volume 4).

The proposal shall address scope, content, format and methodological issues. (finalized by 30 April 2024)

C.

Supervise and lead an analysis of gaps and inconsistencies in the current HB and GIPs as well as between the HB and GIPs on the one hand and other existing UNHCR guidance and doctrine, leading jurisprudence and general state practice on the other. The consultant is responsible for leading the analysis and prepare a detailed report. The consultant is assisted by a research-assistant at P3 level and will work closely with subject matter experts within UNHCR on particular legal issues and guidance documetns.

(report finalized 30 September 2024)

D.

Prepare a detailed multi-year work plan for the revision of the HB and GIPs through the new model, including required human and financial resources and identified internal and external partners who could be involved in supporting and carrying out the revision of the HB and GIPs. (finalized by 31 October 2024)

E. Develop a plan for consultations with end-users on the proposed revision and updating of the HB and GIPs, including UNHCR staff, judges, national asylum authorities, policy-makers, practitioners and academics, to elicit their views on the proposed model and concrete steps to revise and update the current HB and GIPs.

(finalized by 30 November 2024)

F.

Together with DIP/PLS staff, brief UNHCR senior management on the multi-year work plan for revising the HB and GIPs. (undertaken in December 2024)

G. Develop work modalities and organizational set-up (within DIP) to be able to monitor adequately legal developments in the future, allowing UNHCR to identify the need for updated or new legal guidance and ensuring UNHCR’s legal guidance is accessible to internal and external stakeholders. (finalized by 30 November 2024)

The consultant will work closely with PPLA’s Legal Unit and other relevant colleagues in the Policy and Law Service.

Required level, qualifications and work experience:

Level of responsibilities required (mark as appropriate) for individual contractors and fellows:

0 Entry Level Support
0 Mid-Level Support
0 Senior Level Support
0 Local Professional Level
0 Junior Level Professional
0 Senior Level Professional

OR

The assignment is for an Individual Consultant

Qualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language required):

Education
University degree in law, international relations, humanities/other related degree, with possible specialisation on displacement.

Experience

Minimum 6 years of experience working in the domain of refugee law, international protection and displacement.

Advantageous requirements

Experience in publishing analytical reports and research papers
Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES

In-depth knowledge of refugee law and the international framework
Excellent analytical skills, including the capacity to collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data to produce meaningful analyses.
Demonstrated organisational skills: the ability to work independently and productively in a fast-paced environment.
Flexible work attitude: the ability to work productively, independently, and to handle requests or issues as they arise.
Excellent drafting skills.
Excellent computer skills.
Languages
Excellent knowledge of English is required.

Advantageous requirements
Knowledge of other UN languages

Monitoring and Progress Controls (report requirements, periodicity, format, deadlines):

a.

The final product (e.g. survey completed, data collected, workshop conducted, research documents produced specify):
• Successful delivery of project outputs as described above within the expected timeframe
• Performance will be monitored through regular updates and scheduled quarterly performance reviews.

b. Work on the basis of time employed: Yes 0 No 1

c. If it is to result in a written product specify:

• The specificities of the various deliverables will be determined in consultation with the consultant and relevant DIP/PLS colleagues.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

ConsultantThis position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No

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