Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family

UNOPS LICA4

2024-09-01

September 8, 2024

This position will be located in Panama City, Panama.

Please note that this position is offered under UNOPS LICA contract at LICA-4 level until 31 December 2024, with possible extension subject to budget, good performance and operational needs.

Persons interested in applying for this position must be legally present in Panama at the time of recruitment and must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country and demonstrate a proof of residency and/or work permit for the said country at the time of application.

The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

Levels of language knowledge:
A1-beginner
A2-elementary
B1-lower intermediate
B2-upper intermediate
C1-advanced/proficient
C2-fluent
English and Spanish are required at the B2 level.

I. Background and Context

As stated in Article No. 16 of Executive Decree No. 5 of January 16, 2018, “the National Office for the Attention of Refugees (ONPAR), attached to the Ministry of the Interior, will be in charge of the coordination and execution of the decisions reached by the National Commission for the Protection of Refugees (hereinafter CONARE), as well as the programs of assistance and protection for refugees.”

One of the functions assigned to ONPAR through the legal instrument mentioned in the previous paragraph is to process the asylum claims, which includes receiving applications, conducting interviews, creating files, analyzing, and drafting reports of the cases to be presented for recognition before CONARE. Additionally, ONPAR provides psychosocial guidance to asylum seekers and recognized refugees, ensuring that identified needs are addressed and referred to the appropriate actors for case follow-up.

In 2022 and 2023, there was an increase of asylum claims before ONPAR, which, together with the number of pending cases, makes it necessary to incorporate additional staff for the reception, analysis and processing of applications and, thus, strengthen ONPAR’s internal capacities.

Part of the actions carried out by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Panama, is to provide technical support and to reinforce ONPAR’s staff structure to improve and strengthen its capacities. In this regard, on November 29, 2022, the Ministry of Government and UNHCR signed an Understanding Agreement for the provision of technical assistance by the temporary assignment of personnel to promote the quality of the asylum system in Panama.

In this context, UNHCR will recruit Eligibility Responsible to join ONPAR’s legal team in order to assist in the implementation of a faster and more streamlined refugee recognition procedure, increase ONPAR’s case processing capacity, and address the existing backlog.

II. Specific Objectives of the Hiring and Functions of the Eligibility Responsible

Objective No. 1: Eligibility Interviews and Case Management

• Registration of asylum claims.
• Conduct eligibility interviews with asylum seekers to gather all necessary information to carry out the credibility analysis both inside and outside the ONPAR office.
• Create a physical and digital file for each asylum claim case, in which all the information and/or documentation provided by the applicant is stored.
• Conduct extension interviews with asylum seekers in case more information is needed.
• Maintain contact and promote coordination with authorities to guarantee respect for the rights, obligations and safeguards of asylum seekers, recognized refugees and their respective families.

Objective No. 2: Case Analysis and Evaluation Reports

• Conduct a credibility analysis based on the information/documentation provided by the asylum seeker and the information from the country of origin.
• Draft admissibility resolutions, as appropriate, in a manner that clearly reflects a legal analysis of the elements of the refugee definition in accordance with applicable national and international legislation.
• Carry out the corresponding notifications.
• Prepare the evaluation reports for CONARE.
• Keeping up to date on the situation in the countries of origin of asylum seekers and recognized refugees.

Objective No. 3: Activities Related to the Hiring

• Conduct monitoring visits at land borders and airports, Temporary Migration Reception Stations (ETRM), host/transit communities, as well as any other space or community where people part of Mixed Movements and/or people with international protection needs transit or are housed nationwide.
• Stay updated on the situation of mixed movements entering Panamanian territory from Colombia through the Darién National Park.
• Refer people with international protection needs in vulnerable situation and with special needs to other organizations and/or authorities for proper attention.
• Conduct missions to host communities for the follow-up and assistance of refugees to strengthen opportunities for local integration and access to basic rights.
• Periodically, or upon request, submit reports on the actions carried out under their responsibility for the preparation of corresponding reports and statistics.
• If required, and with prior authorization from the Director of ONPAR, provide support UNHCR, its partners, and the Ombudsman’s Office in any additional task requested in relation to assistance, guidance, and advice on the refugee status recognition procedure, as well as the rights and duties of refugees and refugee status applicants.
• Carry out any additional tasks and necessary activities to successfully perform their duties.

III. Workplace and Supervision

The person hired will be physically located in the main office of the ONPAR; however, due to the responsibilities that must be carried out, the Eligibility Responsible must be available to travel to different parts all over the Republic of Panama.

Will be under the supervision of ONPAR’s General Director and must be subject to the workload and guidelines of said institution.

IV. Profile and Requirements

Education and Knowledge Level

• Desirable with university degree in Law and Political Science in the Republic of Panama or in the final year of the Faculty of Law.
• Knowledge of laws, codes, and other legal provisions governing the Panamanian legal-administrative and procedural system, as well as international conventions on human rights and international protection.
• Knowledge of the situation of mixed movements entering Panamanian territory through the Darién National Park.

Work Experience

• Experience in international protection, refugee protection, and migration desirable.
• Knowledge of the situation of refugees in Panama.
• Knowledge of the situation in the main countries of origin of people entering Panamanian territory through the border with Colombia.

Other Skills

• Proactive attitude for conflict resolution and difficulties in the development of their functions.
• Good writing and synthesis, ability to analyze context.
• Proven experience in the use of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

English

,

Spanish

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No