UNHCR : Durable Solutions Assistant – Tapachula

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    FULL_TIME
  • Posted:
    1 month ago
  • Category:
  • Deadline:
    23/11/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA4

Target Start Date

2025-01-01

Deadline for Applications

December 1, 2024

Terms of Reference

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

This position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Only Mexicans or candidates holding a permanent residency or valid work permit in México will be considered eligible (attach the corresponding document in the application).

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might/could include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).

This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 30/06/2025 with possibility of extension.

Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations. UNHCR also offers comprehensive medical insurance and pension plans.

1. General Background
(Brief description of the national, sector-specific or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has a mandate to provide international protection and search durable solutions for refugees and stateless individuals.

In Mexico, UNHCR works by providing technical advice on asylum matters and refugee status determination, along with their respective procedures. It also collaborates with relevant Mexican authorities to identify individuals with international protection needs, particularly focusing on the identification and protection of special groups such as unaccompanied or separated refugee children and adolescents, victims of human trafficking, and stateless persons.

In partnership with Mexican civil society organizations, UNHCR also supports the strengthening of mechanisms and initiatives that promote and facilitate the integration of refugees and stateless persons in Mexico.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)

Under the overall supervision of Snr. Durable Solutions Associate the Durable Solutions Assistant will perform the following tasks:

a) Identification of cases for the Local Integration Program (PIL) (relocations) and in-situ local integration
• Identification of persons of concern in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability and/or interested in integration alternatives.
• Participate in disseminating information related to UNHCR integration programs (PIL or in-situ).
• Disseminate information about the Local Integration Program (PIL) and the in-situ integration strategy in strategic spaces.
• Attend to telephone lines and/or communication channels designated for serving persons interested in the PIL Local Integration Program and/or in-situ integration.

b) Activities related to the relocation of beneficiaries of the Local Integration Program (PIL)
• Schedule and conduct case identification interviews for the Local Integration Program in the required UNHCR spaces/offices (Integration Office, Refugee Service Center, Integration Module, or others).
• Provide individual counseling, referral, and follow-up on key integration topics in Mexico.
• Refer to key services and institutions for obtaining essential integration documentation (migration documents, identity, or others).
• Implement activities in preparation for relocation (registration, database creation and updating, case referral, case follow-up and management, information updating in proGres, bus ticket delivery, preparatory briefings).
• Organize and provide support to PIL beneficiaries at bus terminals according to the relocation schedule planned by UNHCR.

c) Activities related to the in-situ integration of persons of concern.
• Provide individual counseling, referral, and follow-up on key integration topics in Mexico from the required UNHCR spaces/offices (Integration Office, Refugee Service Center, Integration Module, or others).
• Refer to key services and institutions for obtaining essential integration documentation (migration documents, identity, or others).
• Implement activities, support, and follow-up on cases within the in-situ integration strategy framework (registration, database creation and updating, case referral, case follow-up and management, information updating in ProGres, management of sectoral integration support, informational talks, and awareness sessions).

d) Interpreter functions.

The Durable Solutions Assistant with interpreter functions will undertake Creole-Spanish translation. He/she will work from UNHCR Tapachula offices and will provide his/her services remotely by telephone or video call when necessary.

• Document translations.
• Registration procedures: when the personal information of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons or returnees are recorded.
• Monitoring: when UNHCR collects information relating to the protection, rights and well-being of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons through interviews.
• Participatory Assessments: when a structured dialogue is conducted with women, girls, boys and men of concern to UNHCR, in order to gather accurate information on the specific protection and integration risks they face and underlying causes, to understand their capacities, and to hear their proposed solutions.
• Counselling sessions: when informed and professional advice is made to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.

e) Additional activities
• Perform other tasks if needed.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)

The contractor will provide input on the challenges and opportunities that exist for the implementation of the national strategy for Durable Solutions in Mexico.

• Report of people relocated from the Tapachula AoR.
• Consolidate and refer beneficiaries to programs that facilitate local integration.
• Register of people of concern.
• Cases management that requires support to resolve their needs for access to rights and services.
• Review of the mid-term period and final evaluation where the progress of performance and the development of the agreed objectives will be evaluated.
• Application of the SOP related to the implementation of the PIL Integration Program and the local integration strategy in situ.
• Oral interpretation and translation of documents as required
• Application of UNHCR rules and regulations: As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions.
• 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.

4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise, and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

• Completed high school or its equivalent, or Bachelor or equivalent or higher in Social Sciences, Politics, Economics, Human Rights, Languages, or any other related field. Education in a distinct field but coupled with an interpretation certification may be accepted.
• Certification of interpretation/translator skills in an asset.
• A perfect command of the Creole and Spanish language is desirable.
• Desirable: Certificates and/or Licenses: HCR Protection Learning Prg; HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Induction Prog.
• Oral and written skills in Spanish.

b. Work Experience
(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)

• Minimum 1 year of experience relevant to the functions.
• Desirable: Diverse field experience. Experience in Interviewing.

c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies, or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)

• Ability to work well under pressure and deliver quality output in a most time-efficient manner.

Functional Skills
IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
DM-Database Management
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

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

Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Technological Awareness
Planning and Organizing

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements