Associate Durable Solutions Officer - UNV  

Mission and objectives

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Context

As of 31 December 2023, 971,904 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar were registered in Bangladesh, representing an increase of 19,595 individuals compared to 2022. A total of 939,344 were hosted in 33 highly congested camps in Cox's Bazar District and 32,560 refugees lived on the island of Bhasan Char. In 2023, there was a notable deterioration in the security situation within the camps in Cox's Bazar. Six years after the most extensive flight to Bangladesh, the Rohingya refugee response transitions from an emergency to a protracted situation. While UNHCR has notably expanded its skills development programme through two frameworks promoting livelihoods for refugees and host communities, opportunities for volunteering offered by aid agencies were limited, covering only a small fraction of working age refugees . The vast majority of refugees continue to heavily depend on the humanitarian aid. 

The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has consistently maintained that repatriation is the preferred solution for the Rohingya in Bangladesh, reaffirming its commitment to ensure the voluntariness of returns. The prevailing security and human rights situation for the Rohingya people in Myanmar's Rakhine State indicate that safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation is not feasible anytime soon. The GoB maintains a position that it will not allow Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to locally integrate. Without decisive interventions to enable and encourage solutions, vulnerabilities of Rohingya refugees to various protection risks will increase as is often the case in protracted refugee situation. A robust and proactive approach to solutions is thus necessary to meet the needs of Rohingya refugees and alleviate some pressure on the Government and host communities of Bangladesh. Solutions strategy for the refugees in Bangladesh use resettlement mainly as a protection tool for refugees at heightened risk, while keeping a primary focus on the safe, voluntary, and dignified returns. Resettlement countries, particularly USA, have shown interest to resettle Rohingya refugees out of Bangladesh. As a priority, UNHCR identified and submitted about 50 refugees for resettlement to the USA as test cases in 2021. Based on the success of this test cases, UNHCR increased submissions in 2022 to over 1,000 and in 2023 large scale resettlement took place with over 12,000 individuals submitted to five resettlement countries. A robust system has been put in place for large scale resettlement processing, including but not limited to, fair and transparent identification mechanisms, anti-fraud measures, and communicating with the refugees. The Durable Solutions Unit in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, currently comprises of one Senior Durable Solutions Officer (P4), two Durable Solutions Officers (P3), four Associate Durable Solutions Officer (P2), one International UNV, ten Durable Solutions Associates (G6), eight Senior Durable Solution Assistants (G5) and one Durable Solutions Assistant (G4). With the increase in resettlement places, expertise at the UN Volunteer level (casework/case processing) will be necessary to provide adequate support to team, to ensure that the targets are met (currently there are four deployees within resettlement and one deployee within Child Protection unit).

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Durable Solutions Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: 

• Liaise with other functional units within UNHCR to identify individuals in need of prioritized resettlement and to ensure that necessary action is taken to finalise documentation on case submissions to resettlement countries. 
• Conduct casework by interviewing refugees identified for resettlement. Assess their resettlement needs, complete RRFs (Resettlement Registration Forms) and refer cases for review. 
• The IUNV is expected to complete 6-9 RRFs per week, depending on complexity of the cases. 
• Follow-up on deferrals and review resettlement cases for possible resubmission; 
• Research country of origin information to understand, support, and strengthen resettlement cases; 
• Assist the Unit with the organization of training workshops and seminars on resettlement related issues; 
• Regularly update the proGres database and the physical file with resettlement events, ensuring the confidentiality of individual case information and maintaining own statistical data for reporting purposes. 
• Follow-up on individual cases, interview refugees, and liaise with the registration unit on matters concerning registration and change in family composition. • Oversee the submission of cases to resettlement (RST) countries such USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and unallocated, in accordance with the requirements of the resettlement country. • Maintain communication with UNHCR in Dhaka, the Regional Bureau in Bangkok and RCPS/HQ if required related to feedback on prepared cases, and make necessary changes and amendments to RRFs, as deemed necessary; • Assist the office in managing refugees' expectations through information sharing, outreach, and counselling of refugees in the resettlement pipeline; 
• Participate in Durable Solutions Unit, Protection Section, and Office meetings; 
• Perform any other resettlement related activities as required. 
• Undertake additional assigned duties to support UNHCR Cox's Bazar, including administrative tasks not limited to data entry, data analysis and research. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: 
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; 
• Contribute with articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; 
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; 
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs: As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR Sub Office Cox's Bazaar and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: 
• Obtention of durable solutions for Rohingya refugees including resettlement, local integration and voluntary return when feasible. 
• Knowledge and communication skills to identify vulnerable cases for referral for resettlement assessment following the established criteria. 
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed 
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities through-out the assignment.

Age

27 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Required experience

3 years of experience in : 

• HCR Protection Learning Programme, HCR Resettlement Learning Programme, HCR RSD (Refugee Status Determination) Learning Programme 
• Good knowledge of refugee issues and Human Rights doctrine. 
• Knowledge of UN policies and procedures. 
• Field experience. 
• Knowledge of ProGres database software. 
• Good reporting and writing ability. Computer skills: General computer literacy (word, email, internet) and good knowledge of the basic data-management programs; Excel, Access, ProGres (asset). Certificates and/or Licenses : HCR Protection Learning Prg, HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg, HCR RSD Lrng Programme.

Area(s) of expertise

Security and protection, Crisis and emergency response

Driving license

-

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Political Science, Social Science, Law/International Law, Economics, International Relations or other relevant field.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Empowering Others • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Judgement and Decision-making • Knowledge Sharing • Managing Performance • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Cox's Bazar is a category D family duty station. Educational facilities are limited, and international schools from primary to secondary school are currently available in Dhaka only. Health services are limited in Cox's Bazar, but more reliable facilities are available in Dhaka. Malaria and dengue risks exist throughout the year. Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and diphtheria are recommended. Cox's Bazar is a principal tourist destination within Bangladesh, due to its location at the Bay of Bengal and its long beach. Infrastructure and shopping options in Cox's Bazar - a small city of just 250,000 persons is very basic. International staff reside in privately rented apartments, or serviced apartments all of which provide basic standards. The Rest and Recuperation (R&R) cycle in Cox's Bazar is 8 weeks. The current R&R location is Bangkok. Cox`s Bazar is connected by several daily flights to Dhaka, albeit only during daylight hours. Banks/ATM machines are available in Cox's Bazar and credit/debit cards are accepted. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks and exchange houses. Staff who intend to be joined by family members, in particular young children, should contact HR for more information, as educational and medical facilities are not adequate. The security level system in Bangladesh is level 3 moderate. Although security is generally acceptable, given the current situation in the area, no movement on highways at night is allowed. Walking and jogging in the streets as earmarked is permitted. Crowded local markets should be avoided. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person's race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds

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