Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Durable Solutions Officer can serve as a focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to the Durable Solutions Officer, Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff. The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. The Associate Durable Solutions Officer should participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and a broad range of partners to promote durable solutions and advance the efficiency of UNHCR¿s interventions. Activities to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies are a critical element of the work.

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.

Duties

– Implement activities in accordance with the comprehensive solutions strategy, with a view to finding durable solutions to the maximum number of PoCs.

– Participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks.

– Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners to promote voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement.

– Meet PoC, assess their durable solutions needs and identify the most appropriate solutions for them.

– Monitor the implementation of the durable solutions strategy and provide advice for improvements.

– Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports. – Interview and prepare Resettlement Referral Forms (RRF), in line with Resettlement SOPs.

– Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners, in line with Local Integration SOPs.

– Implement and contribute to the designing of national and regional comprehensive durable solutions strategies – Engage national and local interlocutors on durable solutions issues.

– Authorize payments relating to durable solutions. – Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Political Science; Social Science; Law/International Law; Economics; International Relations; or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses HCR Protection Learning Prg; HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg; HCR RSD Lrng Programme; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential Good knowledge of refugee issues and Human Rights doctrine. Very good reporting and writing ability. Desirable Diverse field experience. Knowledge of ProGress database software.

Functional Skills *CO-Drafting and Documentation *IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) 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.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

Associate Durable Solution Officer will strongly liaise and coordinate his duties with the protection section to ensure that his/her interventions are protection principled. Under the leadership and guidance of the Senior Protection Officer, the incumbent must be able to contribute to the implementation of the multi-year protection strategy that is solutions-oriented and based on a consultative process with multi-functional teams and partners. The incumbent must also have the ability to forge strong partnerships with government entities, other UN agencies, and NGOs to facilitate the operations protection objectives. The incumbent should have the ability to develop and implement corresponding activities of the comprehensive solutions strategy, with a view to finding and realizing durable solutions to the maximum number of PoCs, participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks. The incumbent works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families, and their communities hence the need for the candidate to have the ability to work and engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. The incumbent should have excellent written/oral communication skills, strategic thinking, good political awareness, and the ability to coordinate with different units and stakeholders.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

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Desired languages

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

As part of its planned 2022-2024 Multi-Year Strategy, UNHCR Ethiopia and Gambella aims to maximize the presence of different humanitarian and development actors and other refugee-hosting community focused projects for expansion, inclusion, and better protection of the persons of concern in Gambella regions, as well as promote peaceful co-existence between the refugees and local communities. UNHCR and operational partners are providing development support to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience among the population. The agriculture sector is reported to have the biggest potential to offer sustainable livelihoods to refugees and host communities in Gambella regions, with the region being endowed with highly diversified natural resources and large expanse of arable land, rainfall and ground water resources remain the most critical challenge abound economic inclusion and participation by the displaced population residing in the camps. In Addition, to ensure the Gambella operation enhances and takes advantage of the opportunities the GCR offers, the UNHCR works with key stakeholders to make sure we maximize the impact of the initiatives to have transformational effect.

Associate Durable Solution Officer will strongly liaise and coordinate his duties with the protection section with the objective of ensuring that his/her interventions are protection principled. Under the leadership and guidance of Senior Protection Officer, the incumbent must be able to contribute to the implementation of the multi-year protection strategy that is solutions-oriented and based on a consultative process with multi-functional teams and partners.

Living and Working Conditions:

Gambella is classified as security level phase 3. The security situation in the Gambella region has seen a significant deterioration in early 2016, with clashes among ethnic groups. These types of tensions remain up to date, the most recent in January 2022 when armed separatist groups fought with government forces in Gambella town and resulted in heavy casualties. Armed bandits operating in border districts bordering South Sudan pose security challenges to the local communities and refugees. In addition to the mentioned threat, the newly emerged armed opposition group called Gambella Liberation Front (GLF) poses a high-security threat to the region. GLF is allied to Oromo Liberation Front (OLF shen) and has perpetrated several attacks in and around Gambella town. The rebel group does not target humanitarian workers but poses a high threat as it targets government security forces which always work together with Humanitarian organisations, including the UN and NGOs. Therefore, the current security situation in the entire Gambella region remains tense and unpredictable. The increase of criminality in Gambella town linked to unemployment and associated violent crime is a constant factor. Police have been reporting housebreaking, violent street robbery and incendiarism-related criminal activities. Restrictions of movement are imposed on the movement of the staff members and the activities in the field, depending on the development of the security situation. The security setting is expected to remain the same with no major changes according to the current reading of the situation. Curfew time is from 19:00 to 06:00hrs in Gambella. Road accidents are very common in Ethiopia due to dangerous driving, drivers’ skills, and non-enforcement of traffic laws.

Gambella is a non-family duty station. Guesthouses for staff are provided. There are limited banking facilities and limited medical facilities. There are daily commercial flights between Addis Ababa and Gambella. The diversity of topography in Ethiopia has resulted in a wide variety of climate in the country. The climate in Gambella is classified as tropical. The hottest season of the region is in March/April and temperature may rise to 45 °C, followed by a long rainy season. Road network within the region is often affected by the heavy rainfall during the rainy season. The average annual temperature in Gambella is 27.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1148 mm. Gambella and due to its conditions is a malaria prone area amongst other tropical diseases. Internet and communications networks are available at the compound. Remoteness, isolation and lack of entertainment in social life are factors to be also considered prior to applying.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Education

BA: Economics (Required), BA: International Law (Required), BA: International Relations (Required), BA: Law (Required), BA: Political Science (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)

Certifications

Protection Information Management Training – Other

Work Experience

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

Compendium

Add. 3 to Bi-annual Compendium 2022 – Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance