Nature of the Position

The multi country office (MCO) in Canberra covers the bilateral engagement with Australia and New Zealand along with 14 Pacific States. The Senior Durable Solutions Associate works directly with the Senior Durable Solutions Officer. The Senior Durable Solutions Associate is responsible of implementing the solutions strategy for the region including for the transferred persons.

Approximately 3,000 refugees and asylum-seekers have been forcibly transferred by Australia to so-called “offshore processing” countries in Papua New Guinea and Nauru since the introduction of the current policy in 2013. Of these, more than 200 remain on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea and 1200 were retransferred onshore.

During 2016, UNHCR medical experts found cumulative rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD among refugees forcibly transferred to Papua New Guinea and Nauru to be the highest recorded in the medical literature to date at over 80 per cent in both locations. The wellbeing of refugees has been noted by various medical experts to have further deteriorated since that time.

Under a bilateral arrangement between Australia and the United States of America, announced in November 2016, 1,250 refugees are expected to be relocated from Nauru and Papua New Guinea to the United States. With the continued handing down of decisions under this arrangement, specific planning and risk mitigation is critical for those who may not be admitted to the United States. Clear alternatives and information-sharing with PoCs on their options for a safe and adequate solution outside of Nauru and Papua New Guinea are urgently needed. The ramping up of the Canada Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSR) by civil society actors has been notable throughout this period. To date more than 100 applicants have their cases under consideration. Ensure a close coordination with the sponsorship agreement holder to maximise available solutions.

The Senior Durable Solutions Associate is expected to provide counselling to PoCs regarding available solutions and to enable them to make well informed decision. They will also liaise with the partners to ensure that referrals are timely made, and that a meaningful prioritisation according to set criteria is implemented. 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. Liaise and contribute to discussions on durable solutions, with local authorities, host populations and partners. Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures. Prepare ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners. Interview and decide on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC. When counselling POC, decide on the content of information and advice to be shared. Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs. Draft and submit reports relating to durable solutions.

Perform other related duties as required.

Due to the fast changing environment and the wide breath of tasks, the ideal candidate will have extended experience in counselling persons victims of trauma and torture, be flexible and adaptable with the ability to work well with other team members especially under pressure.

Organisational Setting and Work Relationship

The Senior Durable Solutions Associate reports to a Durable Solutions or a Protection Officer. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions support staff.

The incumbent is relied upon to ensure the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff. Fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies.

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

• Provide counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) to identify the most appropriate durable solution and to enable them to make a well-informed decision.
• Implement and follow-through the country’s repatriation programme in all protection, administrative and logistical aspects, and liaise with the appropriate entities (external and internal) to ensure full coordination of movements and adherence to protection guidelines.
• 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.
• Liaise and contribute to discussions on durable solutions, with local authorities, host populations and partners.
• Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures.
• Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner.
• Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners.
• Interview and decide on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC.
• When counselling POC, decide on the content of information and advice to be shared.
• Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.
• Draft and submit reports relating to durable solutions.
• Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level:

• For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Certificates and/or Licenses

• HCR Protection Learning Prg
• HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg
• HCR Protection Induction Prog

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

• Not specified.

Desirable

• Diverse field experience. Experience in Interviewing.

Language Requirements

• Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Functional Skills

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

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organisational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Political Awareness