Associate Durable Solutions Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

Update

Context

The Facilitated Voluntary Repatriation (FVR) program, however, did not materialize with an anticipated pace due to refugees’ reluctance and persistent suspicions against the Myanmar government authorities. Hope for FVR largely disappeared with the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021. UNHCR declared a level 1 emergency for Thailand in March 2021; In 2021 – 2023, four major refugee influxes to Mae Hong Son took place after armed clashes along the border. Against the above background, in May 2023, the US government, Thai government, and UNHCR made a joint announcement about the resumption of a group resettlement program to the US from the border camps. A Verification Exercise was completed in 2023 in preparation for the group resettlement program. In the meantime, P1 submissions for other countries and complementary pathway programs continue. The Associate Durable Solutions Officer will ensure smooth identification, assessment, and submission of cases for group resettlement, P1 programs, while providing support to complementary pathway programs. In addition to continued durable solution functions, the Incumbent will also cover Child Protection component of the Office which will entail BIA/BID processing from the broader protection perspectives.

Task description

The Associate Durable Solution Officer will report to the Head of Field Office/Protection Officer. The incumbent will be working in a team comprising of 3 staff members (with 2 Durable Solution Assistants). The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks in particular: - Implement the relevant SOPs. - Develop durable solution strategies for the Field Office of Mae Hong Son (FOMHS). Submit work plans outlining how the field office will meet durable solutions objectives including the number of refugees to be submitted for resettlement each month, quarterly, annually. - Conduct durable solution interviews, review, prepare and submit Resettlement Referral Forms for further processing. - Monitor durable solution activities to ensure progress against targets, transparency, and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow up with stake holders. - Guide the two Durable Solutions Assistants at the Field Office. - Oversee child protection activities of FOMHS as the child protection focal point. Develop child protection strategy of the office. - Monitor UNHCR funded partner conducting child protection activities (COERR). Contribute to the periodic reporting. - Ensure that BIA/BIDs are smoothly conducted. Act as BID supervisor. - Ensure that all data and information is entered correctly into UNHCR’s database. - Undertake field missions as required. - Assist selection missions by resettlement countries. - Systematically apply an Age, Gender, and Diversity perspective in all aspects of resettlement and child protection processes. - Any other relevant work as clearly agreed with and assigned by the Supervisor. 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 instance 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 articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/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. • Adhere to and follow the UNHCR Code of Conduct. Results/Expected Outputs: • Actively contributed to UNHCR’s protection mandate and engagement in solutions, including resettlement and repatriation. • Contributed to the development of policies and staff capacity in relation to durable solutions through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with the Durable Solutions Assistants or governmental or non-governmental counterparts, including Partners; • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.