UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is looking for an Associate RSD Officer

Deadline for Applications

January 5, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS IICA1

Target Start Date

2026-03-01

Terms of Reference

Title: Associate RSD Officer

Duty station: Home-Based

Section/Unit: Asylum Systems and Determination Section, DIPS

ICA Level: IICA-1

Corresponding level: P-2

Duration: from 01/03/2026 to 31/12/2026

1. General Background

In recent years, asylum systems have been under strain, as they have not been able to effectively respond to the rising number of refugees fleeing war, violence, and persecution, as well as the misuse of the asylum system in situations involving mixed movements of migrants and refugees. These challenges – together with limited investments and lack of strategic approaches to strengthening national asylum systems – have contributed to backlogs in asylum systems, strained resources and contributed to fuel negative narratives on a broken asylum system. The global backlog of pending asylum claims stands at over 8.4 million.

Despite the pressures, national asylum systems remain central ensuring that refugees can access lifesaving protection, services and solutions. UNHCR supports States to uphold the right to seek and enjoy asylum through fair, efficient, and accessible procedures. UNHCR issued the Strategic Approach to Strengthening National Asylum Systems in October 2025 which calls for a shift in approach on asylum capacity development from humanitarian-driven support to a comprehensive, nationally-owned model that is rooted in sustainable institutional development.

To operationalize the strategic approach, UNHCR has committed to undertake several enabling actions to support States and other stakeholders. UNHCR will prioritize multi-stakeholder advocacy and coordinated action at global, regional, and local levels. It will leverage its leadership role to engage current and new stakeholders to influence political will to strengthen national asylum systems, improve procedural safeguards, and enhance public perceptions of asylum-seekers. At a global level UNHCR will step up its efforts to leverage the ACSG and expand engagement with regional organizations and platforms. UNHCR will also reinforce the connection between asylum systems and development actors to open opportunities for technical support, and funding. UNHCR Headquarters will be called on to provide expert guidance and support to regional bureaus and operation to implement these enabling actions and ensure reporting for global projects.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the supervision of the Senior RSD Officer in DIPS, the Associate RSD Officer will work in the Asylum Capacity Development unit of the Asylum Systems and Determination Section in close coordination with the ASD Section's geographic and thematic focal points. The Associate RSD Officer will have the following responsibilities:

• Support the drafting of fundraising proposals on asylum capacity strengthening.
• Draft narrative and financial reports and required revisions on contributions in compliance with donor requirements, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies and guidelines.
• Draft and assist in the coordination of the drafting of reports, concept notes, briefing notes, background material, talking points and articles, including relating to asylum capacity development, technical refugee status determination (RSD) topics and the Asylum Capacity Support Group.
• Maintain and manage consultative processes with operations, regional bureaus and stakeholders on regional and global asylum capacity strengthening efforts.
• Act as content manager for the ACSG Portal, including compiling online submissions, good practice and tool repository and specific subpages like the Dialogue Platform and Events page.
• Support specialized training on asylum capacity development and developing processes with competent host authorities and partners aiming at developing national institutional capacities.
• Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments relevant to RSD, the protection environment and the route-based approach, including developments in relation to national asylum/RSD systems.
• Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

The consultant is expected to participate in the weekly ASD team meeting to provide regular updates to ASD team members and other relevant colleagues, including senior management, on progress made. The consultant is expected to develop a workplan of activities for 2026.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education

Degree in social science, information management, International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, Social Sciences or other related field. Desirable Certificates: UNHCR RSD Learning Programme; Management Learning Programme; Asylum Capacity Development learning pathway.

b. Work Experience

• Minimum 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
• Excellent research, analytical and drafting skills;
• Experience in managing technological solutions for web platforms;
• Experience in coordinating and managing multiple stakeholders;
• Experience with the policy and principles relevant to refugee status determination; Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government status determination procedures; Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or Government status determination procedures are highly desirable.

c. Key Competencies

• Fluency and excellent drafting skills in English are essential; working knowledge of other UN languages, especially French and Spanish is highly desirable;
• Excellent computer skills, in particular in MS Office 365 applications, web design, surveys and database management;
• Experience specifically with powerbi and kobo toolbox desirable;
• Experience in programme/project development, planning, implementation, and/or monitoring;
• Knowledge of development projects and capacity development methodologies desirable;
• Knowledge of the policy and principles relevant to refugee status determination desirable.

Managerial competencies

• Empowering and building trust
• Judgment and decision-making
• Strategic planning and vision
• Managing resources

Functional competencies

• Protecting refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR
• information management
• Database Design & Development;
• Liaising with other functions
• Promoting refugee law/protection principles
• Open-Source Software & Data

Cross functional competencies

• Analytical thinking
• Innovation and creativity
• Planning and organizing
• Change capability and adaptability
• Technological awareness
• Client orientation

Location and Conditions

This is a full-time assignment and the successful candidate will be homebased.

Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may differ based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.

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

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.

Standard Job Description

Associate RSD Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate RSD Officer provides legal, operational and strategic support on mandate or national RSD at global, regional or country operations level. The position may be located at Headquarters (within the Division of International Protection), in a Regional Bureau or in a Country Office and reports to the RSD Officer or Protection Officer or other staff with delegated authority, as appropriate.

The incumbent provides advice and guidance on legal and procedural matters related to RSD whether in the context of mandate RSD and/or national asylum/RSD systems (as applicable), is responsible for conducting RSD (where required), reviewing and providing advice on individual cases in line with requirements under the RSD Procedural Standards. The incumbent is also responsible for contributing to the development of an RSD strategy and, where required, methodologies to promote the effectiveness of RSD as a protection tool and implementing broader organizational objectives and priorities, in compliance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies. Whether in the context of national or mandate RSD, the incumbent provides advice and support to staff engaged in RSD and related activities, monitors trends of RSD decision-making, and conducts training and other capacity-development/strengthening activities to promote consistency in RSD procedures and decision-making. S/he contributes to developing and enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as necessary.

If based in a country operation, the Associate RSD Officer advocates with and supports Government authorities and legal partners in further developing their capacities in line with the GCR and other key UNHCR planning considerations.

The Associate RSD Officer works closely with RSD staff as well as staff responsible for registration, resettlement and training activities. S/he also liaises with relevant focal points in DIP, in particular within the RSD and PNS Sections and other HQ Divisions as required.

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 legal/procedural advice and support on RSD adjudication issues within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
• Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments relevant to mandate RSD, the protection environment, including developments in relation to national asylum/RSD systems, as applicable.
• Support engagemnt with relevant national authorities and structures in identifying and expanding opportunities in view of developing or strengthening national asylum/RSD systems.
• Support the quality review of RSD Assessments in line with UNHCR policies/guidelines related to mandate RSD and endorse RSD decisions as required.
• Conduct interviews and draft RSD Assessments including for complex/sensitive cases per relevant standards and guidelines.
• Provide ongoing coaching as well as training on the inclusion criteria; principles/procedures related to exclusion; cancellation/revocation; international humanitarian law; human rights law; interviewing techniques and credibility assessment/establishing the facts; and legal drafting.
• Provide training to other UNHCR units on the refugee criteria and related issues as needed.
• Assist with the development of a RSD strategy and support senior management to ensure its full and effective integration into the protection and solution strategy of the Country Operations Plan.
• Assist with developing/enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as required.
• Assist with the design and implementation of operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of RSD operations in line with relevant standards/policies, including UNHCR's AGD policy and Forward Plan, ensuring the prioritisation of persons with specific needs, or, if based in a Regional Bureau, provide support to operations on the above.
• Monitor trends and systematically compile statistics related to RSD case processing.
• Analyze key indicators of the quality and efficiency of decision-making in RSD processing to assess capacity and resource requirements of operations in the region or the operation to which the RSD Officer is assigned.
• Evaluate and contribute to projecting RSD staffing and financial needs using the RSD Staffing Benchmarks, and support allocation of appropriate human, material and financial resources.
• Contribute to identifying and preventing fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR personnel, partners and persons of concern.
• If based in DIP or a Regional Bureau: Conduct support missions, as required.
• Assess training needs in UNHCR RSD operations and assist RSD Supervisors to provide coaching/capacity building for UNHCR personnel and deployees under their supervision, in coordination with the GLC as appropriate.
• Maintain and manage a consultative process with operations and other stakeholders in the region.
• If based in a country operation, together with competent host authorities and partners, contribute to developing processes aiming at developing national institutional capacities and the timely identification of international protection needs in line with the GCR and other key planning considerations.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

• 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

• International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, Social Sciences, or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

• RSD Learning Programme
• Management Learning Programme

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

Relevant Job Experience

• 3 years of experience working directly with procedures and principles related to adjudicating individual asylum claims in RSD procedures. In-depth knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law and ability to apply relevant legal principles in the RSD context, including exclusion decision-making. Thorough knowledge of the "Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR's Mandate" and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR's mandate RSD activities. Experience in counselling asylum-seekers and individual case management. Experience and demonstrated skills in refugee law training.

Desirable

• Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government SD procedures is highly desirable. Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or Government SD procedures. Experience in supervising a team. Completion of the RSD Learning Programme and other UNHCR Learning Programmes relevant to RSD. Training and coaching experience. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.

Functional Skills

• MG-Political Decision Making
• PR-Individual Case Management
• PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures
• PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
• PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
• PR-International Humanitarian Law
• LE-Draft legal settlement agreements
• CO-Cross-cultural communication

(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.

Required Languages

English

Desired Languages

French, Spanish

Additional Qualifications

Skills: CO-Cross-cultural communication, LE-Draft legal settlement agreements, MG-Political Decision Making, PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-Individual Case Management, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance

Education: Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications: HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Work Experience: See above for requirements.

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

Yes

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