Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Statelessness Officer, in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection (DIP) Statelessness Section, has the primary responsibility for the provision of legal and policy support to operations relating to statelessness, as well as guidance and advice on operational planning and practices to ensure that effective activities to address statelessness are undertaken in the area of responsibility (AoR).
The incumbent maintains close working relations with senior protection staff in the AoR and with UN sister agencies, other intergovernmental organizations such as non-governmental organizations, embassies and academic institutions. S/he represents the Organization on statelessness law, doctrine and policy.
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
– Foster the mainstreaming of statelessness into all relevant regional and/or country plans and strategies.
– Advocate with Senior Management to help ensure that the necessary resources are allocated to address statelessness.
– Ensure a consistent application of international standards for the prevention and reduction of statelessness in line with the Organization’s global, regional and country level priorities, including the #IBelong campaign as well as UNHCR policy guidelines.
– Develop and update a country/ regional strategy for the prevention and reduction of statelessness and support Country Operation(s) in the development of national strategies and operational activities to address statelessness.
– Provide technical advice on nationality laws and statelessness determination procedures, operational responses, including to resolve protracted situations and civil status registration and documentation.
– Ensure mapping of statelessness situations; identify information gaps and provide technical guidance to help address them, including research and profiling activities.
– Engage with strategic partners, including in particular relevant regional bodies; development and human rights actors, including children’s rights and minorities’ rights actors to strengthen their work on statelessness.
– Advise on individual cases and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of International Law.
– Ensure that instances of arbitrary deprivation of nationality, expulsion of stateless persons and other serious protection incidents are immediately identified and reported to management and the Statelessness Section.
– Engage with legal aid partners at the regional and national levels to promote legal assistance to stateless persons.
– Enhance capacity building programmes for government counterparts, civil society partners and UNHCR Operations with the aim of enhancing protection and solutions for stateless persons.
– Promote and support the implementation of any regional framework to address statelessness.
– Where appropriate, promote cross-country cooperation to address and reduce statelessness.
– Explore and identify new potential partners for operational responses, training and fundraising purposes.
– Represent UNHCR in external meetings on statelessness in the AoR.
– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
– Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
At least 9 years of progressively responsible, relevant work experience (8 years with an advanced degree). Experience must include substantial nationality law and statelessness experience and expertise, in-depth knowledge of international legal standards relevant to statelessness and UNHCR’s doctrine on statelessness (including as reflected in the Handbook on the Protection of Stateless Persons).
Desirable
Substantial knowledge of other relevant areas of international law, including international human rights law, experience working for UNHCR and substantial knowledge of UNHCR’s policies and programs.
Functional Skills
PR-International Legal Standards on Statelessness
PR-Statelessness- Doctrinal issues on nationality and statelessness
PR-Statelessness- Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
LE-Legal Research
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
RG-Civil Registration data collection/processing
PR-Gender Equality
LE-Draft legal settlement agreements
(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
Please, refer to the attached TORs.
Functional Clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)
French
,
English
,
Desired languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
LE-Draft legal settlement agreements, LE-Legal Research, PR-Gender Equality, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Legal Standards on Statelessness, PR-Statelessness- Doctrinal issues on nationality and statelessness, PR-Statelessness- Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance, RG-Civil Registration data collection/processing
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law
Certifications
Work Experience
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Other information
Official residence in Senegal or Nationality of Senegal
Language requirements: Proficiency in French and English
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
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).
Closing date of receipt of applications: 6 October 2024
