JO# 31104 – Senior RSD Associate – G7 – PN 10011937 – UNHCR Fixed-Term Appointment - Beirut, Lebanon

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior RSD Associate is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. S/he is responsible for supporting  activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Operation.  The incumbent provides counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's RSD procedures, their rights and obligations, including towards the host authorities, and the status of the processing of their claims.  In discharging these responsibilities, the Senior RSD Associate liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other Protection staff.  The incumbent is responsible for conducting COI and other research related to RSD and maintaining the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards.  S/he also assists in drafting RSD Assessments.  The Senior RSD Associate assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the Operation and drafts related correspondence and reports.  The Senior RSD Associate may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies. The incumbent normally supervises lower grade General Service staff within the functional Group.

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
- Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
- Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise.
- Provide counselling to, and respond to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees, including in the context of the notification of negative RSD decisions.  
- Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to  work on individual cases.
- Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and persons of concern.  
- Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions. 
- Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and other issues related to RSD and maintain the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.
- Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing.
- Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policies and practice.
- Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making.
- Provide training for staff when required.
- Draft correspondence and reports relating to the RSD activities of the Operation
- Refer individual cases to other functional units in the Operation and/or external partners for appropriate follow-up, in accordance with established criteria.
- Counsel individual asylum-seekers on the reasons for negative RSD decisions, in accordance with the RSD SOPs. Perform other related duties as required.