JO# 18577 – Senior Repatriation Assistant – G5 – PN 10032085 – UNHCR Fixed Term Appointment

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Eight years into the Syria crisis, Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with nearly 950,000  Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR, about 20,000 refugees of other origins - mostly Iraqi - and Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate.  There are no formal camps for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and refugees are living in hundreds of communities and locations across the country.

The refugee response is led by the Government and UNHCR and UNDP, supported by the international community. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field. The structure brings together over 150 UN agencies, national and international NGO partners [over 150 actors, including UN agencies, national and international NGOs and Ministries] in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities. The Lebanon Chapter of the Response Plan falls under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), whereby UNHCR guides the refugee response and UNDP facilitates the resilience and stabilization component.

The UNHCR operational response in Lebanon is one of the largest for the organization. Media attention and the frequency of influential high-profile visitors is high. The Office has grown substantially in the past years and is currently operating with around 650 staff. Aside from the country office in the capital city of Beirut, UNHCR has field offices in Mount Lebanon, Qobayat, Tripoli, Tyre and Zahle.

The Senior Repatriation Assistant reports to the Repatriation Associate, Senior Repatriation Associate, Associate Repatriation Officer, Associate Protection Officer, Repatriation Officer or Protection Officer in a Field Office, Sub Office or Country Office. 

The Senior Repatriation Assistant is relied upon to contribute to the advancement of repatriation activities. The incumbent should implement the voluntary repatriation programme, in compliance with requisite standard operating procedures.  She/he should contribute to ensuring that all repatriation movements respect the principle of voluntariness and occur in safety and dignity, with the full participation and support of persons and communities of concern.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to voluntary repatriation are applied.
- Repatriation/ return data records and electronic databases are up to date, securely maintained and in line with applicable SOPs.
- Age, Gender and Diversity as well as participatory approaches to repatriation are implemented.

Responsibility

- Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and ensure that they make informed decisions on returns, based on up to date information on the conditions in the country of origin.
- Assist in proposing documents (including Voluntary Repatriation Forms) and ensure that refugees are provided with the appropriate documentation.
- Facilitate UNHCR's access and communication to/with individual and communities of concern, including through translation and cultural mediation.
- Participate in mass information activities aimed at informing refugee communities and other relevant stakeholders about the voluntary repatriation programme.
- Provide logistics and administrative support to voluntary repatriation border-crossing/return movements.
- Assist in assessing the specific needs of vulnerable categories of returnees during return movements and advise on responses.

Authority

- Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and advise senior colleagues on their decision to return is voluntary.
- In line with the existing SOPs, advise senior colleagues on which individuals to register for further return processing.
- Enter information on voluntary repatriation into available databases, in line with SOPs.