Senior Protection Assistant (Registration) - UNOPS - G5 - ZAH035 - Zahle, Lebanon

There are close to one million Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, which continues to be the highest refugee-hosting country per capita in the world. With no approved camps in the country, refugees are living in more than 1,700 locations across the country. The Syrian refugee response is led by the Government and local actors, 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 100 UN agencies, national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. The Lebanon national response 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 and donor attention and the frequency of influential high-profile visitors are high. The Office has some are located in Beirut, Zahle, Tripoli, Tyre, and Qobayat.

The senior registration assistant is a member of the registration unit within the protection section. Under the supervision of the Protection, Field or Registration Officer, the incumbent is responsible for reviewing cases during registration activities, providing guidance and protection capacity-building to registration staff under his/her supervision. The incumbent will interview complex protection cases to assess eligibility for recording, as well as coordinate protection referrals and follow up with other functional units. S/he will also provide detailed information to persons of concern regarding assistance and protection.

Accountability (key results that will be achieved)

• Registration activities are undertaken in accordance with UNHCR policies, standards and procedures.

Responsibility, (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)

• Counsel individual asylum-seekers and refugees to manage their expectations on protection, assistance and durable solutions;
• Identify vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees. 
• Conduct protection interviews, maintain registration and counseling database and provide regular input on daily actions specified above.
• Ensure quality and integrity of information captured at registration, notably through review of registered cases and follow up with respective functional units.
• Identify cases not eligible for recording through in-depth interviews and maintain protection spreadsheet.
• Ensure constant and accurate upkeep of data (physical and electronic) to reflect status of persons of concern by checking that all “EfA” data fields are filled in properly. Manage and update refugee files as necessary.
• Compile periodic registration statistical reports and circulate them to all concerned parties, including external parties. Analyze data to ensure data quality and integrity, and report trends and issues as required.
• Participate in continuous verification of asylum-seekers including physical verification of refugees and asylum-seekers
• Draft routine correspondence based on instructions provided by the supervisor or based on background information available on office files; and act as interpreter and translator when needed.
• Act as interpreter and translator when needed.

Authority, (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)

• Refer cases to other units within the office and to implementing partners as necessary.
• Provide guidance to registration assistants on matters of protection, eligibility, and assistance.