Job Title: Registration Assistant
Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Host entity: UNHCR
Assignment country: Mauritania
Expected start date: 10/10/2022
Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No
Type: Onsite
Duration: 3 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Nouadhibou
See also:
UN Volunteers Conditions of Service
UNV Priority Areas for Rapid Deployment and Profiles in Demand
Mission and objectives
Le Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés (HCR) a pour mandat de diriger et de coordonner l’action internationale visant à protéger les réfugiés. Il a pour but premier de sauvegarder les droits et le bien être des réfugiés. Il met en œuvre ses programmes de protection dans le monde entier et sensibilise le grand public à la situation des personnes réfugiées dans le monde. Le HCR Mauritanie fournit protection et assistance à quelque 65 000 réfugiés maliens dans la région aride du sud-est où se trouve le camp de réfugiés de Mbera, et à quelque 9 000 réfugiés urbains et demandeurs d’asile dans les villes de Nouakchott et Nouadhibou. La situation sécuritaire au Mali est toujours instable et des retours à grande échelle ne sont pas attendus. Les Maliens continuent d’arriver en Mauritanie dans le cadre de flux de population mixtes.
Context
Mauritania hosts more than 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers in urban areas, mainly in Nouakchott. These refugees come mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, Mali, Syria and the Central African Republic are among the most represented nationalities because of the internal conflicts raging in these countries. In order to protect urban refugees and provide them with support in Mauritania and mainly in urban areas for these refugees, UNHCR carries out protection activities including Refugee Status Determination. The Registration Assistant is supervised by the Associate Protection Officer and works closely with the rest of the Protection team. S/he is responsible for supporting all activities related to the merged Registration/RSD for Malians in the Field Unit. The Registration Assistant 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 Registration Assistant liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other Protection staff. The Registration Assistant 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 may also assist in compiling and analysing information related to the Registration and RSD activities of the Operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. The Registration Assistant may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Protection Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will: – Conduct merged Registration/RSD interviews according to the SOPs and UNHCR standards on registration. – Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD. – 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 all work on individual cases. – Participate in data collection for continuous registration and verification exercises. – 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 Registration and RSD trends and in compiling and analysing Registration and 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 Registration and RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policies and practice. – Draft correspondence and reports relating to Registration 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. – Perform other related duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in Experience with asylum seekers and refugees desirable. Experience in the legal field desirable. Knowledge of interviewing techniques with vulnerable persons desirable. Being able to take initiatives when necessary. Good computer skills. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a team. Flexible and able to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
Area(s) of expertise
Security and protection
Driving license
–
Languages
French, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Basic, Required
Required education level
Secondary education
Competencies and values
–
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds
See also:
UN Volunteers Conditions of Service
UNV Priority Areas for Rapid Deployment and Profiles in Demand
