Established in December 1950, the Office of the United

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is

mandated to lead and coordinate international action to
protect and assist refugees and other persons of
concern. For more than six decades, UNHCR has helped
dozens of millions of people restart their lives. UNHCR is
now looking for:

RSD Officer Profile

For Junior (P1) and (P2), Mid (P3), and Senior (P4) Level Positions
Refugee Status Determination (RSD) refers to legal or administrative procedures
implemented by States or by UNHCR to determine if a person seeking protection is
considered a refugee under national, regional or international law. States have the primary
responsibility for determining the status of asylum seekers on their territories. Where
States are unable or unwilling to do so, UNHCR may conduct RSD under its mandate to
ensure the protection and assistance of persons in need of international protection. In
2012, UNHCR conducted RSD in more than 60 countries and registered 110,400 new RSD
applications, confirming UNHCR as the second largest RSD body in the world. In many other
countries, UNHCR provided technical or other support to State RSD procedures.

Responsibilities at the junior (P1) level:

The Assistant RSD Officer is a member of the RSD team. The Assistant RSD Officer is
responsible for conducting RSD interviews to determine eligibility for refugee status,
undertaking COI and other research related to the claim, as required, and drafting RSD
assessments. The Assistant RSD Officer provides counselling to asylum seekers and refugees
on UNHCR's RSD procedures and on their status, rights and obligations in the country of
asylum. The Assistant RSD Officer may review RSD assessments of less experienced
members of the RSD team, seeking the advice of a more senior RSD/Protection Officer on
complex cases, and may assist in developing and implementing RSD training and other
measures to enhance the quality and efficiency of RSD decision-making.
Minimum qualifications and professional experience required at the junior (P1) level:
Education:
- University Degree in Law, political science, international relations or another related
field.

Job Experience:
- Minimum 2 years of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of
refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law.
- Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD is desirable.
- Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures is
desirable
- Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugee is desirable.
- Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals is desirable.
Knowledge and competencies:
- Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply
the relevant legal principles.
- Strong research and analytical skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Languages:
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

Responsibilities at the junior (P2) level:

The Associate RSD Officer is a member of the RSD team. Under the direct supervision of the
RSD Officer (RSD Supervisor), the Associate RSD Officer is responsible for conducting RSD
interviews to determine eligibility for refugee status, undertaking COI and other research
related to the claim, as required, and drafting RSD assessments, including for complex cases.
The Associate RSD Officer is also responsible for carrying out supervisory responsibilities in
the RSD procedure, as delegated by the RSD Officer (RSD Supervisor), which may include
responsibilities related to the reception and registration of asylum seekers and refugees, file
assignment and scheduling of RSD interviews, coordination of the work of interpreters,
reviewing RSD assessments of members of the RSD team and providing legal and procedural
guidance and coaching, as required. The Associate RSD Officer may liaise with Government
authorities and other partners about issues related to UNHCR's RSD procedure and relevant
UNHCR guidelines and standards related to RSD. The Associate RSD Officer may carry out
training for Government authorities and other partners on legal and procedural issues
related to RSD and provide technical advice to strengthen national asylum procedures.
Minimum qualifications and professional experience required at the junior (P2) level:
Education:
- University Degree in Law, political science, international relations or another related
field.
Job Experience:
- Minimum 4 years (2 years with advanced University degree) of relevant professional
job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or
international humanitarian law.
- Minimum 1 year of experience working directly with procedures and principles
related to RSD.
- Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures is
desirable.
- Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees is desirable.

Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals is desirable

Experience in supervising and in providing training or coaching, guidance or advice to
staff is desirable.

Knowledge and competencies:

- Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply
the relevant legal principles.
- Strong research and analytical skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Languages:
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

Responsibilities at the mid (P3) level:

The RSD Officer is the Supervisor of the RSD team and directly manages and oversees
UNHCR's RSD procedures and decision-making as well as related activities in the operation.
The RSD Officer is responsible for developing an operation-specific RSD strategy to promote
the effectiveness of RSD as a protection tool in the operation and maximize the efficiency
and quality of RSD decision-making. The RSD Officer provides day-to-day supervision,
direction and support to UNHCR staff engaged in RSD and related activities (including
Reception, Registration and RSD), monitors the efficiency and quality of RSD decisionmaking, and reviews and endorses RSD decisions. The RSD Officer advocates with and
supports Government authorities and legal partners in establishing and strengthening fair
and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making and develops and implements
awareness-raising and training initiatives in this area. The RSD Officer liaises with other RSD
operations in the Region, the Regional RSD Officer, the Bureau and the RSD Unit in DIP to
promote regional and global consistency in RSD procedures and decision-making and to
contribute to develop and enhance regional and global RSD standards and policies.
Minimum qualifications and professional experience required at the mid (P3) level:
Education:
- University Degree in Law, political science, international relations or another related
field.
Job Experience:
- Minimum 8 years (6 years with advanced University degree) of relevant professional
job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or
international humanitarian law.
- Minimum 3 years of experience working directly with procedures and principles
related to the adjudication of individual asylum claims in RSD procedures.
- Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures is
desirable.
- Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or
Government RSD procedures is desirable.
- Experience in supervising a team is desirable.
- Training and coaching experience is desirable.
- Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals is desirable.

Knowledge and competencies:

- Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply
the relevant legal principles.
- Thorough knowledge of the "Procedural Standards for Refugee Status Determination
under UNHCR's Mandate" and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR's
mandate RSD activities.
- Excellent drafting and report writing skills.
- Ability to draft legal opinions is desirable.
Languages:
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

Responsibilities at the senior (P4) level:

The Senior RSD Officer manages UNHCR RSD activities and resources in operations receiving
a high volume of asylum applications and with a significant number of staff dedicated to RSD
and registration. The Senior RSD Officer is the overall Supervisor of the Refugee Status
Determination (RSD) team and manages and oversees UNHCR's RSD procedures and
decision-making as well as related activities in the operation. The Senior RSD Officer is
responsible for developing an operation-specific RSD strategy to promote the effectiveness
of RSD as a protection tool in the operation and implementing broader organizational
objectives and priorities. The Senior RSD Officer provides direction and support to UNHCR
staff engaged in RSD and related activities (including Reception, Registration and RSD),
monitors the efficiency and quality of RSD decision-making, and reviews and endorses RSD
decisions. The Senior RSD Officer advocates with and supports Government authorities and
legal partners in establishing and strengthening fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD
decision-making and develops and implements awareness-raising and training initiatives in
this area. The Senior RSD Officer liaises with other RSD operations in the Region, the
Regional RSD Officer, the Bureau and the RSD Unit in DIP to promote regional and global
consistency in RSD procedures and decision-making and to contribute to develop and
enhance regional and global RSD standards and policies.
Minimum qualifications and professional experience required at the senior (P4) level:
Education:
- Advanced University Degree in Law, political science, international relations or
another related field.
Job Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of
refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law.
- Minimum 4 years of experience working directly with procedures and principles
related to the adjudication of individual asylum claims in RSD procedures.
- Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures.
- Experience in supervising a team.
- Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or
Government RSD procedures is desirable.
- Training and coaching experience is desirable.
- Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals is desirable.

Knowledge and competencies:

- Thorough knowledge of the "Procedural Standards for Refugee Status Determination
under UNHCR's Mandate" and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR's
mandate RSD activities.
- Excellent drafting and report writing skills.
- In-depth knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability
to apply the relevant legal principles.
- Ability to draft legal opinions is desirable.
Languages:
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.