Entry Level Best Interest Determination (BID) Associate UN Job Careers – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Job Title: Best Interest Determination (BID) Associate
Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Position No.: UNOPS-LICA-BID (003)
Vacancy Notice: UNHCR/UGANDA/LICA/002/2018
Reports to: Administrative/Finance Associate Assistant
Duty Station: Nakivale, Uganda
About UNHCR:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCR’s mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Job Summary: The Best Interest Determination (BID) Associate will greatly enhance the ability of UNHCR to ensure that this casework is done in an expedited manner. BID Management Overall BID co-ordination and management in Kampala is a Child Protection activity, under the overall supervision of the Senior Protection Officer (Community Based) Yoko Iwasa, and the direct supervision of the ICMC BID Specialist in Kampala. The ICMC BID Specialist based in Kampala will coordinate and monitor BID activities in Kampala. The ICMC BID Specialist will support the Units with all activities including reviewing of BID reports, case management and follow up and convening of the BID panel.The BID Associate will present his/her cases in front of the BID panel, which meets on a monthly basis.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Conduct BID casework including:
- Conduct interviews with refugee children and other members of the family to determine the best interest of the child and complete Best Interest Determination (BID) and, when appropriate, Best Interest Assessment (BIA) reports.
- Conduct home visits with refugee families as part of the BID process.
- Provide counselling to refugees, explaining the BID and BIA processes, prospects, and problems involved in the processes.
- The incumbent will also ensure proper monitoring and followup of cases including updating proGres database and any internal monitoring and tracking systems are regularly updated with the necessary events.
- Implement Child Protection policies, BID and BIA procedures, and existing SOPs (including fraud prevention SOPs) with guidance from respective Community Service, Protection and Resettlement colleagues.
- Work closely with relevant child protection partners to include all the information available on the child in the BID report;
- Generate BID forms from proGres.
- Ensure that BID reports are in compliance with UNHCR protection principles as well as best international practice.
- Present cases and attend BID panels on a monthly basis;
- Conduct additional assessment on BID cases as per recommendation by the BID panel;
- Prepare BID Addendum for BIDs which were completed more than one year ago;
- Prepare monthly progress reports;
Key Performance Indicators: The BID Associate will be required to prepare monthly quantitative progress reports during the assignment. A final report covering the entire period of his/her assignment is compulsory. The report shall contain a description of activities and the data collected regarding of cases referred, number of BIDs and BIA conducted, number of BIDs presented to BID panels, number of deferred BID cases and any follow ups on case management that may have been carried out by the BID Associate.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Best Interest Determination (BID) Associate job vacancy should possess an academic degree in relevant area (e.g. social work, child development, social science, education, public administration etc.);
- At least two years of related work experience in relevant work area (e.g. as a social worker, child counsellor, community development worker, educator, conducting social assessments, individual case advocacy, assisting with family reunification, working with refugees in a resettlement context etc.);
- Excellent drafting skills in English is required. French and Swahili would be a great asset.
- Knowledge of and/or preparedness to become familiar with and abide by UNHCR’s principles, Code of Conduct and humanitarian goals;
- Broad knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and statelessness;
- Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines on refugee status determination and resettlement as well as UNHCR Best Interest Determination Guidelines.
- Awareness of gender issues and how to apply a rights and community based approach to identify and respond to specific needs;
- Excellent interviewing and counselling skills especially child interviewing skills highly desirable.
- Excellent drafting and analytical skills;
- Ability to conduct assessments and identify protection risks of individuals and groups;
- Broad knowledge and understanding of mental and physical development of children as well as International Convention on Child Rights.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in teams;
- Ability to work in stressful situations and in hardship locations;
- Experience giving advice on resettlement guidelines / policy highly desirable;
- Experience in the area of refugee resettlement conducting refugee resettlement assessments and submissions highly desirable.
- Broad knowledge and awareness of the importance of preventing fraud and ways to mitigate risks.
How to Apply:
All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details.
Deadline: 23rd February 2018
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda