Background

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly and began its work on 01 January 1951. UNHCR’s primary mandate is to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees and the Office continues to strive to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum. In India, since April 1981, UNHCR provides protection and assistance to individual asylum seekers from certain countries while the government recognizes others. The Office assists more than 20,000 recognised refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from Afghanistan and Myanmar, making it one of the largest urban refugee caseload in the world. While some groups are considered refugees by the Government of India, (Tibetans, Sri Lankans), individual refugee status determination (RSD) is undertaken by UNHCR in India for most of the other nationalities. With increasing rates of arrivals from countries as diverse as Somalia, Myanmar and Afghanistan, UNHCR’s important refugee status determination function continues to be a much needed protection tool.
 
UNHCR’s collaboration with UNV and active deployment of UN Volunteers began in 1990. This collaboration progressively expanded as humanitarian crisis continued to unfold. UNHCR now administers UNVs in both emergency and non-emergency situations to work closely implementing UNHCR’s mandate towards refugees and IDPs.
 
Living Conditions:
 
New Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region is a large and bustling metropolis of some 14 million people undergoing rapid changes. The capital city is an administrative, cultural and commercial centre with modern amenities and well connected by air. It is a safe place with large expatriate community drawn from embassies, UN agencies, MNCs and foreign businesses. It has short moderate winter and long hot summer.

The volunteer will be provided monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to INR 33,696; settling-in-grant (if applicable); life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return fares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the RSD Officer the UNV volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
 
  • Undergo on the job training and carry out refugee status eligibility interviews of asylum seekers, (first instance, appeal and if needed re-opening), in a thorough yet compassionate manner, using a range of interviewing techniques, in order to gather sufficiently accurate and detailed information to assess eligibility for refugee status.
  • Analyze the information gathered during the interview, identify and use additional information such as country of origin information and make objective recommendations for decision on refugee status of applicants, based on UNHCR guidelines and using the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) standard assessment format.
  • Keep himself/herself abreast of relevant country of origin information as well as procedures for refugee status determination taking into account special needs of women, children and elderly applicants as well as applicants with special needs.
  • Serve as a focal point for the RSD process for one specific country of origin (to be determined), and monitor, analyze and report on trends of new arrivals from that country as necessary. Keep himself/herself abreast of a detailed understanding of the legal and political issues that impact the area of operation.
  • Keep files of country of origin information updated for the country he/she will be designated as focal point.
  • Assist the office in the identification of cases with serious protection problems and/or other vulnerabilities
  • Perform any other tasks as assigned by the office.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to:
  • 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 IVD);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
  • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
  • 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.
Results/Expected Output: 
  • RSD interviews conducted and quality recommendations for RSD decisions to be delivered in a timely fashion, line with UNHCR policies, guidelines and standards.
  • Relevant research undertaken.
  • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development within your host community.
  • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

Education
  • University degree (BA) in Law, Political Science, Social Science, International Relations, or a related field, and knowledge of international law instruments in the field of human rights.
Experience and Knowledge
  • Good analytical skills, good communications and inter-personal skills and the ability to work under pressure, both independently and as part of a team.
  • Knowledge of other UN languages and certain local dialects (e.g. Bengali) will be an asset
  • Previous experience in humanitarian field will be an asset.
Languages
  • Fluency in English and Hindi required
This position is open to applicants of either sex. Preference will be given to equally qualified women candidates. Only short listed candidates would be contacted.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community.