Statelessness Officer

Please note that similar positions are available in multiple locations.

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Statelessness Officer, under the direct supervision of a senior protection colleague, and in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection (DIP) Statelessness Section, provides legal and policy support to operations relating to statelessness, as well as guidance and advice on operational planning and practices to ensure that effective activities to address statelessness are undertaken in the area of responsibility (AoR).

The incumbent maintains close working relations with focal points on statelessness in the AoR and with UN sister agencies, other intergovernmental organizations including non-governmental organizations, embassies and academic institutions. S/he represents the Organization on statelessness law, doctrine and policy.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Assist in the mainstreaming of statelessness into all relevant regional and/or country plans and strategies.

• Advocate with Senior Management to help ensure that the necessary resources are allocated to address statelessness.

• Ensure a consistent application of international standards for the prevention and reduction of statelessness in line with the Organization’s global, regional and country level priorities, including the #IBelong Campaign as well as UNHCR policy guideline.

• Assist with the development of a country/regional strategy for the prevention and reduction of statelessness and support Country Operation(s) in the development of national strategies and operational activities to address statelessness.

• Provide technical advice on nationality law and statelessness determination procedures, operational responses, including resolving protracted situations and civil status registration and documentation.

• Support mapping of statelessness situations; identify information gaps and provide technical guidance to help address them, including research and profiling activities.

• Engage with strategic partners, including in particular relevant regional bodies; development human rights actors, including children¿s rights and minorities¿ rights actors to strengthen their work on statelessness.

• Advise on individual cases and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of International Law.

• Ensure that instances of arbitrary deprivation of nationality, expulsion of stateless persons and other serious protection incidents are immediately identified and reported to management and the Statelessness Section.

• Engage with legal aid partners at the regional and national levels to promote legal assistance to stateless persons.

• Enhance capacity building programmes for government counterparts, civil society partners and UNHCR Operations with the aim of enhancing protection and solutions for stateless persons.

• Promote and support the implementation of any regional framework to address statelessness.

• Where appropriate, promote cross-country cooperation to address and reduce statelessness.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Law; or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

*Statelessness UNHCR course;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

At least 6 years of progressively responsible, relevant professional experience (5 years with Advanced University degree), including 2 years of working experience at the international level and substantial experience working on nationality or statelessness issues. Strong knowledge of international legal standards related to statelessness and UNHCR’s doctrine on statelessness is required.

Desirable

Experience working for UNHCR on statelessness and strong knowledge of UNHCR’s policies and programs is desirable.

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.