Registration Associate

B

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA6

Target Start Date

2023-12-05

Job Posting End Date

December 19, 2023

Terms of Reference

Candidates must be legally present in Costa Rica at the time of application, recruitment and hire.

Only candidates holding a legally job permit in Costa Rica will be considered eligible.

We are committed to maintaining diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity and culture. Persons belonging to minority groups, persons with special abilities, men and women, are encouraged to apply for vacancies. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Eligible candidates may be required to take a technical test and/or an interview.

If you have special needs or require assistance to apply, please contact [email protected]

Covid-19 Vaccination and related Safety Measures:

UNHCR has a responsibility to prevent and curb the spread of COVID-19 as part of its accountability to its workforce and the communities it works in and serves. Whilst other measures (such as hand hygiene, physical distancing, ventilation and wearing masks) remain crucial, being vaccinated against COVID-19 plays a key role in protecting oneself, families, colleagues, and the community including persons of concerns and has been proven to significantly reduce risks of serious illness and death from COVID-19. Therefore, in alignment with other UN agencies and based on the advice of the UN Medical Directors network, UNHCR strongly urges all colleagues to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of full vaccination, independently of contract type and duration, unless the candidate is based in a location with documented lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Therefore, the people recommended for the position must provide proof of vaccination or the medical recommendation that justifies non-vaccination.

Operational Context:

In terms of the asylum context in Costa Rica, the socio-political situation in Nicaragua since April 2018 produced a particularly sharp increase in the number of Nicaraguan asylum-seekers. Only 78 Nicaraguans were registered as asylum-seekers in 2017. From April 2018 to December 2021, the number had grown to 137,000 (plus 4,000 refugees. While the onset of the COVID pandemic and related measures diminished the regular influx of new asylum seekers in 2020, in 2021 it rose again, reaching a historical peak of 59,450 new applications in one year. In January 2022, approximately 14,500 persons applied for asylum in one month.

The level of humanitarian and legal protection needs has continued to increase for those asylum-seekers, refugees, and persons at risk of statelessness in the country. Aside from Nicaraguan, Costa Rica also continues to receive asylum-seekers from Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Cuba and other countries. Under considerable strain, the asylum system is the country has accumulated over 220,000 asylum seekers by the end of 2022.

Since 2021, and especially throughout 2022, there has also been an increase in mixed movements entering Costa Rica through Panama. A percentage of these persons in mixed movements decide at some point to seek asylum in Costa Rica.

UNHCR in Costa Rica seeks to guarantee the rights of persons fleeing persecution at the borders, both at border posts and in other areas along the migratory route. Border monitoring is carried out to ensure that asylum seekers can gain access to the territory, obtain information and access the asylum procedure in Costa Rica. Identification of cases of refoulement and deportation, advocacy with the authorities, an attention to and referral to persons in need of international protection are carried out.

UNHCR key activities involve registration, border monitoring, community-based protection to identify particularly vulnerable individuals, case management, counselling, livelihoods and peaceful coexistence projects through its partners and directly. A Cash Based response started in October 2019 to fill basic assistance gaps of the most vulnerable families. This initiative relies heavily on the direct support of Programme, Admin/Finance, Procurement and Human Resources for its implementation.

Currently, UNHCR in Costa Rica has partnership agreements with 13 partners, in the areas of protection, gender-based violence, child protection, and livelihoods, among others. The Programme Unit also manages a direct implementation budget in support of the Government of Costa Rica, namely for the reinforcement of the asylum system and national policy towards integration of refugees in the country.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

Main Responsibilities

• UNHCR’s Registration Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies.
• Persons of concern have fair and transparent access to registration procedures.
• Assist in the implementation of registration strategies and methodologies for populations of concern.
• Assist in the supervision and daily running of registration team activities, where required.
• Conduct registration interviews in the office and in communities when required in accordance with registration standards and guidance .
• Provide counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR’s registration procedures and their rights and entitlements.
• Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all registration cases.
• Identify persons with specific needs and ensure timely referral to protection follow-up as required.
• Collaborate with protection staff and/or partners in the delivery of assistance and programming, including provision of identity and entitlement documentation.
• Draft correspondence and reports relating to registration activities in the operation, when required
• In consultation with the supervisor, make decisions related to day-to-da
• Provide statistics and draft reports related to registration data, as requested.
• In consultation with the supervisor, make decisions related to the day-to-day operations of the registration unit and devise registration procedures which are efficient and effective.
• Draft and submit reports and statistics as needed.
• Act as interpreter and translator when needed.
• Conduct trainings on registration to partners.
• Follow up on registration actions taking by partners to strengthen their capacities.

Standard Job Description

Registration Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Registration Associate is a member of the Registration team and is normally supervised by the Registration Officer. The Registration Associate is responsible for supporting all activities related to registration, and with ensuring that registration is effectively used for the identification of specific protection needs, for the management of operations, and for the achievement of durable solutions. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the Registration Associate may provide day-to-day supervision, direction and support to UNHCR staff engaged in registration and related activities (including Reception, Filing and Data Management staff), and monitors the efficiency and quality of registration processes, identity and entitlement documentation activities and population data management. The Registration Associate collaborates closely with Protection, Programme, Operational Data Management and Information Management colleagues as well as with Government authorities and partners on the provision of quality population data for the delivery of registration activities. 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 implementation of registration strategies and methodologies for populations of concern. – Assist in the supervision and daily running of registration team activities, where required. – Conduct registration interviews when required in accordance with registration standards and guidance. – Provide counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR’s registration procedures and their rights and entitlements. – Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all registration cases. – Identify persons with specific needs and ensure timely referral to protection follow-up as required. – Collaborate with protection staff and/or partners in the delivery of assistance and programming, including provision of identity and entitlement documentation. – Draft correspondence and reports relating to registration activities in the operation, when required – Provide statistics and draft reports related to registration data, as requested. – In consultation with the supervisor, make decisions related to the day-to-day operations of the registration unit and devise registration procedures which are efficient and effective. – Draft and submit reports and statistics related to registration. – Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For G6 – 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable. Certificates and/or Licenses Social sciences; Statistics; Mathematics; Information technology; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Good computer skills, particularly in data management. Desirable Training in basic principles of international protection. Experience in working with UNHCR proGres software. Functional Skills *IT-Computer Literacy IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications DM-Data Collection and Analysis *DM-Data Management CL-Programme/Project Mgmt (formulation, implementation, programme cycles and reporting) TR-Training – Virtual and face to face RG-Registration SoPs Design/Implementation (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages

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,

Desired Languages

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,

Skills

Additional Qualifications

CL-Programme/Project Mgmt (formulation, implementation, programme cycles and reporting), DM-Data Collection and Analysis, DM-Data Management, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications, RG-Registration SoPs Design/Implementation, TR-Training – Virtual and face to face

Education

Certifications

Information Technology – Other, Mathematics – Other, Social Sciences – Other, Statistics – Other

Work Experience

Other Information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance