UNOPS Registration Assistant

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA4

Target Start Date

2024-01-01

Job Posting End Date

December 26, 2023

Terms of Reference

Title: UNOPS Registration Assistant

Project: Processing Centers

Duty station: Quito, Ecuador

Section/Unit: UNHCR Resettlement Unit

Contract/Level: Local Support, LICA 4 (USD 1.671,oo)

Duration: From 01 January – 30 June 2024

Supervisor: Mario Aguirre, Registration Associate

• General Background

UNHCR operation in Ecuador is fundamentally driven to deliver protection and solutions to a variety of persons of UNHCR’s concern such as asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless in partnership and close collaboration with national authorities as well as non-governmental organizations and communities. Particular attention and specific multi-faceted protection and assistance is often provided within short timeframes and at times little resources in demanding operational environment. The wide palette of activities is principally coordinated from the country office in Quito as well as the Sub-Offices in Quito (Solanda), Guayaquil, and Ibarra, Field Offices in Esmeraldas, Huaquillas, Tulcán, Lago Agrio, and Field Units in Manta, Cuenca and Ambato.

Ecuador is a destination and transit country for persons in need of international protection. Over the past two decades, Ecuador has been hosting more than 68,000 recognized refugees (mainly Colombians) and has become a main destination and transit country for Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Ecuador receives the second largest number of Venezuelans after Colombia. Over 2.2 million have arrived in Ecuador since 2016. In 2019 Venezuelans have been arriving in Ecuador at an average of 1,950 people per day, almost all through the border crossings with Colombia. While 80% of Venezuelans arriving in Ecuador are in transit to third countries, official estimates are that more than 385,000 are residing in Ecuador.

On 5 January, the US government announced a series of changes affecting asylum seekers and migrants at or on their way to the US southern border. They included an expansion of refugee resettlement from Latin America and the Caribbean, although no operational details were provided.

The government has since advanced a plan for “regional processing centers” in countries in Central and South America, specifically Guatemala and Colombia. The centers will pre-screen individuals for possible lawful pathways to the US, Canada and Spain, such as refugee resettlement, humanitarian parole, family reunification or temporary labor visas.

UNHCR and IOM will be the operational partners for this initiative. IOM and UNHCR will screen and refer individuals for assessment by the US government for eligibility to the US refugee resettlement program or other lawful pathways to the US

• Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Registration Assistant is a member of the registration team and is supervised by a more senior colleague who normally reports directly to the Registration Officer. The incumbent is responsible for supporting all activities related to registration, which may also include functions related to reception, filing and data management. S/he responds to queries from asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR’s registration procedures and their rights and entitlements. The Registration Assistant liaises with protection staff and partners to ensure timely identification and referral of persons of concern for protection follow up and may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.

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
• Conduct registration interviews in accordance with local SOPs and registration standards.
• Respond 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 individual 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
• Act as interpreter and translator when needed.
• Refer cases to other units within the office and to implementing partners as necessary.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Qualifications and Experience
• Education & Professional Work Experience
• 1-year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher
• University Degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, Business Administration, Information Management, Information Technology, Social Sciences, or related fields (mandatory).
• Experience in training.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of protection, registration and assistance to asylum seekers, refugees, and other persons on concern.
• Experience in working with identity management software or database.
• Good knowledge of handling confidential and statistical data.
• Good computer skills, particularly in data entry and management.
• Functional Skills
• IT-Computer Literacy
• Competency Requirements
• Core Competencies
• Accountability
• Communication
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client & Result Orientation
• Cross-Functional Competencies
• Analytical Thinking
• Technological Awareness
• Planning and Organizing
• Submission of applications
• English Desirable. Level intermediate.
• Shortlisted candidates may sit a technical test.
• Foreign candidates, to be considered eligible for this position, must have a temporary or permanent residence in Ecuador that allows them to carry out work activities in the country.
• If recommended, the candidate must submit a current and updated RUC Unique Taxpayer Registry and a voluntary contribution certificate to the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security IESS. Voluntary IESS securities will be covered by the staff member. The salary offered is in net terms.
• If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your application according to the following instructions:
• CANDIDATES WITH ACCESS TO THE WORKDAY: In order to apply, you must first create your profile in the WORKDAY system.

ii. EXTERNAL CANIDATES: Candidates who do NOT have access to the WORKDAY system should submit their application through UNHCR’s official site for applications:

https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html

WHEN CREATING A CANDIDATE PROFILE IN WORKDAY, PLEASE USE CAPSLOCKS FOR LAST NAME AND NO SPECIAL CHARACTERS (Ñ OR ACCENTS)

CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.

NOTE

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Skills

Additional Qualifications

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other Information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance