Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Associate

Mission and objectivesThe Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

ContextThe general situation in Southern África remains stable despite growing tensions related to disputed election results, conflict, human rights violations, and governance concerns. The region is in the process of operationalizing the Global Compact on Refugees, with a focus on applying comprehensive refugee responses through a regional approach. However, increasing movements of asylum seekers from other parts of África and Asia continue to raise concerns among authorities, leading to restricted access to territory and asylum procedures in several countries. This has resulted in significant backlogs in refugee status determination (RSD), compounded by mixed migratory flows. Asylum systems in Southern African countries remain weak and rudimentary, heavily reliant on UNHCR’s technical support to function effectively. Meanwhile, the Indian Ocean States do not have established asylum systems due to their non-accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention. UNHCR is actively promoting accession to international and regional refugee instruments in these countries while also enhancing efforts to find comprehensive solutions that ease pressure on host nations. The UNHCR South Africa Multi Country Office (SAMCO) oversees refugee and statelessness issues across Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, and Seychelles. South Africa is party to both the refugee OAU 1969 Convention and the 1951 Convention; UNHCR is robustly promoting accession to international statelessness Conventions as well. In general, the legal framework for the protection of refugees is progressive but challenges continue to put pressure on the system. The Government of South Africa reports 167,615 forcibly displaced persons, including 98,688 asylum seekers and 68,929 refugees. Registration is managed by the Department of Home Affairs. UNHCR supports protection, fair asylum procedures, and durable solutions such as resettlement, repatriation, and integration. Challenges include restrictions on access, backlogs in refugee status determination, and barriers for new arrivals and children. UNHCR addresses these through technical support, child protection, statelessness initiatives, and social cohesion projects. It co-chairs a Protection Working Group to coordinate responses to violence against foreign nationals. UNHCR advocates for protection-sensitive entry procedures and stronger registration systems to ensure fair and accessible asylum processes, aligning with its goal of leaving no one behind.

Task DescriptionWithin the delegated authority and under the technical supervision of Senior RSD Associate and supervision of the RSD Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV RSD Associate will: • Support with conducting Refugee Status Determination interviews, drafting legal assessments and making recommendations (at first instance and appeal) of refugee status, in accordance with UNHCR guidelines and procedural standards. • Provide assistance with RSD counseling services to refugees and asylum-seekers when necessary, informing and acting upon requests received from refugees and other stakeholders. • Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD. • Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise. • Provide counselling to, and respond to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees, including in the context of the notification of negative RSD decisions. • Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases. • Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and persons of concern. • Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions. • Conduct research on country-of-origin information (COI) and other issues related to RSD and maintain the Operations local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation. • Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analyzing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing. • Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policies and practice. • Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making. • Draft correspondence and reports relating to the RSD activities of the Operation. • Refer individual cases to other functional units in the Operation and/or external partners for appropriate follow-up, in accordance with established criteria. • Counsel individual asylum-seekers on the reasons for negative RSD decisions, in accordance with the RSD SOPs. • Any other related tasks related to the assignment as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies and valuesProfessionalism, Integrity, Teamwork and respect for diversity, Commitment to continuous learning, Planning and organizing, Communication, Flexibility, Accountability, Organizational Awareness, Client & Result Orientation; Managerial Competencies - Judgement and Decision Making, Analytical Thinking, Planning and Organizing Stakeholder Management.

Living conditions and remarksNational UN Volunteers typically serve within their home country, with living conditions varying by duty station. Urban areas offer access to amenities like housing and healthcare, while rural locations may require adaptability. Volunteers are responsible for their own accommodation, with guidance from the host entity, and receive safety and security support through the UN system. Allowances cover basic needs, and volunteers benefit from unique opportunities to engage with local cultures and communities. UN Volunteers receives the below entitlements: • A Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): ZAR 19056.09 per month, • A once off entry lumpsum of $400 at the start of the assignment, • Medical insurance; life cover, and annual leave, • Access to all learning platforms, • A once off exit lumpsum at the end of the assignment.