Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)D
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA5
Target Start Date2025-07-01
Deadline for ApplicationsJune 14, 2025
Terms of ReferenceLebanon continues to host the highest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer in the world. The Government of Lebanon estimates that there are 1.4 million displaced Syrians living in Lebanon in addition to some 11,200 refugees of other nationalities as well as asylum seekers. Refugees live across nearly all municipalities in Lebanon in both urban and rural areas, as well as in informal tented settlements. The 2023 Vulnerability Assessment for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (VASyR) indicates that 9 out of 10 Syrian refugees continue relying on humanitarian assistance to survive.
Since the fall of the Assad government in Syria on 8 December 2024, UNHCR has updated its position on the Voluntary Return of Syrian refugees to Syria. While UNHCR is not currently promoting large-scale voluntary repatriation to Syria, it is supporting Syrian refugees who fully informed, voluntarily choose to return to Syria in safety and dignity. In this spirit, UNHCR released its Regional Operational Framework for Voluntary Return to Syria in February 2025 to operationalize support to Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries who voluntarily choose to return to Syria. In Lebanon, within the UNHCR-led Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG), an Inter-Agency Voluntary Return Action Plan has been drafted and endorsed; and equally socialized with the ISCG and the Government of Lebanon to implement a common blueprint for the voluntary return of up to 400,000 refugees to Syria in 2025. As part of the Action Plan, UNHCR in coordination with the Government of Lebanon, UN agencies, NGO and donor partners, will implement several pathways for voluntary return, including structured “go-and-see” visits, UNHCR-supported self-organized voluntary return and UNHCR/IOM organized voluntary return programmes; in addition to supporting community-led initiatives for voluntary return.
UNHCR in Lebanon has over 300 staff across offices in Beirut (classified by ICSC as ‘C’ family duty station), as well in Zahle, Tripoli, Qobayat (classified as category ‘D’ family duty stations). The current overall situation in the region is closely monitored and the applicants should be aware of overall developments in the security situation on the ground that may affect the classification of the duty stations.
The Zahle Office covers 2 governorates; Bekaa and Baalbek which cover about 40% of the country and include very diverse political and religious groups. In addition, the area includes remote and mountainous communities as well as rural and agricultural areas sometimes requiring traveling long distances while it stretches along the eastern border with Syria and includes multiple official (including Masnaa and Qaa) and unofficial crossing points. The region hosts an estimated 500,000 refugees who are concentrated in Central Bekaa, Baalbek and Hermel while approximately 45% live in Informal Tented Settlements (ITS). Like other areas of Lebanon, the Bekaa has been affected by the economic collapse, strain on basic services, and ongoing political deadlock, which has resulted in increasing tensions, calls for return of refugees, and in some cases restrictive measures and increased scrutiny of humanitarian organizations. The UNHCR Zahle Sub-Office was established in 2011 however currently the office is in the process of being downgraded to a Field Office based in Zahle with a reduced presence.
This position aims to ensure the implementation of the Inter-Agency Voluntary Return Action Plan, to support the safe, dignified and voluntary return of up to 400,000 Syrian refugees in 2025 and a projected 300,000 Syrian refugees in 2026. The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant will manage voluntary return interview and staff scheduling, community engagement activities on return in coordination with caseworkers, social workers and the NGO partners managing the CDCs to ensure return assessments are scheduled and completed in a timely manner. The incumbent will also conduct voluntariness assessments with individual adults in returning families and ensure that children and vulnerable adults are not left behind without effective support in return processing. In particular, the Senior Durable Solutions Assistant will provide guidance to caseworkers, assess complex cases, and together with the Durable Solutions Associate Team Leader, liaise closely with Registration, Basic Assistance and Protection teams to identify and refer persons in need of specialized arrangements for return, protection case management and other interventions prior to return. The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant will also conduct regular missions to the border crossing points to accompany and/or monitor returns, whether community, self-organized or organized, and conduct border monitoring of the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees. In addition, the incumbent will also provide regular return and border monitoring reports, including statistical data and qualitative information on the programmes; working closely with the Operational Data Management and Information Management Team in the Country Office where specifical technical support is required. The incumbent may need to provide some data management support.
The Durable Solutions position requires regular field presence, including at designated Return Centers (Community Development Centers) in Bekaa. The position requires good knowledge and understanding of protection principles, including the principles and standards outlined in UNHCR’s Handbook on Voluntary Repatriation. Experience with case management, and counseling with refugees at individual and group level particularly with regard to durable solutions is an asset. Previous experience with border or protection monitoring, including reporting and analysis also considered desirable. The incumbent will also need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern. The incumbent should have good computer skills and knowledge of UNHCRs systems, including proGres, BIMS, RAIS and Kobo databases as well as basic data management skills. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instruction, including adherence to UNHCR’s Code of Conduct, and implementation of UNHCRs Policies on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Anti-Fraud.
Desired Candidate Profile:
• The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant position requires a candidate with good knowledge of UNHCRs Protection principles and policies, technical skills and experience with protection case management, strong communication and interpersonal skills including working with forcibly displaced populations, and good teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Previous work experience in protection case management, including provision of counselling, and conducting case management interviews and assessments. In particular for durable solutions is highly desirable.
• Previous experience with border or protection monitoring is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of UNHCRs corporate systems including proGres, BIMS, RAIS and Kobo are highly desirable.
• (Accountability): Demonstrates professionalism and commitment to their work to achieve positive outcomes for forcibly displaced and stateless persons in Lebanon.
• (Analysis & Reporting): The incumbent must have good technical data analysis and drafting skills to provide regular statistical and qualitative analysis on return programmes in a timely manner.
• (Communication): Good inter-personal skills engaging with colleagues, partners and forcibly displaced and stateless persons in Lebanon. Previous experience with protection case management, in particular durable solutions is desirable.
• (Organizational Awareness): Good knowledge of UN system and humanitarian response architecture in Lebanon is required; including durable solutions activities within the wider inter-agency context is highly desirable.
• (Teamwork and Collaboration): Ability to work effectively with colleagues and partners from different backgrounds, cultures and functions.
• (Commitment to Continuous Learning): Demonstrates commitment to learning and growth, in particular adaptability to evolving operational environment in Lebanon.
• (Client and Result Orientation): Good understanding of needs of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, and commitment to providing quality assessments.
• (Planning and Organization): Experience in arranging and managing staff interview schedules and timelines, in accordance with available staff and interview room capacity.
• (Coordination): Previous experience in coordination with different stakeholders including UN, I/NGOs and local government authorities; and ability to coordinate across sectors/units and offices.
• Willingness to support other duties, as required by the operational context.
Standard Job Description
Senior Durable Solutions Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant reports to a Durable Solutions Associate or Officer.
The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. Contributing to fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies.
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
- Provide counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) about their durable solutions needs.
- Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return, in line with Voluntary Repatriation SOPs.
- Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners, in line with Local Integration SOPs.
- Participate in identifying resettlement needs of refugees, in line with Resettlement SOPs.
- Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures.
- Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner.
- Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners.
- Interview and advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC.
- Prepare documents relating to durable solutions.
- Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Protection Induction Prog;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. Experience in interviewing.
Functional Skills
DM-Database Management
IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
(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
,
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
SkillsDM-Database Management, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
Education
CertificationsHCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
RemoteNo