Careers opportunities - UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Yaounde , Cameroun : Assistant Legal Officer

Postuler
locations
Yaounde, Cameroon
time type
Full time
posted on

job requisition id
JR2332774
Hardship Level

B
Family Type

Family
Family Type

Family
Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

NOA
Staff Member / Affiliate Type

National Professional Officer
Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment
Remote work accepted
Non
Target Start Date

2024-01-01
Job Posting End Date :  December 20, 2023
Standard Job Description

Assistant Legal Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Legal Officer is a member of the protection or legal team in a Country or Sub-Office. He/she may report to the (Senior) Protection or (Senior) Legal Officer, Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative.

The Assistant Legal Officer assists the Office in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (POC). S/he is also required to assist the office in ensuring that POC are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern and authorities as well as protection and assistance partners.

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 preparation of legal advice and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.
- Stay abreast of the domestic legal issues and pertinent laws regarding POC and advise the Office accordingly.
- Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.
- Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
- Assist the Office in providing legal counselling to persons of concern.
- Liaise and intervene with local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to POC.
- May act as interpreter during meetings with authorities, if required.
- Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
- Assist in the development of project proposals and project implementation.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law; Human Rights Law; Refugee Law;
International Humanitarian Law;

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection would be an asset or any other equivalent external courses.

Functional Skills
LE-Legal Research
LE-Draft legal settlement agreements
UN-UN System - Legal Status and Structure
(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.

Desired Candidate Profile

The candidate should have a strong experience in RSD and engage relevant national authorities and structures in identifying and expanding opportunities in view of developing or strengthening national asylum/RSD systems, management of urban refugees, negotiation with government and durable solutions. S/H contributes to develop and implement in a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern, a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation and/or gender identities (LGBTI persons), persons living with HIV/AIDS; gender equality and Gender Based Violence (GBV) priorities with regard to these persons. The incumbent should have strong experience in training and capacity building in international protection, on statelessness and all people under UNHCR mandate. S/H should have a strong work experience in mixt situations with IDPs context, in refugee response and in durable solutions. The incumbent should also be fluent both in English and French. As well as Experience in supervising a team and proven ability to multi-task and manage multiple deadlines.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

French
,

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:
The Representation of UNHCR in Cameroon (MCO Cameroon) is covering the Republic of Cameroon, the Gabonese Republic, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome & Principe.

UNHCR Cameroon has his Branch Office in Yaoundé, three sub offices Maroua, Douala, Bertoua and 4 field Offices Kousseri, Bamenda, Meiganga, Djohong and Batouri.

As of 31st October 2023, UNHCR Cameroon hosted 484,969 registered refugees/asylum seekers and around 10,000 nonregistered refugees mostly from Central African Republic and from Nigeria, with few from various country of origin; over 1 million IDPs; 650,000 returnees former IDPs.

Under the supervision of the Senior Protection Officer in Yaoundé, the Assistant Protection Officer assists the Office in providing quality, timely, and effective protection responses to the needs of people under the mandate of UNHCR.  S/he is also required to assist the office in ensuring that refugee, asylum seekers, and IDPs are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern and authorities as well as protection and assistance partners.

The incumbent will supervise the legal protection team and will assists the protection team, in making sure that protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery are in line with the international standards and provides functional protection support and advice to other protection colleagues and other units.

S/he contributes to implementing, and adjusting when necessary, the office’s comprehensive protection strategy including the role of UNHCR in the context of further strengthening the national capacity of relevant actors, both governmental e.g. Ministry of Justice, and non-governmental, e.g. NGOs and lawyers.  In this regard, s/he represents the office externally on protection doctrine and policy as needed and under the guidance by the supervisor.  

S/he also works independently in constantly monitoring relevant legal and political developments, in asylum, internal displaced persons and statelessness issues, and provides recommendations to the protection team on appropriate advocacy and interventions for the office to make. S/he will be involved in UNHCR activities concerning internal displaced persons and the representation of UNHCR in IDPs platforms.

The incumbent will be conducting research and following the judicial developments at the national and regional level. S/he will be supporting the preparation of legal materials that are shared with the national counterparts as recommendations. S/he will be engaged in preparing compilation of good practices and comparative charts on a broad spectrum of topics and reporting of the developments. The incumbent will also support organizing capacity-building activities through the preparation of materials and presenting the topics.

The Assistant Protection Officer will provide counselling to asylum seekers and refugees on UNHCR's RSD procedures and on their status, rights and obligations in the country of asylum.  S/he may review RSD assessments of less experienced members of the RSD team, seeking the advice of a more senior RSD/Protection Officer on complex cases, and may assist in developing and implementing RSD training and other measures to enhance the quality and efficiency of RSD decision-making.

The Assistant Protection officer should be aware of the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, persons living with HIV/AIDS; gender equality and Gender Based Violence (GBV) and will be the focal point of persons of diverse sexual orientation and/or gender identities (LGBTI persons).

Living and Working Conditions:
Yaoundé is a family duty station with suitable infrastructures/facilities. Good quality accommodation (hotels, apartments, houses, studios) at a price ranging from 800 USD to 1,600 USD per month depending on their localization with acceptable standards is available both in the capital and in the field offices. There are several supermarkets where local and foreign goods are available.  French and American International schools exist in Yaounde and Douala. A UN dispensary frequented by staff and other UN recommended medical facilities are also available/accessible by UNHCR staff and their family members. Several banks and ATM are available in the capital accepting Visa and Master cards. Travels within the country are undertaken regularly through UNHAS and CAMAIRCO (national company) flights or by road. Many airlines fly to Douala and Yaounde. Traveling by road is also practiced by UNHCR with overnight in approved hotels. Taxi services are available, but it¿s recommended to be use them with caution. Ther is a variety of mobile phone operators providing equipment and internet services (Camtel, MTN, Orange, Nextel). Several entertainment centres exist in Yaoundé: stadium, nightclubs, swimming pools, theatre, handicraft centres, fitness rooms, centre of attraction for children, etc.  Upon arrival, staff will be assisted with proper security briefing sessions conducted both by UNDSS/UNHCR as well as the heads of main units/sections.The current security situation in Yaoundé is relatively calm. UNDSS Security levels are currently rated at SLS 2 (LOW) for Yaoundé and SLS 4 (Substantial) in the North-West, South-West and Far-North regions. The main security concern in Yaoundé city is crime, which includes petty thefts, vehicle break-in, house break-in, street robberies, physical assault and fraud. The holding of legislative and municipal elections was marked by an upsurge in violence in North-West and Southwest regions of the country as secessionists attempted to disrupt the elections. A UNDSS security clearance must be requested through TRIP system at least 72 hours before travel date and must be obtained before starting any official trip

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) : Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA) : International Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA) : Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA) : Refugee Law
Certifications

HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Organizational awareness, Policy research & development, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium
Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/fr-FR/External?locationCountry=b579d21545a140c49418f0a3451a3160