Associate Durable Solutions Officer

February 24, 2026

B

FamilyFamily

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-03-01

Associate Durable Solutions Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Durable Solutions Officer can serve as a focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to the Durable Solutions Officer, Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff.

The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. The Associate Durable Solutions Officer should participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and a broad range of partners to promote durable solutions and advance the efficiency of UNHCR's interventions. Activities to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies are a critical element of the work.

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
- Implement activities in accordance with the comprehensive solutions strategy, with a view to finding durable solutions to the maximum number of PoCs.
- Participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks.
- Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners to promote voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement.
- Meet PoC, assess their durable solutions needs and identify the most appropriate solutions for them.
- Monitor the implementation of the durable solutions strategy and provide advice for improvements.
- Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
- Interview and prepare Resettlement Referral Forms (RRF), in line with Resettlement 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.
- Implement and contribute to the designing of national and regional comprehensive durable solutions strategies
- Engage national and local interlocutors on durable solutions issues.
- Authorize payments relating to durable solutions.

- 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 P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Political Science;
Social Science;
Law/International Law;
Economics;
International Relations;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR RSD Lrng Programme;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of refugee issues and Human Rights doctrine. Very good reporting and writing ability.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. Knowledge of ProGress database software.

Functional Skills
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
*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.

The Associate Durable Solutions Officer will head the Durable Solutions unit and report directly to the Deputy Chief of Mission. S/he will serve as a focal point for solutions including measures to uphold processing integrity as means of ensuring a conducive environment towards finding durable solutions. The candidate should have diverse field experience across all aspects of resettlement, complementary pathways and voluntary repatriation, along with a demonstrated ability to build and foster effective relations with government institutions, resettlement countries and other donor States as well as to liaise with UNHCR operations, Regional Bureaus and HQ.

The candidate should have an established record of providing oversight of resettlement activities – including setting up systems and procedures, building capacity and monitoring implementation – in compliance with UNHCR Resettlement and Integrity Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Additionally, s/he should have experience overseeing the implementation of Complementary Pathways and Voluntary Repatriation programs, establishing systems and procedures to support these processes, advising on improvements and cultivating constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated experience in leading and managing teams is essential, as is advocacy experience. Proven experience in durable solutions is required as well as experience in contributing to the designing of national comprehensive durable solutions strategies.

The position requires strong communication, interpersonal, negotiation, training, decision-making, drafting skills – including proven experience in drafting SOPs – proGres v4, and computer skills, as well as excellent oral and written English. The candidate should have experience counselling refugees and asylum seekers, managing refugee expectations and demonstrating solid cross-cultural communication skills. Experience working with refugees with specific needs, including unaccompanied minors, women at risk, and refugees with medical requirements, is also required.

The candidate should have a proven ability to meet targets and tight deadlines combined with solid skills in planning, organizational and time management. Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail are required. Previous experience in setting up systems and procedures for the identification of vulnerable refugees for referral to solutions is highly desirable.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

New Delhi is the capital city of India. The city is culturally diverse, economically vibrant and a well-developed urban environment. It is a category B family duty station. There are many excellent international schools in the city. Private healthcare is very good, and the city is a destination for UNHCR staff that require emergency medical evacuation.  App-based delivery and services are also abundant for daily needs. It has a large expat population. 

The current UNDSS security classification for New Delhi is level '3' (Moderate).  Under UNDSS threat assessment, there are no major issues of concern to the UN system. Political demonstrations and protests are common and cyber security crimes are on the rise.  

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

India currently hosts more than 253,739 refugees and asylum seekers. These include some 89,507 Sri Lankan refugees and 63,167 Tibetans directly assisted by the Government of India. There are 48,266 individuals registered under UNHCR’s mandate primarily from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other countries. In addition, around 52,700 Myanmar nationals have sought refuge in the Northeast of India and live in a refugee-like situation. UNHCR works with the Government of India to offer protection and find solutions for refugees and asylum seekers.

UNHCR India is prioritizing three core objectives: mandate-critical protection and solutions work; lifesaving and emergency activities with a focus on the most vulnerable; and essential resource mobilization and advocacy for protection and inclusion. The operation focuses on core protection and solutions activities that only UNHCR can deliver, working in close collaboration with the Government of India, civil society, development actors, private sector and other stakeholders.  

 

With refugees and asylum seekers spread across 13 different locations in the country, UNHCR India relies on five local NGO partners for support. UNHCR funds activities that complement or facilitate access to essential services and assist the most vulnerable people with humanitarian assistance.

 

UNHCR also works with various partners and key stakeholders to promote the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The office engages in advocacy with the government on the development of a national framework for refugee protection, promotes the use of alternatives to detention and calls for improved access to government recognized documentation.

As part of its solutions work, UNHCR India supports the voluntary repatriation of refugees to their home country and promotes the expansion of complementary pathways, including labor mobility and educational opportunities. In the spirit of responsibility-sharing, UNHCR also advocates for enhanced international collaboration to expand resettlement opportunities for refugees in India.

In response to decreasing resettlement quotas combined with significant budget and staffing cuts impacting assistance and programs, UNHCR is implementing a series of measures to mitigate any risks of fraud committed by refugees or of misconduct by UNHCR staff and partners within the overall objective of upholding integrity in processing and service delivery.

UNHCR’s main office is located in New Delhi with a field presence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu State.

Living and Working Conditions:

A seasonal environmental concern is severe air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust and slash-and-burn agricultural activities in the neighboring states of Delhi.  The severity of some months has resulted in schools being closed and WHO putting out a health warning for individuals who have respiratory and related health challenges. Air pollution is a health concern particularly for those suffering from allergies or respiratory illnesses. The prolonged exposure to air pollutants can be detrimental to one’s health and can contribute to breathing problems, development of chronic diseases, deterioration of health status in individuals with chronic diseases. Usage of N-95 is encouraged when outdoors during air pollution season. The UNHCR office building is equipped with an air purification system to mitigate the air pollution inside the building.  Dengue fever is also a risk during or following the monsoon season.  
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software

Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has 20,305 staff working in 136 countries as of December 2023.