Policy Officer

Deadline for ApplicationsDecember 2, 2025Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship Family Type (not applicable for home-based)Family Staff Member / Affiliate TypeCONS Local Target Start Date Terms of Reference1. General Background of Project or Assignment:Voluntary repatriation remains one of the three durable solutions promoted by UNHCR. It is grounded in the principle that refugees have the right to return to their country of origin in safety and dignity, and that such return should be informed, voluntary, and sustainable. UNHCR supports voluntary repatriation through a range of activities including legal and physical protection, reintegration support, and coordination with host and origin countries.In recent years, the operational landscape for voluntary repatriation has become increasingly complex. Many returns occur in protracted displacement contexts, often without formal agreements or comprehensive reintegration frameworks. This has underscored the need for robust protection monitoring systems to assess conditions in areas of return, identify risks, and ensure that returnees' rights are upheld. Protection monitoring also plays a critical role in informing programmatic responses, advocacy, and policy development.Protection monitoring tools and methodologies are being adapted to better capture the experiences of diverse groups, including women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities, and to ensure that reintegration efforts are responsive to their specific needs.Despite the importance of these efforts, there remains a gap in the documentation of good and promising practices in voluntary repatriation and protection /return monitoring. Capturing and analyzing field-level innovations and lessons learned is essential to support cross-regional learning, strengthen operational guidance, and scale up effective approaches across the organization. A recent concluded evaluation on repatriation and reintegration activities include recommendations for UNHCR work.The purpose of this assignment is to identify, analyze and document good/promising and innovative field practices in the field of return/ repatriation, community participation in solutions planning and programming, as well as protection monitoring in areas of return, also known as return monitoring. The documentation of field practices will accompany the release of the UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation Operational Guidelines and be included in the Toolkit on protection monitoring.2. Occupational Safety and Health ConsiderationsTo view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link:Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations to this assignment (if applicable): n/a3. Overall Purpose and Scope of AssignmentThe aim of this assignment is to identify or validate, conduct an analysis and document field practices that illustrate UNHCR's work on return/ repatriation and protection monitoring in areas of return, also known as return monitoring. It is expected that the material produced will accompany the release of the Operational Guidelines on Voluntary Repatriation and populate the Protection monitoring Toolkit. Considering the short assignment, and to the extent possible, the practices that needs to be documented will be pre-identified.The incumbent will develop a workplan, review various existing sources to identify or validate examples of case studies, and hold consultations with Regional Bureaux, operations and Headquarter Divisions/Services as relevant. The incumbent will draft high quality case studies/documentation of practices and ensure that those are presented, including through visuals. The incumbent will also be responsible to disseminate the materials produced through webinars and by including them in dedicated platforms.The incumbent will report to the Durable Solutions Officer within the Solutions Service in the Division of International Protection and Solutions. Weekly meeting will take place to monitor progress or more frequent discussion will be arranged if needed. The incumbent will also work closely with other members of the Division, in particular colleagues working on community-based protection but also colleagues in other Divisions and Services.This assignment is task-based and will consist in the following three broad objectives: delivery high- quality analysis through identification/validation and documentation of good, promising and innovative practices; support learning and cross fertilization on repatriation and protection monitoring and lastly support development of knowledge platforms, already existing on repatriation and protection monitoring.To achieve the above the following tasks have been identified:Deliverable 1 – Review and Planning (8 days)Outputs:1.Desk Review Report• Summary of findings from COMPASS data, mid-year and end-year reports, mission reports, and field examples.• Identification and preliminary validation of potential good practices in repatriation and protection monitoring.• Overview of existing global and regional guidance on repatriation and protection monitoring and identification of areas for possible documentation• Identification of overlaps, gaps, and areas for further elaboration.2. Gap Analysis Matrix• A matrix highlighting under-documented thematic areas and geographical areas requiring further exploration.3. Practice Documentation Templates• Draft or revised templates for capturing field practices, including fields for context, methodology, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned.• User guidance notes for field colleagues on how to complete the templates.4. Inception Workplan with Timeline• Detailed workplan outlining methodology, deliverables, milestones, responsibilities, and timeline for the full assignment.• Includes stakeholder engagement plan and review process.Deliverable 2 – Delivery of Case Studies (49 days)Outputs:Nine Finalized Case StudiesEach case study should include:• Background and context• Description of the practice• Implementation process• Results and impact• Challenges and mitigation strategies• Lessons learned and recommendations• Visual materials (photos, infographics, maps, etc.)Deliverable 3 – Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination (8 days)Outputs:1. Updated Knowledge Platforms• Revised content for the two knowledge platforms on repatriation and protection monitoring.• Integration of the nine case studies with appropriate tagging, summaries, and visuals.2. Dissemination Materials• Dissemination strategy prepared3. Webinar(s) prepared and delivered• Materials prepared• Report of webinarsQualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language required):The ideal candidate will have:Education:• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in social sciences, anthropology, sociology, international/community development studies, law or a related field.Experience:• 6 years work experience with Bachelor's degree; 5 years work experience with post graduate degree in desired field of education.• Preference will be given to candidates with previous work experience with UNHCR and with experience in similar tasks.Competencies:• Excellent analytical and drafting skills (write with clarity, high level of analysis, and conciseness)• Excellent presentations skills• Demonstrated organizational skills i.e. ability to work independently, in an organized manner.• Flexible work attitude and capacity to adapt quickly.• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.5. Monitoring and Progress Controls (report requirements, periodicity, format, deadlines):a. The final product (e.g. survey completed, data collected, workshop conducted, research documents produced specify): 9 documented practices/ case study are properly documented. The case studies have been disseminated through community of practices, webinars and properly presented in the dedicated platforms.b. Delivery periodicity• See above for information on deliverables and timelines.c. If it is to result in a written product specify:i. Number of pages: +/- 6 pages per practiceii. Language(s): English and French or Spanish if possibleiii. Number of copies: -Location and ConditionsThis is a full-time consultancy and the successful candidate will be home-based.Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may differ based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).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.Standard Job Description Required Languages English,,Desired Languages French,,Additional Qualifications SkillsEducationBachelor's: Anthropology (Required), Bachelor's: Development Studies (Required), Bachelor's: Social Science (Required), Bachelor's: Sociology (Required)Certifications Work ExperienceOther informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearanceRemoteYes