February 11, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

C

FamilyUNOPS LICA6

2026-04-01Operational context:

Lebanon remains among the countries hosting the largest refugee populations per capita worldwide, including Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR, refugees of other nationalities—primarily Iraqi—as well as Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate. UNHCR in Lebanon is the designated lead agency for the refugee response and works in coordination with the Government of Lebanon and other organizations. The refugee response is implemented through a sector-based coordination structure at both central and field levels, bringing together UN agencies, national and international NGOs, and relevant government ministries to identify needs and agree on strategic priorities addressing the protection and assistance needs of refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities.

Lebanon is not a party to the 1951 Convention. While the 1962 Law on Foreigners contains an explicit reference to the right to seek political asylum (Art. 26) and to the principle of non-refoulement (Art. 31), there is neither national legal framework no administration practice in place specifically addressing the status of refugees in the country. In the absence of national entity with the authority or expertise to conduct Refugee Status Determination (RSD), the RSD procedures are at present undertaken by UNHCR based on its Mandate. In line with its strategic approach, RSD is used to enhance protection outcomes for refugees, particularly through differentiated processing modalities inclusive of regular RSD, simplified and merged procedures applied vis-à-vis different populations. Against this background, the RSD Unit in Lebanon regularly reviews processing modalities to enhance efficiency and to ensure that RSD continues to play its intended role with the broader protection strategy and environment.

With significant operational changes initiated in 2025, UNHCR Lebanon undertook prioritization of resources including within the primary case processing functions such as Registration, RSD and Resettlement. As a result, the composition of the RSD Unit was revised down to critical level.

The RSD Associate (UNOPS LICA-6) assists in overseeing UNHCR’s RSD procedures and related activities in the operation. The RSD Associate(UNOPS LICA-6) is supervised by Associate RSD Officer and on specific tasks, may report directly on Snr. RSD Associate as agreed and reflected in individual Terms of Reference (ToRs).

The RSD Associate (UNOPS LICA-6) implements RSD procedures and guidance by conducting RSD interviews at the Case Processing Center (CPC) in Beirut, or in detention facilities and in shelters, as needed; drafting RSD assessments and making recommendations; assisting with file reviews at different stages of the RSD process and providing counselling to individuals contacting the Office.

The RSD Associate (UNOPS LICA-6) collaborates closely with Protection, Registration and Resettlement colleagues, as well as with Government authorities and partners on the implementation of RSD procedures in fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner.


Desired Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate should have:
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage in sensitive contexts requiring deep understanding of child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) issues and experiences presented by survivors of torture and trauma;
• Capacity to work effectively with interpreters, colleagues from RSD and other UNHCR units, legal partners, government counterparts and non-government protection partners;
• Prior experience in Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and/or Legal aid for refugees or asylum-seekers;
• Proven experience managing high-volume caseloads while maintaining quality and procedural fairness;
• Advanced drafting and analytical skills, with ability to document assessments and produce recommendations within the set processing time-frames.

Additionally, formal training in international refugee law or human rights law and RSD-RST Learning programmes and advanced knowledge of UNHCR case management systems and tools (e.g. proGres) should be considered as assets.

 

Standard Job Description

RSD Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The RSD Associate is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. S/he is responsible for supporting all activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Operation. The RSD Associate provides counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's RSD procedures, their rights and obligations, including towards the host authorities, and the status of the processing of their claims. In discharging these responsibilities, the RSD Associate liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other Protection staff. The RSD Associate is responsible for conducting COI and other research related to RSD and maintaining the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards. S/he may also assist in drafting RSD Assessments. The RSD Associate assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the Operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. The RSD Associate may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.

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
- 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 Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.
- Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing 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.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Counselling Asylum Seekers or Refugees, PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures, PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance, SO-Research, WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals

Education

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work - Other, HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No