JOB DESCRIPTION

A (least hardship)

Family

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-07-23

August 8, 2025

Durable Solutions Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Durable Solutions Officer is a focal point for solutions related issues in a country, and normally reports to the Senior Durable Solutions Officer, Senior Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Assistant or Deputy Representative. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff, who may include staff within the functional groups of durable solutions, reintegration, repatriation, and resettlement. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff and ensures operational standards and practices in solutions delivery at the country level.

The Durable Solutions Officer is relied upon to assist in the development, implementation and adherence to protection, resilience and solutions strategies and to advise on all solutions topics. These include: voluntary repatriation (refugees) or return (IDPs) and sustainable reintegration; local integration and other local solutions; relocation, resettlement and complementary pathways for admission to third countries; Global Compact on Refugees commitments and opportunities; housing, land and property; statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024); age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection. The Durable Solutions Officer should provide planning and foresight to advance progress in Protracted Refugee situations, where applicable, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted. Assisting the Country Office in 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. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he also coordinates durable solutions activities between and among country offices in the region ensuring consistency with relevant Global Strategic Priorities and Policies. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he works closely with protection, registration, information management, education, development, programme and technical staff including cash, livelihoods and shelter, and promotes operational standards, policy and practices in comprehensive solutions delivery. The incumbent may maintain close working relations with regionally based UN sister entities, other intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organisations on durable solutions matters.

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
– Support the development of multiyear comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant.
– Monitor the implementation of, and implement interventions under, the protection and solutions strategy/ies; identify challenges and report on achievements.
– Serve as focal point for durable solutions, including chairing Durable Solutions Working Group(s) and achieving a schematic overview of country/regional Durable Solution Working Groups or other solutions coordination mechanisms.
– Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of external partners to promote all durable solutions.
– Ensure close linkages with staff that oversee data and information production to deliver fact based advocacy and support for durable solutions.
– Support the internal UNHCR processes related to voluntary repatriation and returns, including data management, the preparation of Exchange of Letters, Tripartite Agreements, standard operating procedures and other agreements as required.
– Support country operations in the development and implementation of the local integration and other local solutions aspects of solutions strategies, ensuring inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in national systems and services, and in national and local development processes.
– In the absence of dedicated resettlement and complementary pathways staff, and in close collaboration with multi-functional teams: ensure UNHCR’s resettlement and complementary pathways for admission standards are correctly and coherently applied; efficient, fair and transparent procedures are in place across the AOR, targets are met and fraud prevention mechanisms are in place; operations are supported to develop advocacy strategies and operational responses to pursue the identification, development, promotion and facilitation of access to complementary pathways for admissions to third countries; ensure that country operations plans reflect the strategy on RST/CP and that the necessary resources are allocated to address gaps across the AOR.
– Represent UNHCR’s Resettlement and Complementary Pathways positions with Resettlement and other third countries, host government and at regional level.
– Building on the commitments made in the Global Compact on Refugees, support the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with UN and other development agencies, civil society, peacebuilding actors, and the private sector, engaging on areas including resilience, rule of law and governance, and housing land and property.
– Ensure that UNHCR’s analysis of the risks and obstacles to solutions, including sustainable reintegration and integration, is instrumental in development actors’ priority areas of engagement.
– Provide planning and foresight to advance progress for protracted refugee situations, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted.
– Liaise with colleagues for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing durable solutions needs and ensuring adequate and timely interventions.
– Support Communication staff in developing a communication plan to support the durable solutions strategy, including media.
– Serve as focal point on durable Solutions-related issues for communities to ensure good communication.
– Advise on populations of concern’ appropriate engagement for the identification of the most appropriate solutions, including through enhanced two-way communication, participatory assessments, intentions and perceptions surveys, and other forms of community based assessments.
– Promote the strengthened involvement of 25,940 in the design and implementation of solutions strategies, transition projects, peace-building and development initiatives.
– Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
– Participate in training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner staff on durable solutions, peace building/coexistence and partnership.
– Monitor the implementation of the programme through managing the human and financial resources and identify gaps to ensure optimum use of available funds.
– Represent UNHCR in meetings related to durable solutions.
– Clear documents and reports coming out of the Durable Solutions Unit.

In addition to the main duties listed above, for positions located in regional bureaux:
– Support the development of multiyear regional situational comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant, together with UNHCR’s stakeholders in Bureau and country operations, governments and other partners.

– 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 P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

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

Certificates and/or Licenses
Management Learning Programme;

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Previous experience in solutions contexts. Thorough knowledge of International refugee law and its application.

Desirable
Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.

Functional Skills
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Durable Solutions/Comprehensive Solutions Strategies implementation
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications
*PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework
PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
(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.

– Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and overseeing activities within a voluntary repatriation strategy.
– Strong ability to coordinate with diverse stakeholders, including border authorities, UN agencies, donors and NGOs, and to engage in evidence-based advocacy on returns.
– Strong experience in developing and enhancing border monitoring procedures and voluntary return processes, including pre-screening, voluntary assessment interviews, and protection interventions related to returns.
– Experience in designing and implementing outreach strategies, including use of social media and helpline processes, and focused group discussions with refugees.
– Proven experience in program planning, monitoring and reporting in the context of returns and durable solutions.
– Strong skills in data management, trend analysis, and knowledge in developing and conducting intentions surveys.
– Experience in developing and implementing strategies and projects on cash-based interventions for return.
– Strong technical knowledge of complementary pathways processes and proven experience engaging with partners to implement and facilitate such programs, including to test new and innovative models.
– Experience working in coordination with livelihoods, education, and development sectors to promote durable solutions.
– Innovative and strategic thinking with ability to identify opportunities for strategic engagement on resettlement and complementary pathways in line with objectives of the GCR.
– Management of multifunctional team delivering a variety of roles and technical areas of focus.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Amman is the home to many top-end hospitals and clinics. Due to Jordanian healthcare’s international appeal, nearly all doctors and many support staff speak English. Healthcare here is also very accessible and affordable. The Security Level for Amman and the rest of the country is assessed at Level 2 (LOW). Various hazards, in some cases, pose a continuing threat to UN staff. Despite stricter traffic legislation adopted in August 2023 in Jordan, Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) are frequently occurring due to the extensive travel of UN personnel for official or private travel within the country. Poor road conditions, reckless driving, inexperience, mechanical faults and non-adherence to road safety rules and regulations principally account for many road traffic accidents. Flash floods often occur in winter and affect a few parts of the country, including the capital Amman and the Dead Sea region. The overall hazards threat is assessed as ‘Moderate’.

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

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Jordan is the third largest host of Syrian refugees after Turkey and Lebanon while also giving a home to refugees of other nationalities. The refugee population in Jordan consists of Syrian nationals (some 89%) and refugees of other nationalities (11% ). Iraqis are the largest group,

followed by Yemenis, Sudanese, Somali, and other nationalities.

Since the fall of the Assad government on 8 December 2024, the context inside Syria has drastically changed, with reverberating effects for the more than five million Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries. UNHCR estimates that more than 100,000 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Jordan have returned to Syria since 8 December 2024. Findings from UNHCR’s Refugee Perceptions and Intentions Survey (RPIS) conducted in January 2025 also indicate that the intention to return amongst Syrian refugees in the region, including Jordan, has increased dramatically since December 2024, with 27% of refugees surveyed in neighboring countries indicating the desire to return home in the next 12 months.

Although UNHCR is not promoting large-scale voluntary repatriation to Syria at this time given the uncertain context, self-organized returns are occurring at scale, and through feedback received from refugees, refugees in Jordan and other neighboring countries have asked for UNHCR’s

support to enable their voluntary return, including through financial and transportation assistance. As a result, UNHCR is now facilitating voluntary returns of Syrian refugees to Syria by supporting them to do so in a safe and dignified manner and ensuring the decision to return is voluntary and well-informed. UNHCR is expecting that 200,000 refugees will return to Syria from Jordan in 2025. In addition, refugees from other nationalities will continue to return to their country of origin, albeit at a much smaller scale.

The prolonged nature of the Syrian crisis has had a detrimental impact on the protection space in Jordan, including restricted access to territory, higher risks of detention, work permit limitations, and strained resources to ensure basic needs. More than 80 per cent of the refugees are living in urban areas throughout Jordan, utilizing social and physical infrastructure. This has caused strain on systems across several critical sectors, including health, education, and municipal services.

With the change in the protection context and an increased focus on return, there are concerns that there will be a shift and/or reduction of humanitarian assistance to the detriment of refugees remaining in Jordan. Such a shift may also negatively impact the protection environment in Jordan.

Resettlement continues to represent an essential strategic protection tool, albeit only benefitting a small number of refugees. The operation has seen a significant drop on resettlement quotas from 9,000 in 2024 to less than 1,500 in 2025. However, advocacy for resettlement as a valuable protection tool for both Syrian and non-Syrian refugees with a focus on particularly vulnerable protection profiles remains a key priority. With the for reduced resettlement quotas, the operation will continue to improve its methodology of resettlement identification by more effectively using data on specific needs/vulnerability and coping strategies, and review procedures with necessary integrity measures.

Jordan operation has worked with several partners to support refugees’ access to various education, employment, humanitarian visa, and family reunification pathways. Expanding complementary pathways will remain a priority, given the strong backgrounds and skills of refugees in Jordan. However, UNHCR does not envision taking a leading role in the growth of pathways, but rather one of a convener. In 2025 and beyond, UNHCR envisages to strengthen its collaboration with diverse organizations, including in the private sector that can leverage refugees’ skills to increase access to solutions. UNHCR will work to bring together these diverse actors and encourage non-transactional partnerships to build sustainable systems for complementary pathways that encourage refugees’ autonomous and safe access to solutions, without UNHCR’s direct engagement or investment.

The incumbent will take the lead on the portfolio on voluntary return and oversee a growing team focusing on return. Amongst others the incumbent is expected to take a lead role in program planning, data management and analyzing trends related to return; coordination with different stakeholders, including border authorities and partners through the Durable Solutions Working Group and the Operational Durable Solutions Working Group; foster cross-border coordination and collaboration with UNHCR Syria; enhance procedures for border monitoring and processes; develop procedures for voluntary return assessments and processing (pre-screening and voluntary assessment interview); develop procedures for cash-based intervention as the operations move to issuance of cash to returnees to Syria; develop modalities for outreach and individual counselling of refugees, including conducting intentions surveys and focused discussions with Syrian refugees with the view to gather a stronger, more nuanced understanding of perceptions, concerns and intentions of Syrian refugees.

The incumbent will also be expected to take the lead on the portfolio related to complementary pathways and continue to build partnerships with different actors and supervise a small team working on pathways. S/he will work closely together with colleagues in development, including livelihood and education to pursue new and innovative pathways that can lead to solutions. S/he will also support activities related to resettlement, including Communication with Communities, and coordinating activities related to departures (both for resettlement and complementary pathways).

Living and Working Conditions:

Jordan has a total population of 9.4 million people. Amman houses 42% of Jordan’s population, 4.008 million, making it the populous city in the country. Amman is categorized as (A) duty station.

Rent in Amman can vary depending on the size of the property itself, number of bedrooms and the area of Amman in which it is located. Renting a 3-bedroom apartment can range from 800 – 2500 USD per month.

Amman tends to have a Mediterranean climate; summers are mildly hot, winter usually starts around the end of November and continues until mid-March, there is occasional snowfall.

The medium for teaching in international schools is English, however there are a few French language schools as well. There is a plethora of institutions for children of all ages from pre-school to high school as well universities.

The majority of international educational institutions are in Amman.

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework, PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework, PR-Durable Solutions/Comprehensive Solutions Strategies implementation, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

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 Management Learning Program – UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance