Associate Durable Solutions Officer

Update

As of 31 January 2025, some 80,920 Myanmar refugees are registered with UNHCR in nine refugee camps along the Thai Myanmar border. The camps have existed for more than 35 years – a typical protracted refugee situation (PRS). UNHCR Mae Hong Son covers four refugee camps with an approximate population of 26,000 refugees from Karenni and Karen State, Myanmar.

Since 2005 and until 2016, resettlement has been the viable solution for the refugees; more than 130,000 refugees departed. The political change and democratization in Myanmar prompted preparation for voluntary repatriation. Hope for voluntary repatriation largely disappeared with the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 and the following nation-wide armed clashes between State Administrative Council (SAC) and Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs). Mae Hong Son saw a series of refugee influxes in 2021-2024.

Against the above background, in May 2023, the US government, Thai government and UNHCR made a joint announcement about the resumption of a group resettlement program to the US from the border camps. A Verification Exercise was completed in 2023 in preparation for the group resettlement program. The U.S. P2 program raised significant expectations but the abrupt suspension of the process in 2025 has led to growing anxiety. In 2025, UNHCR received quotas from several countries which will require individual submissions along with complementary pathway programs. UNHCR expects to continue receiving quotas in 2026 and beyond.

The Associate Durable Solutions Officer will ensure smooth identification, assessment and submission of individual case submissions while providing support to complementary pathway programs. In addition to continued durable solution functions, the Incumbent will also cover Child Protection component of the Office which will entail Best Interests Assessment (BIA)/Best Interests Determination (BID)

processing from the broader protection perspectives.

Under the direct supervision of Protection Officer/Head of Field Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Implement the relevant SOPs.

Develop durable solution strategies for the Field Office of Mae Hong Son. Submit work plans outlining how the field office will meet durable solutions objectives including the number of refugees to be submitted for resettlement each month, quarterly, annually.

Conduct durable solution interviews, review, prepare and submit Resettlement Referral Forms for further processing.

Monitor durable solution activities to ensure progress against targets, transparency and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow up with stake holders.

Supervise the two Durable Solutions Assistants at the Field Office.

Oversee child protection activities of Field Office of Mae Hong Son as the child protection focal point. Develop child protection strategy of the office.

Monitor UNHCR funded partner conducting child protection activities (Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees). Contribute to the periodic reporting.

Ensure that Best Interests Assessment (BIA)/Best Interests Determination (BID) are smoothly conducted. Act as Best Interests Determination supervisor.

Ensure that all data and information is entered correctly into UNHCR’s database.

Undertake field missions as required.

Assist selection missions by resettlement countries.

Systematically apply an Age, Gender, and Diversity perspective in all aspects of resettlement and child protection processes.

Any other relevant work as clearly agreed with and assigned by the Supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;

Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;

Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.