Associate RSD Officer

October 25, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

PR2

Junior Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-08-10

Associate RSD Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate RSD Officer provides legal, operational and strategic support on mandate or national RSD at global, regional or country operations level. The position may be located at Headquarters (within the Division of International Protection), in a Regional Bureau or in a Country Office and reports to the RSD Officer or Protection Officer or other staff with delegated authority, as appropriate.

The incumbent provides advice and guidance on legal and procedural matters related to RSD whether in the context of mandate RSD and/or national asylum/RSD systems (as applicable), is responsible for conducting RSD (where required), reviewing and providing advice on individual cases in line with requirements under the RSD Procedural Standards. The incumbent is also responsible for contributing to the development of an RSD strategy and, where required, methodologies to promote the effectiveness of RSD as a protection tool and implementing broader organizational objectives and priorities, in compliance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies. Whether in the context of national or mandate RSD, the incumbent provides advice and support to staff engaged in RSD and related activities, monitors trends of RSD decision-making, and conducts training and other capacity-development/strengthening activities to promote consistency in RSD procedures and decision-making. S/he contributes to developing and enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as necessary.

If based in a country operation, the Associate RSD Officer advocates with and supports Government authorities and legal partners in further developing their capacities in line with the GCR and other key UNHCR planning considerations.

The Associate RSD Officer works closely with RSD staff as well as staff responsible for registration, resettlement and training activities. S/he also liaises with relevant focal points in DIP, in particular within the RSD and PNS Sections and other HQ Divisions as required.

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
- Provide legal/procedural advice and support on RSD adjudication issues within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments relevant to mandate RSD, the protection environment, including developments in relation to national asylum/RSD systems, as applicable.
- Support engagemnt with relevant national authorities and structures in identifying and expanding opportunities in view of developing or strengthening national asylum/RSD systems.
- Support the quality review of RSD Assessments in line with UNHCR policies/guidelines related to mandate RSD and endorse RSD decisions as required.
- Conduct interviews and draft RSD Assessments including for complex/sensitive cases per relevant standards and guidelines.
- Provide ongoing coaching as well as training on the inclusion criteria; principles/procedures related to exclusion; cancellation/revocation; international humanitarian law; human rights law; interviewing techniques and credibility assessment/establishing the facts; and legal drafting.
- Provide training to other UNHCR units on the refugee criteria and related issues as needed.
- Assist with the development of a RSD strategy and support senior management to ensure its full and effective integration into the protection and solution strategy of the Country Operations Plan.
- Assist with developing/enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as required.
- Assist with the design and implementation of operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of RSD operations in line with relevant standards/policies, including UNHCR's AGD policy and Forward Plan, ensuring the prioritisation of persons with specific needs, or, if based in a Regional Bureau, provide support to operations on the above.
- Monitor trends and systematically compile statistics related to RSD case processing.
- Analyze key indicators of the quality and efficiency of decision-making in RSD processing to assess capacity and resource requirements of operations in the region or the operation to which the RSD Officer is assigned.
- Evaluate and contribute to projecting RSD staffing and financial needs using the RSD Staffing Benchmarks, and support allocation of appropriate human, material and financial resources.
- Contribute to identifying and preventing fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR personnel, partners and persons of concern.

If based in DIP or a Regional Bureau:
- Conduct support missions, as required.
- Assess training needs in UNHCR RSD operations and assist RSD Supervisors to provide coaching/capacity building for UNHCR personnel and deployees under their supervision, in coordination with the GLC as appropriate.
- Maintain and manage a consultative process with operations and other stakeholders in the region.

If based in a country operation, together with competent host authorities and partners, contribute to developing processes aiming at developing national institutional capacities and the timely identification of international protection needs in line with the GCR and other key planning considerations.

- 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
International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law,
International Criminal Law, Social Sciences, or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
RSD Learning Programme

Management Learning Programme

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
3 years of experience working directly with procedures and principles related to adjudicating individual asylum claims in RSD procedures. In-depth knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law and ability to apply relevant legal principles in the RSD context, including exclusion decision-making. Thorough knowledge of the "Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR's Mandate" and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR's mandate RSD activities. Experience in counselling asylum-seekers and individual case management. Experience and demonstrated skills in refugee law training.

Desirable
Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government SD procedures is highly desirable. Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or Government SD procedures. Experience in supervising a team. Completion of the RSD Learning Programme and other UNHCR Learning Programmes relevant to RSD. Training and coaching experience. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.

Functional Skills
MG-Political Decision Making
PR-Individual Case Management
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures
PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
LE-Draft legal settlement agreements
CO-Cross-cultural communication
(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.

This job is advertised in the frame of the JPO Programme and reserved exclusively for candidates with Norwegian nationality.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

The majority of Egypt is at Security Level 2 (Low) with the exception of the Western Desert (Security Level 3, Moderate) and the North Sinai (Security Level 5, High). UNHCR currently operates only in Low to Moderate security level areas. The security situation is relatively stable; however there have been a number of attacks on security (police and military) forces and on rare occasions religious and tourism sites.  Civil unrest since 2015 is low, there are very rarely large demonstrations or public disorder incidents.  The crime rate in the country is moderate with some incidents particularly in the crowded neighbourhoods of large cities (Cairo and Alexandria) such as thefts, burglary and robbery (e.g. bag snatchers especially against females). Sexual harassment against women and girls is high in the country targeting both Egyptian and foreigners. Hazards are the most challenging safety issue.  Road accidents are common in Egypt, due to poor road conditions, dangerous driving and non-enforcement of traffic laws. Fires in apartments are a hazard, with electricity standards low causing electrical fires. Vulnerability to staff is exacerbated by disregard of safety advisories, such as installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in their residences.

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.  

Nature of Position:

Egypt is a signatory to the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. Pursuant to a 1954 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Government of Egypt and UNHCR, the UNHCR Office in Egypt continues to conduct Refugee Status Determination (RSD) under its mandate in the absence of national asylum procedures. In 2024, Egypt passed its first national asylum law (Law No. 164 of 2024), establishing a framework of asylum management. Accordingly, UNHCR RSD Unit will play a crucial role in the ongoing dialogue with the Egyptian Government on the development of a domestic asylum framework in line with international standards, as well as the multi-year transition from a mandate UNHCR RSD system to a national asylum system.

 

The RSD Unit in Cairo is the largest mandate RSD Operation globally, with more than 60 staff, producing over 15,000 decisions per year. In light of the Sudan crisis, the RSD needs has increased significantly in comparison with before 2023. By June 2026, Egypt hosts 1.1 million forcibly displaced persons from over 60 countries, and 81% remain asylum seekers pending an RSD decision. The main countries of origin are Sudan, Syria, South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

 

In line with the Office’s strategic directions to enhance protection and asylum space as well as address the protection and solutions needs, the Office carries out RSD under different processing modalities, in line with UNHCR’s RSD strategic direction—while ensuring adherence to RSD Procedural Guidelines. In Dec 2024, Egypt enacted its first national asylum law establishing a national framework of asylum management, and its first Executive Regulations were published in May 2026. In view of the anticipated transition of registration, documentation and RSD responsibilities to the GoE in the coming years, UNHCR continues to enhance the strategic use of RSD to preserve protection dividends, reduce backlogs, and maintain the integrity of the asylum system.

The Associate RSD Officer reports to the RSD Officer (Head of Unit) and is a key member with supervisory role of the RSD team. The incumbent’s primary responsibilities include conducting case reviews, providing day-to-day technical guidance and coaching to Eligibility Officers at various levels, and contributing to the achievement of periodic RSD processing targets. Upon request, the Associate RSD Officer serves as an Eligibility Officer, conducting eligibility interviews and drafting legal assessments in accordance with UNHCR RSD standards and procedures.

 

In light of the Sudan emergency, transition and the evolving protection context, the Associate RSD Officer may be assigned to a range of emergency-related activities.

 

The Associate RSD Officer is generally expected to report on a daily basis to the RSD/T Office in 6 October City, Giza Governorate. Depending on operational needs, the incumbent may also be required to report to other UNHCR office locations. In view of the roles and responsibilities of the position, which require on-site case processing, team management, technical guidance, and close coordination with relevant colleagues and units, regular in-person presence in the office is essential. Accordingly, telecommuting cannot generally be accommodated for this function.

Living and Working Conditions:

Cairo is a family, category A duty station, has good residential areas and offers multiple touristic sites and locations to visit and enjoy. Cairo also offers excellent and frequent air connections to a wide range of international destinations. When it comes to accommodation, food, furniture and clothing, there is variety of choice withs the costs depending on the preferences of the incumbent. International banks and a wide variety of private health facilities are available, even though some international staff members opt to seek specialized medical services abroad.  Bilingual and international schools are many, but some colleagues have experienced overt discrimination on the basis of nationality when trying to register their children into certain schools.  Some international staff have experienced difficulties importing or exporting private vehicles as the customs-clearance process is cumbersome.  Also, some staff members have experienced significant delays in the customs clearance of their personal belongings, leading to high demurrage and storage charges.  Heavy traffic, air & noise pollution, and long commuting hours are often mentioned as challenging aspects of living in Cairo.
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication, LE-Draft legal settlement agreements, MG-Political Decision Making, PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-Individual Case Management, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance

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

Certifications

HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance