Assistant Durable Solutions Officer

January 22, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

B

Non FamilyUNOPS LICA8

2026-01-01Operational Context:

The Assistant Durable Solutions Officer will serve as a focal point for longer term solutions for refugees, reporting to the Senior Development Officer, based in Baghdad.
The incumbent will be relied upon to ensure the implementation of a durable solutions strategy, and to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. Fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strengthen the overall inclusion environment for refugees within Iraq.
UNHCR’s mandated responsibility for finding solutions to refugee situations has long required stronger cooperation with development partners, in particular key government ministries, advocating for the inclusion of persons of concern into national development programmes and national service delivery. The Global Compact for Refugees frames this new approach towards a more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that more sustainable approaches to refugee situations cannot be achieved without the systematic engagement of a broader set of stakeholders, including development partners.
UNHCR Iraq will increasingly focus on advocacy and engagement with the Government and development partners, to support, strengthen and broaden refugee inclusion in national systems, delivering on its multi year strategy and ensuring more dependable, longer term solutions for those in displacement. Within this context, UNHCR’s ongoing engagement with the Kingdom of Netherlands funded Prospect Partnership remains a vital tool to support refugee inclusive programming and policy. The partnership brings UNHCR into direct collaboration with UNICEF, ILO, the World Bank and the IFC, and promotes humanitarian-development nexus programming across three key pillars of Education, Employment and protection, with an intent to support all who are impacted by forced displacement. In this context, the Assistant Durable Solutions Officer continue UNHCR's ongoing engagement and cooperation with key government ministries and development partners, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, broadening and promoting refugee inclusion and influencing policy dialogue to build on the current protection environment and support strengthened inclusion and self-reliance. The incumbent will specifically be vital in:

- Supporting the country operation in the development and implementation of the local integration and other local solutions aspects of solutions strategies, ensuring inclusion of persons of concern in national systems and services, and in national and local development processes
- Supporting the implementation of the multiyear, 2025-29 strategy promoting comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies.
- Serve as focal point for relevant sectoral working groups, especially those led by the Government.
- 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.
- 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 in particular on access to education and social protection


Desired candidate profile:

The desired candidate will have a minimum of One (1) year of direct work experience in a large international development institution in a relevant position, including experience in field operations. With demonstrated experience in either the education or protection sector. Practical experience working with refugees and forcibly displaced populations with an understanding of the different aspects of economic growth, governance, fragility and conflict. Expertise related to engagement with government, regional and local, focused on promoting inclusive policies. Ability to work in both English and Kurdish, Arabic is desirable.

Prior knowledge of, or working within the Prospects Partnership is desirable.


Important note:

- When completing the application, candidates are required to list all of their language skills – including their mother tongue. The three broad levels are A1/A2 ("Basic User"), B1/B2 ("Independent User"), and C1/C2 ("Proficient User")

Standard Job Description

Assistant Durable Solutions Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Durable Solutions Officer can serve as a focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to a more senior Protection, Resettlement or Durable Solutions staff. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff.

The incumbent is relied upon to ensure the implementation of a durable solutions strategy, and to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff. 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.

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 counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) to identify the most appropriate durable solution and to enable them to make a well-informed decision.
- Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return.
- Interview and prepare Resettlement Referral Forms (RRF), in line with Resettlement SOPs.
- Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners.
- Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures.
- Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner.
- Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners.
- Interview and advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC. Prepare documents relating to durable solutions.
- Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

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

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of refugee issues and Human Rights doctrine. Very good reporting and writing ability.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. Knowledge of ProGress database software.

Functional Skills
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
*IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
(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.

Required Languages

Kurdish

,

English

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software

Education

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

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No