Deadline for Applications
September 22, 2025
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
E (most hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family with Residential Location
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
UNOPS LICA4
2025-10-15
1. General Background:
Libya is located on the Central Mediterranean route and is a major destination and as well as transit country for migrants and persons in need of international protection. Conditions for refugees remain precarious; many who cross the Mediterranean Sea end up being intercepted or rescued at sea by the Libyan authorities.
Over 97,000 individuals are registered with UNHCR Libya. The largest group originates from Sudan, followed by Eritrea and Syria. Other refugee groups include Ethiopians, Palestinians, Somalis, South Sudanese, and Yemenis, as well as a small variety of other nationalities.
Libya is not a state party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. Although Libya has ratified the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, it has yet to establish any national legislation or administrative procedures to govern the status and treatment of refugees. Foreigners, including refugees and asylum-seekers, fall under national immigration laws.
The political, security, and economic situation in Libya has led to a significant deterioration in living conditions for both Libyan nationals and refugees and asylum-seekers in the country. Due to their already vulnerable situation, refugees have been heavily impacted by this crisis. Human trafficking is also on the rise, and boys, girls, and women are often exposed to incidents of gender-based violence.
UNHCR Libya’s Strategy for Protection and Solutions recognizes that the continued availability and prioritization of robust resettlement, evacuation opportunities, and complementary pathways are a critical component of UNHCR’s advocacy in Libya. The Libyan Government remains open to the resettlement of refugees from Libya and resettlement remains a critical protection tool for the operation in Libya, given the precarious protection environment, particularly for those in the urban context.
UNHCR Libya also facilitates complementary pathways for refugees and asylum seekers. To date, UNHCR has provided counselling to refugees on Complementary Pathways, assisted with legal documentation, advocated with the relevant embassies and partners for individual cases, identified and referred vulnerable refugees to specific programs, and provided other assistance and logistical support to destination countries by providing interviewing spaces and administrative support.
In addition, evacuations through Emergency Transit Mechanisms (ETM) in Rwanda, as well as the Humanitarian Admission Programme (HAP) to Italy, are used strategically to increase the protection space with a focus on responding to the most compelling protection needs.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment:
The work of the Interpreter Assistant is essential as it will fall under the protection and durable solutions mandate. The Interpreter Assistant will be based in the Durable Solutions Unit in UNHCR Libya. S/he will work with Resettlement and Complementary Pathways services across Libya, as well as the team teleworking from other locations. The team consists of national and international staff and is headed by the Durable Solutions Officer. In addition to the Durable Solutions team, the Interpreter Assistant will be working closely with a number of colleagues in other functional units, who will additionally be working on various aspects of Resettlement and Complementary Pathway responsibilities within the Office.
The Interpreter Assistant will undertake the following:
- Interpret (from Arabic into English and vice versa) during in-person or remote refugee status determination (RSD)/ resettlement interviews and virtual selection missions, as well as counselling sessions with forcibly displaced populations, while also coordinating, collecting documents, and preparing the setup for remote interviews.
- Interpret during in-person or remote screening interviews with forcibly displaced populations (interpret from Arabic into English and vice versa);
- Support other units, including Registration, Field, Community-Based Protection, etc.
- Interpret and/or translate in meetings/interviews between UNHCR field staff and asylum seekers/refugees on matters related to protection concerns, housing, medical issues, reception, outreach activities, registration issues, RSD, and resettlement.
- Interpret oral conversations, discussions, and interviews, including in meetings with government officials, diplomats, and others;
- Draft/type routine internal meeting minutes and reports, translate/interpret documents from Arabic into English and vice versa;
- Provide counselling to refugees and asylum seekers where up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement policies and procedures are shared;
- Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud;
- Performs other duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls:
Reporting dates:
- The Interpreter Assistant will report to and coordinate with the Durable Solutions Officer and Durable Solutions Associate on a daily basis regarding the work done, trends, challenges, outcomes/ outputs, and way forward;
- The Interpreter Assistant will submit a report on a weekly basis with an overview of the work completed and include information on any challenges in case processing, documentation, or any additional support needed;
- The final evaluation will be carried out by the direct Supervisor (the Durable Solutions Associate). The final report is due on 31 December 2025.
4. Qualifications and Experience:
a. Education and work experience
Required:
- One year of relevant experience in interpretation/ translation (from Arabic into English and vice versa) with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher,
- Experience in interpreting/ translating (from Arabic into English and vice versa) during interviews with refugees and asylum seekers will be an important asset,
- Working experience in the humanitarian field will be an added asset.
b. Languages
- Fluency in English and Arabic and any other relevant UN language;
- Excellent knowledge of the local languages will be an added asset.
c. Key Competencies
Required competencies:
- Accountability - Communication - Organizational Awareness - Teamwork & Collaboration - Commitment to Continuous Learning - Client & Result Orientation.
Functional Skills:
- IT-Computer Literacy.
- MS-Translation.
**Desired Candidate Profile**
• One year of relevant experience in interpretation/ translation (from Arabic into English and vice versa),
• Experience in interpreting/ translating (from Arabic into English and vice versa) during interviews with refugees and asylum seekers will be an important asset,
• Working experience in the humanitarian field will be an added asset.
• Familiarity with protection principles, including confidentiality, informed consent, and do-no-harm, will be an added asset.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------**In accordance with our dedication to promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply**
Standard Job Description
Required Languages
English
,
Arabic
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Other information
A written assessment will be part of the selection processThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Remote
No