RSD Associate

January 27, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

FamilyUNOPS LICA6

2026-02-01TERMS OF REFERENCE
(Individual Contractor Agreement)

Functional Title: RSD Associate
Duty station: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Section/Unit: RSD Unit
ICA Level: Local ICA -6
ICA Type: Regular
Corresponding level: GS-6
Duration: Until 31 December 2026

1. General Background

The UNHCR Office in Kuala Lumpur continues to conduct Refugee Status Determination (RSD) under its mandate. In line with the Office’s strategic directions to enhance protection, expand asylum space as well as address protection and solutions needs, the case processing strategy for Registration, RSD and Durable Solutions is based on prioritization of individuals with emergency and urgent protection needs and vulnerabilities. Within this framework, RSD is applied strategically, primarily to support access to durable solutions, to address serious protection risks, and to uphold the integrity of the asylum process.

In parallel, the Office is committed to supporting the Government in establishing a national asylum system that aligns with international protection standards and promotes an inclusive refugee policy. This includes enhancing capacity-sharing initiatives in line with the Government’s vision of a nationally owned Registration and RSD process.

The RSD Associate is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. S/he is responsible for supporting all activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Operation. The RSD Associate provides counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's RSD procedures, their rights and obligations, including towards the host authorities, and the status of the processing of their claims. In discharging these responsibilities, the RSD Associate liaises closely with Registration, Community-Based Protection, Resettlement, and other Protection staff. The RSD Associate is responsible for conducting COI and other research related to RSD and maintaining the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards. S/he may also conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD assessments recommending eligibility for international refugee protection. The RSD Associate assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the Operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. The RSD Associate may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies. The RSD Associate may support RSD quality assurance in line with applicable guidance and under the supervision of senior staff, and contribute to internal training and capacity-building activities. The RSD Associate may also contribute to capacity-sharing initiatives with government counterparts, including through the development and facilitation of training and learning activities related to RSD, supporting the Government in establishing a national asylum system that aligns with international protection standards and promotes an inclusive refugee policy.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Duties:

• Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
• Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise.
• Provide counselling to, and respond to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees, including in the context of the notification of negative RSD decisions.
• Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases.
• Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and refugees and asylum-seekers.
• Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions.
• Conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD assessments in the form of a legal analysis recommending asylum-seekers’ eligibility for international refugee protection
• Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and other issues related to RSD and maintain the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.
• Support RSD quality assurance and contribute to internal training and capacity-building activities.
• Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing. Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that refugees, asylum-seekers, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policies and practice.
• Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making, including through the development and facilitation of training and capacity-building activities.
• Draft correspondence and reports relating to the RSD activities of the Operation.
• Refer individual cases to other functional units in the Operation and/or external partners for appropriate follow-up, in accordance with established criteria.
• Counsel individual asylum-seekers on the reasons for negative RSD decisions, in accordance with the RSD SOPs.
• Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

Through Performance Evaluation – Mid – year and Final evaluations.


4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 year work experience with Bachelor or Equivalent or higher

Certificates and/or Licenses: Social work; HCR RSD Learning Programme; HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Programme; HCR Protection Learning Programme;

b. Work Experience

Desirable
Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD. Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.

Functional Skills
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Counselling Asylum Seekers or Refugees
CM-Cross-cultural communication
LE-Human Rights Law
LE-International Refugee Law
PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
MS-Research
PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures
WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals
MS-Analysis

c. Key Competencies

- Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

- Managerial Competencies
Judgement and Decision Making

- Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Stakeholder Management


Desired Candidate Profile:

The desired candidate has extensive experience in Refugee Status Determination under UNHCR’s mandate and a strong understanding of international protection standards. The candidate would bring:
- Experience conducting RSD, including interviewing and processing complex and sensitive cases. Experience reviewing RSD Assessments would be an asset.
- Experience developing and delivering training or capacity-building activities for UNHCR staff and, where applicable, government counterparts and partners involved in asylum or refugee protection processes.
- Strong analytical and research skills, including the use of country-of-origin information (COI) and the ability to produce clear written and oral outputs.
- Ability to engage constructively with colleagues, partners, and government counterparts, with sound judgment and discretion.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic operational environment.


Additional Information:
This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 31/12/2026 with the possibility of extension.

The position requires fluency in English and Malay languages.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

UNHCR does not sponsor work visa or work permit and applicant who is not Malaysian national should already have their status confirmed that they are able to secure a work visa at the time of the application.

Standard Job Description

RSD Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The RSD Associate is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. S/he is responsible for supporting all activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Operation. The RSD Associate provides counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's RSD procedures, their rights and obligations, including towards the host authorities, and the status of the processing of their claims. In discharging these responsibilities, the RSD Associate liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other Protection staff. The RSD Associate is responsible for conducting COI and other research related to RSD and maintaining the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards. S/he may also assist in drafting RSD Assessments. The RSD Associate assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the Operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. The RSD Associate may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.

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
- Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
- Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise.
- Provide counselling to, and respond to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees, including in the context of the notification of negative RSD decisions.
- Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases.
- Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and persons of concern.
- Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions.
- Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and other issues related to RSD and maintain the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.
- Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing.
- Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policies and practice.
- Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making.
- Draft correspondence and reports relating to the RSD activities of the Operation.
- Refer individual cases to other functional units in the Operation and/or external partners for appropriate follow-up, in accordance with established criteria.
- Counsel individual asylum-seekers on the reasons for negative RSD decisions, in accordance with the RSD SOPs.

Required Languages

Malay

,

English

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Counselling Asylum Seekers or Refugees, PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures, PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance, SO-Research, WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals

Education

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work - Other, HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No