Chief of Asylum Systems and Determination Section

December 22, 2025

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-12-08

Chief of Asylum Systems and Determination Section

The Chief of Asylum Systems and Determination (ASD) Section is responsible for the development and implementation of UNHCR’s strategies and activities related to asylum strengthening, refugee status determination (RSD) and production of country guidance and country of origin information (COI). These responsibilities encompass the implementation of RSD under UNHCR’s mandate, and the development and strengthening of government asylum procedures, which are integral to UNHCR's broader protection and solutions strategies and approaches. Key objectives include monitoring, evaluating and progressively enhancing the fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity of UNHCR and government asylum and RSD procedures. The role also involves developing and implementing asylum and RSD-related standards and policies, in collaboration with other relevant sections within the Division of International Protection and Solutions (DIPS). Additionally, the Chief of ASD Section is responsible for the development, publication and dissemination of high-quality country-specific protection information to ensure coherence and consistency in refugee policy and asylum decision-making, as well as the development and maintenance of support tools like RefWorld, UNHCR’s Global Law and Policy Database.

 

The Chief of ASD Section operates within DIPS' Policy & Law Service, reports to the Deputy Director, and is a member of the DIPS Senior Management Team. The incumbent manages the Asylum Capacity Development Unit, the Country Guidance and Country of Origin Information Unit, the Status Determination Unit, and other staff outside these units. S/he manages and supervises a team with specialized skills in asylum capacity development, RSD and COI/country-related guidance.  This role requires extensive collaboration and contact with various internal and external stakeholders, often at senior levels, in coordinating and leading UNHCR's global asylum and RSD activities. The Chief of ASD Section works closely with field offices, regional bureaux, relevant sections within DIPS, and other divisions in Headquarters, particularly the Global Data Service and the Division of Resilience and Solutions. In addition to directly supervising staff in the ASD Section, the incumbent provides guidance and functional supervision to (senior) regional RSD focal points in line with DIPS' roles, accountabilities, and authorities.

  

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 strategic guidance and leadership for UNHCR in asylum capacity development, RSD and related areas, country of origin information and country guidance.

• Develop, enhance and contribute to global, regional and country-level asylum capacity, RSD and RSD-related standards, policies, tools and practices in close coordination with field offices, regional bureaux, relevant sections within DIPS, and other Headquarters divisions.

• Deliver planned and agreed asylum capacity development, RSD and related outcomes consistently and effectively in a results-based framework, ensuring full and effective integration into regional protection strategies and country operations plans.

• Stay abreast of and analyse legal, political, security and other developments that impact the protection environment, and in particular, protection delivery through asylum and RSD, to advise and assist senior management in developing and operationalizing UNHCR's asylum capacity development and RSD-related strategies, initiatives and objectives including engagement on alternatives or complements to RSD.

• Design, supervise, and direct the implementation of mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating UNHCR and government asylum capacity development, RSD and related procedures and decision-making, including through trends and statistical analysis.

• Ensure that UNHCR's asylum capacity, RSD and related strategies and tools address the specific protection needs of diverse groups, including women, men, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, and those with a minority sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Safeguard the integrity and credibility of UNHCR mandate RSD procedures and decision-making by designing, supervising mechanisms and liaising with other protection functions such as registration and durable solutions.

• Oversee the development, provision and dissemination of procedural, legal and country-specific advice, guidance and operational support to UNHCR staff and external stakeholders.

• Design, supervise, and advise on implementing asylum capacity, RSD and RSD-related responses (including engagement of alternatives or complements to RSD) in regular, emergency, mixed movement, and other special operations, ensuring compliance with UNHCR standards, policies and positions.

• Plan, prioritize and ensure the implementation of monitoring and support missions to UNHCR offices in mandate RSD implementation and/or building/strengthening government asylum procedures and decision-making.

• Ensure timely advice is provided on complex and sensitive individual RSD cases, including those involving exclusion concerns, referred to DIPS in accordance with relevant standards.

• Oversee the development and facilitation of regular and customized asylum capacity development, RSD, interviewing and COI-related learning for UNHCR staff and external stakeholders with the Global Learning and Development Center (GLDC).

• Coordinate dialogue and ensure appropriate consultation on RSD, RSD-related, and country guidance-specific issues to promote global coherence and consistency in positioning and responses.

• Assist senior management in ensuring UNHCR's RSD-related (including country-specific) perspectives are fully represented in external forums (e.g., government counterparts, IGC, EUAA, NGOs, IAGCI) and with other partners (including development partners).

• Ensure the production and dissemination of up-to-date and accurate information and analysis on UNHCR's asylum capacity development, RSD, and country guidance-specific policies, positions, practices and trends to key stakeholders.

• Oversee the contributions to UNHCR and external reports and publications, including the Global Report, Global Appeal, Global Trends, Statistical Yearbook, etc.

• Oversee the development, maintenance, and support of technological support tools (e.g., Refworld and relevant communities of practice) for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that improvements take into account the latest technological advancements and user needs.

• House the Secretariat of the Asylum Capacity Support Group (ACSG) and lead or monitor the implementation of ACSG activities.

• Contribute to the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees by engaging and preparing for asylum-related aspects of the Global Refugee Forum, High-Level Officials Meeting and other similar events.

• Represent DIPS in UNHCR meetings and represent UNHCR with external counterparts, including in the media, on issues related to asylum capacity, RSD, COI and country-specific positioning.

• Clear documents, policies and reports on asylum capacity, RSD, COI and country-specific positioning.

• Negotiate and undertake projects and initiatives with external partners on asylum capacity, RSD, COI and country-specific positioning issues.

• Monitor UNHCR staff’s compliance with UNHCR standards, policies and guidance related to RSD, COI and country-specific positioning.

• Clear mandate RSD case processing strategies in line with roles, accountabilities and authorities.

• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.

• Perform other related duties as required.

  

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

 For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

  

Field(s) of Education

Law,                     Political Science,                International Relations                    

or other relevant field.

  

Certificates and/or Licenses

HCR RSD Learning Program;

HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program;

HCR Management Learning Program;

(Field(s) of Certificates marked with an asterisk* are essential)

  

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Substantial relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law, including a minimum of five years of relevant field experience. Minimum 5 years of experience working directly with procedures and principles related to the adjudication of individual asylum claims in RSD procedures, as well as having demonstrated expertise in country-of-origin information and country-specific guidance products and in the development of national asylum capacity. Demonstrated experience in communication, coordination and consultation. Experience in managing and supervising teams responsible for asylum capacity development and/or RSD procedures and decision-making. In-depth knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and experience in applying the relevant legal principles and UNHCR protection strategies and policies. In-depth knowledge of UNHCR's standards, policies and positions related to RSD, COI and asylum procedures as well as relevant UNHCR authorities and guidance. An in-depth understanding of best practice methodology for undertaking capacity development, and a solid understanding of how to apply them to the context of strengthening national asylum systems. Thorough knowledge of the "Procedural Standards for Refugee Status Determination under UNHCR's Mandate" and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR's mandate RSD activities. Experience working in diverse asylum and protection environments. Understanding of and experience with relevant regional legal frameworks (EU, OAU, Cartagena, etc).

 

Desirable

Training and coaching experience.

  

Functional Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation

PR-Human Rights

CO-Reporting skills

SO-Research

TR-Facilitation - Virtual and face to face

TR-Training - Virtual and face to face

CO-Editing

PR-International protection concepts and principles

PR-International Humanitarian Law

MG-Team building (development/facilitation)

MG-Coordination

PR-Asylum related law, policy and procedures

PR-Asylum claims assessment and determination for international protection

(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 jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

 

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

  

Managerial Competencies

Strategic Planning and Vision

Leadership

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Resources

Managing Performance

Empowering and Building Trust

 

Cross-Functional Competencies

Planning and Organizing

Policy Development and Research

Stakeholder Management

  

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.

The Chief of Asylum Systems and Determination Section should have extensive protection and refugee status determination (RSD) experience, preferably in a range of operations and contexts around the world. He/she should have excellent oral and written communication and strong interpersonal, organizational and management skills. Demonstrated strategic and analytical abilities are essential, as well as a well-rounded knowledge of Refworld, UNHCR’s engagement in supporting states in development of their asylum systems and capacity, UNHCR’s country and eligibility guidance documents and procedural standards and criteria for international protection.

Fluency in English is essential and knowledge of French, Spanish and/or Arabic is desirable. DIPS seeks diversity in its workforce and will consider gender and geographic diversity in the composition of its teams. DIP encourages colleagues with disabilities to apply.

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French

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

Nature of Position:

Asylum Systems and Determination (ASD) Section in DIPS is responsible for the development and implementation of UNHCR’s strategies and activities related to asylum strengthening, refugee status determination (RSD) and production of country guidance and country of origin information (COI). These responsibilities encompass the implementation of RSD under UNHCR’s mandate, and the development and strengthening of government asylum procedures, which are integral to UNHCR's broader protection and solutions strategies and approaches. Key objectives of the Section include monitoring, evaluating and progressively enhancing the fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity of UNHCR and government asylum and RSD procedures.

The Section is responsible for developing and implementing asylum and RSD-related standards and policies, in collaboration with other relevant sections within the Division of International Protection and Solutions (DIPS).

The Section works closely with different HQ Divisions and entities and provides hands on advice and support to Bureaux and Operations, in line with DIPS’s RAAs in a decentralized organization.

Living and Working Conditions:

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will be required to travel, sometimes on short notice. Living and working conditions in Switzerland are up to the level of a highly developed country, where easy access to quality schooling, services, medical support, and higher education is available. The position requires residence in Geneva and cannot be undertaken remotely, although some teleworking is possible, after discussions with the manager.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Certifications

HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Number of Persons of Concern Served, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned IDPs, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Flash Vacancy Notice

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance