The deadline for application has been extended until 14 Oct. 2024.
Description of assignment title
Legal Associate
Assignment country
Bulgaria
Expected start date
11/01/2024
Advertisement end date
10/14/2024
Sustainable Development Goal
10. Reduced inequalities
Volunteer category
National UN Volunteer Expert
Host entity
UNHCR Bulgaria
Type
Onsite
Duration
6 months
(with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Sofia
Mission and objectives
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is a global organization protecting people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, helping millions of people with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights, and helping them build a better future (www.unhcr.org).
Context
Since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, over 2.8 million refugees from Ukraine have entered Bulgaria and until the end of February 2024, the Government of Bulgaria has granted Temporary Protection to more than 189,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine, of whom the majority are women and children. The Council of Ministers has formed a Task Force for the Ukrainian Refugee Response, focusing on inter-ministerial coordination. UNHCR under its mandate leads and coordinates the Inter-Agency refugee response for the Ukraine Situation, in alignment with the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation (RRP) – co-leading with and in support of the Government. Under the Refugee Coordination Mechanism, UNHCR has established the national refugee coordination forum – along with an inter-agency Cash Working Group (led by UNHCR), an Education Working Group (led by UNICEF), a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Working Group (led by WHO), a Protection and Inclusion Working Group (led by UNHCR), a Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) network (co-led by UNHCR, UNICEF and a local organization) which fall under the inter-agency refugee coordination mechanism. There are currently 19 partners involved in the Refugee Response Plan for 2024. Additionally, Bulgaria as an external EU border, plays a strategic role in refugee protection within Europe. In 2023, Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees (SAR) registered over 22,500 asylum seekers, most from Syria and Afghanistan, which have exceeded the asylum application numbers from 2022. SAR operates six reception centers for the registration, Refugee Status Determination procedures, and accommodation of asylum seekers. Amid an increase in arrivals of Afghan and Syrian asylum seekers since 2022, UNHCR supports Bulgaria’s Government to ensure policies and legislation are in line with international and EU standards, and promotes a comprehensive refugee response, grounded in a multi-stakeholder, whole-of-society approach.
UNHCR supports government-led efforts to provide key protection – including legal assistance, information on services, education and psychosocial support – reception and accommodation, as well as the delivery of core relief items for winterization and cash assistance for the most vulnerable groups. UNHCR’s priority protection interventions include access to territory and asylum procedures, inclusion of refugees in state-led programs, Child Protection and Gender Based Violence prevention, risk mitigation and response, support to persons with specific needs, and mitigation of the risks relating to trafficking and other forms of abuse and exploitation. UNHCR is also providing technical support to asylum authorities for digitalised systems.
Task description
This UNV assignment is part of UNHCR’s core protection initiative to assess and support the national law on refugee protection under the Migration and Asylum Law. Among other provisions of the Asylum and Migration Pact files, Article 6 of the Asylum Procedures Regulation provides for UNHCR’s access to asylum-seekers and refugees in reception centres and detention and at the borders and transit zones, among other places where they may be. It refers that UNHCR should “have access to information on individual applications for international protection, on the course of the procedure and on the decisions taken, subject to the consent of the applicant; and should be able to present its views, in the exercise of its supervisory responsibilities to any competent authorities regarding individual applications for international protection at any stage of the procedure”. This refers to broader supervisory responsibilities of UNHCR, as contained in its Statute and in Article 35 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and in Article II of the 1967 Protocol, with regards to the protection of refugees, that entails, among others, supporting the Governments to provide protection and solutions for international protection applicants and beneficiaries in line with international law, including as evolved under the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the EU.
Task description:
• Assist in the preparation of legal advice and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.
• Stay abreast of the domestic legal issues and pertinent laws regarding forcibly displaced and stateless populations in Bulgaria and advise the Office accordingly.
• Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.
• Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
• Assist the Office in providing legal counselling to forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
• Liaise and intervene with local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
• May act as interpreter during meetings with authorities, if required.
• Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
• Assist in the development of project proposals and project implementation.
• Perform other related duties as required.
Age
18 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Required experience
15 years of experience in the relevant field is desirable. Candidates with 8 years of experience or more can be considered.
•Experience in international law, human rights, EU law, or other relevant programmes; experience with refugee law or child protection law is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
•Experience in the law regarding the Common European Asylum System or EU migration law is an asset, and experience in international or national litigation is desirable.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of
communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in UNHCR’s work or more broadly refugee protection, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.
Area(s) of expertise
Elections and governance, Legal affairs
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Bulgarian, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Law, International Law, Refugee Law, Human Rights.
Competencies and values
• Accountability
• Integrity
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management
Living conditions and remarks
The UN Volunteer will be expected to travel to the field, particularly to areas of high presence of refugees.
This assignment requires full-time engagement (8 hours/5 days per week). The UN Volunteer will be responsible for his/her accommodation. The contract lasts for the period indicated above with the possibility of extensions subject to the availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.
The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service.
Monthly Living Allowance (per month): BGN 3690
Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400
Exit allowance: BGN 219 for each month served, paid on completion of the contract
Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in exchange rates.
Health and life insurance:
• Health insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible dependents will receive UNV-provided medical insurance coverage.
• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment.
Leave entitlements:
• Annual leave: UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment.
• Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period.
• Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle.
• Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.
You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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