Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

H (no hardship)

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-07-01

Durable Solutions Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Durable Solutions Officer is a focal point for solutions related issues in a country, and normally reports to the Senior Durable Solutions Officer, Senior Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Assistant or Deputy Representative. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff, who may include staff within the functional groups of durable solutions, reintegration, repatriation, and resettlement. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff and ensures operational standards and practices in solutions delivery at the country level.

The Durable Solutions Officer is relied upon to assist in the development, implementation and adherence to protection, resilience and solutions strategies and to advise on all solutions topics. These include: voluntary repatriation (refugees) or return (IDPs) and sustainable reintegration; local integration and other local solutions; relocation, resettlement and complementary pathways for admission to third countries; Global Compact on Refugees commitments and opportunities; housing, land and property; statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024); age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection. The Durable Solutions Officer should provide planning and foresight to advance progress in Protracted Refugee situations, where applicable, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted. Assisting the Country Office in 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. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he also coordinates durable solutions activities between and among country offices in the region ensuring consistency with relevant Global Strategic Priorities and Policies. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he works closely with protection, registration, information management, education, development, programme and technical staff including cash, livelihoods and shelter, and promotes operational standards, policy and practices in comprehensive solutions delivery. The incumbent may maintain close working relations with regionally based UN sister entities, other intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organisations on durable solutions matters.

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
- Support the development of multiyear comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant.
- Monitor the implementation of, and implement interventions under, the protection and solutions strategy/ies; identify challenges and report on achievements.
- Serve as focal point for durable solutions, including chairing Durable Solutions Working Group(s) and achieving a schematic overview of country/regional Durable Solution Working Groups or other solutions coordination mechanisms.
- 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.
- Support the internal UNHCR processes related to voluntary repatriation and returns, including data management, the preparation of Exchange of Letters, Tripartite Agreements, standard operating procedures and other agreements as required.
- Support country operations in the development and implementation of the local integration and other local solutions aspects of solutions strategies, ensuring inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in national systems and services, and in national and local development processes.
- In the absence of dedicated resettlement and complementary pathways staff, and in close collaboration with multi-functional teams: ensure UNHCR's resettlement and complementary pathways for admission standards are correctly and coherently applied; efficient, fair and transparent procedures are in place across the AOR, targets are met and fraud prevention mechanisms are in place; operations are supported to develop advocacy strategies and operational responses to pursue the identification, development, promotion and facilitation of access to complementary pathways for admissions to third countries; ensure that country operations plans reflect the strategy on RST/CP and that the necessary resources are allocated to address gaps across the AOR.
- Represent UNHCR's Resettlement and Complementary Pathways positions with Resettlement and other third countries, host government and at regional level.
- 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 on areas including resilience, rule of law and governance, and housing land and property.
- Ensure that UNHCR's analysis of the risks and obstacles to solutions, including sustainable reintegration and integration, is instrumental in development actors' priority areas of engagement.
- Provide planning and foresight to advance progress for protracted refugee situations, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted.
- Liaise with colleagues for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing durable solutions needs and ensuring adequate and timely interventions.
- Support Communication staff in developing a communication plan to support the durable solutions strategy, including media.
- Serve as focal point on durable Solutions-related issues for communities to ensure good communication.
- Advise on forcibly displaced and stateless populations' appropriate engagement for the identification of the most appropriate solutions, including through enhanced two-way communication, participatory assessments, intentions and perceptions surveys, and other forms of community based assessments.
- Promote the strengthened involvement of 25,940 in the design and implementation of solutions strategies, transition projects, peace-building and development initiatives.
- Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
- Participate in training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner staff on durable solutions, peace building/coexistence and partnership.
- Monitor the implementation of the programme through managing the human and financial resources and identify gaps to ensure optimum use of available funds.
- Represent UNHCR in meetings related to durable solutions.
- Clear documents and reports coming out of the Durable Solutions Unit.

In addition to the main duties listed above, for positions located in regional bureaux:
- Support the development of multiyear regional situational comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant, together with UNHCR's stakeholders in Bureau and country operations, governments and other partners.

- 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

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

Certificates and/or Licenses
Management Learning Programme;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Previous experience in solutions contexts. Thorough knowledge of International refugee law and its application.

Desirable
Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.

Functional Skills
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Durable Solutions/Comprehensive Solutions Strategies implementation
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications
*PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework
PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
(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.

Essential:
- Experience working to deliver durable solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless people (resettlement, voluntary repatriation, local integration).
- Experience working on inclusion and complementary pathways.
-Experience in translating policy developments into operational impact
-Experience in coordination with external interlocutors
-Strong analytical and drafting capabilities

Desirable:
- Prior experience working with and/or inside EU institutions.
-Ability to digest information and convey key points clearly to senior management.
-Strong interpersonal skills and excellent judgment.
-Excellent oral communication skills.

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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:

MCO Belgium facilitates the liaison with EU institutions and the oversight of six countries: Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Malta. It also supervises the Liaison offices to the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) in Malta and to Frontex in Poland. Within the EU Affairs team, there are two workstreams: policy and legal support, focused on advocacy, analysis, and guidance supportive of protection and solutions, as well as global institutions, focused on fundraising for UNHCR’s work globally and supporting partnerships with key EU counterparts. Following years of difficult negotiations, the EU has adopted a comprehensive Pact for Asylum and Migration which will enter into application in mid-2026. The Pact constitutes a significant update to the common European Asylum System and requires complex implementation efforts across the 27 EU Member States (MS). The increase of anti-immigration and xenophobia sentiment in Europe add to the complexity of the of the advocacy undertaken by the EU Affairs team. However, these enormous challenges also present a unique opportunity for UNHCR to work with EU institutions and MS to safeguard the principles underpinning the 1951 Convention, preserve protection space in the region, and identify solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless people.

Living and Working Conditions:

Brussels (Belgium) is a European capital and a H family duty station.

Excellent working and living conditions
For more details on working & Living Conditions in Belgium, see on intranet at:
Living Conditions Brussels Belgium (unhcr.org)

SECURITY
Offices under MCO Belgium invest in security upgrades as needed and all are MOSS compliant. Brussels does not face any particular security concerns, but like all major cities in the region may be subject to indiscriminate terrorist acts.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Certifications

HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance