Regional Registration Officer

Regional Registration Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Regional Registration Officer will function under direct supervision of the Senior Regional Registration Officer or the Assistant/ Deputy Regional Representative (Protection). The Regional Registration Officer supports UNHCR¿s registration procedures and decision-making as well as all registration-related activities in the region.  The Regional Registration Officer will receive functional guidance from the Chief Identity Management and Registration Section (IMRS) in DPSM, Headquarters.

The Regional Registration Officer supports, advises and monitors registration, case management, fraud control mechanisms, identity management, individual data management and other related issues within the region. In this regard, the Regional Registration Officer is responsible for ensuring that registration activities in the region are in compliance with global registration standards and guidance. The Regional Registration Officer will also be tasked under UNHCR¿s Identity Management Quality and Capacity Initiative (IMQCI) to assist in strengthening UNHCR¿s overall human resource capacity building field needs in the areas of registration and identity management. This will require that resources are identified, maximized and leveraged to make best use of UNHCR, Government and partner staff for a predictable implementation of registration methodologies, technologies and standards.

The Regional Registration Officer coordinates closely with registration operations in the field, IMRS in DPSM to promote regional and global consistency in Registration standards and population data management in all operational contexts. The Regional Registration Officer also works closely with Government, key UN and international organizations, NGOs and partners to establish the parameters for UNHCR support in registration and data management issues. In this regard, the Regional Registration Officer will foster data-sharing partnerships while ensuring that data protection guidelines are developed in conjunction with DIP, operationalised and implemented according to policy. Further, the launching of UNHCR¿s new, online case and identity management applications (proGres in Partnership and the Biometrics Identity Management System, BIMS) will require extensive contribution from the Regional Registration Officer in relation to both business input on usage of the tools and the deployment of the tools to support continuous registration, data management and other case-related activities.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR¿s regional processes in registration and population data management are consistent, in accordance with global UNHCR standards and policies.
- UNHCR provides tools and guidance, policy and technical support on registration, case management and identity management to field operations and partners.
- Persons of concern have fair and transparent access to registration procedures.
- The integrity of UNHCR¿s registration procedures is ensured and refugee identities are secured over time through the implementation of case management and identity management tools.
- UNHCR¿s population database (proGres) remains a reliable, trusted source of personal information and protection needs of persons of concern to UNHCR.
- UNHCR¿s data sharing practices are in accordance with data privacy and data protection policies and guidance while continuing to serve operational needs.

Responsibility
- Advise and provide technical support to country staff in the region on planned registration activities.
- Respond to field requests for technical support and capacity building in emergency and ongoing displacement situations, including the development of registration strategies, logistical planning, budgeting and resource management, technical choices, implementation modalities and coordination.
- Consult with and assist operations in planning for registration activities as part of the annual programme cycle.  Promote the prioritisation of registration in operations across the region during the Annual Programme Review.  
- Support the coordination of emergency preparedness and response measures relating to registration, including working with Headquarters to develop and implement appropriate resources.
- Liaise with the Bureau and the IMRS as necessary to facilitate registration activities in the region, including assist in the identification of field operations to be considered for deployment of BIMS and proGres.
- Contribute to the development, enhancement and implementation of the online case and identity management applications (proGres in Partnership and BIMS).
- Participate in regional planning activities whenever registration-related activities are an important component of the overall strategy and protection framework.
- Advocate with and support Government authorities in the region to establish and strengthen fair and efficient Registration procedures including the recognition of UNHCR identity and entitlement documentation and associated rights.
- In coordination with IMRS in HQ, establish linkages with key partners in the region to agree upon and implement appropriate case and data management approaches for efficient, accountable and standardized targeting and delivery of assistance and other programming and protection needs.
- Develop data sharing agreements in close cooperation with Protection colleagues and the Regional Registration Officer, ensuring they reflect UNHCR standards and policy, and are consistent regionally.
- Provide technical support, training and capacity building for UNHCR and partner staff in registration methodologies, technologies and standards, to enable them to conduct registration activities and to manage registration and case related data on a continuous basis.
- Support the country team to establish and strengthen internal capacity and/or that of government counterparts to manage registration and maintain population information.
- Document and report on registration activities at the regional level, and report on the impact of support interventions to the management of operations.
- Undertake any other related functions as required.

Authority
- Advise staff on planned registration activities, review plans and requests to ensure that they are in agreement with UNHCR standards
- Enforce adherence to registration standards, strategies, policies, operational guidance, instructions, and the usage of tools and analytical frameworks for registration and identity management and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of registration, identity and case management services.
- Endorse data sharing and data protection agreements in coordination with Country Representatives and Headquarters.
- Represent UNHCR with relevant external partners in-country and in the region on registration-related issues, as applicable.


ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- University Degree in social sciences, demography, statistics, information technology, geography, political science, law, business administration, humanities or related fields.
- Minimum 8 years (6 years with advanced university degree) of relevant experience.
- Strong understanding of the principles of and concepts of international protection and UNHCR.
- Strong team building, managerial, planning, coordination and representation skills.
- Excellent computer skills, particularly in data management.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Technical expertise in registration, individual case management and identity management systems, including proGres, in refugee and internal displacement situations.
- Knowledge of UNHCR and interagency policies, standards, programmes and humanitarian operations in a variety of geographical locations and operational contexts.
- Familiarity with planning, programming and implementation of registration operations at the field levels, including strategic planning, project development, budgeting and resource mobilization.