Legal Expert

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

CONTR Local Senior Level Support

Target Start Date

2024-11-01

Deadline for Applications

October 30, 2024

Terms of Reference

Organizational context:

Currently, some 105,000 asylum-seekers and refugees are hosted in Greece. In 2023, over 48,700 people arrived either by sea or land. UNHCR provides expert advice to the State and evidence-based information that helps inform programmes and policies for asylum-seekers and refugees. Access to international protection, identifying durable solutions and support to vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees, such as unaccompanied children and survivors of gender-based violence, are UNHCR’s key priorities. UNHCR also works with national and local authorities, the private sector, civil society and refugee communities to advance protection solutions and inclusion, develop support networks and create employability and training opportunities for refugees. The Office retains a readiness to respond to emergencies and new arrivals, with a focus on immediate support to the most vulnerable. UNHCR Greece plays a strong advocacy role since continued support is needed, particularly from EU countries and EU institutions in providing immediate protection to those most at-risk through sufficient resources, ensuring capacity in the country and responsibility-sharing. UNHCR will continue to assist Greek authorities in responding to both short and long-term challenges.

General Background of Project or Assignment:

The project ‘Reception and integration reforms for migrants, especially unaccompanied youth’ is implemented in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Greece, in consultation with the Greek State. This project aims at improving and adapting the institutional and legal framework for unaccompanied youth in Greece and enhancing capacities of the Greek authorities to implement it. Alignment with the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, education, vocational training and employment opportunities, mental health, and psychosocial well-being would be among the areas of focus.

The Legal Expert will provide her/his support, for the relevant services and designated employees of the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA), its General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection (GSVPIP), to better identify the institutional, legal and policy changes necessary to adapt its operational and legal framework to the legislative changes brought to the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) through the adoption of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum in May 2024, with focus on children and youth. The Legal Expert will carry out the necessary legal-and-policy analysis desk work, and collaborate closely with the Greek authorities, to produce a Comprehensive Report on the aforementioned necessary changes.

The Expert reports to the Associate Protection Officer at the Country Office of the Representation of UNHCR Greece and works in close collaboration with UNHCR’s Senior Protection Associate/Child Protection focal point.

A functional communication line will exist with competent Protection staff of UNHCR.

The Expert will be engaged as an individual contractor for 12 months with a possible extension of 6 months. The Expert will be engaged full time. She/he shall be required to be present at the Country Office of the UNHCR Representation in Athens, while she/he will be also required to be present when required/requested at the premises of the office of the Secretary General for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection (GSVPIP) of the MoMA for coordination and cooperation with the Ministry counterparts as deemed necessary to serve the purposes of the project.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

Under the guidance of the UNHCR Associate Protection Officer and in close coordination with UNHCR’s Child Protection team and Legal team, the Expert will be required to:

• Work closely with the GSVPIP -and other sectors of the MoMA as required- to obtain full understanding of the existing structures for the protection of unaccompanied children and youth, and enjoyment of their rights under international, regional and national law.
• Carefully review the legal provisions of the 12 new adopted instruments (Regulations, Directives) and policy recommendations under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and analyse them against the existing national legal framework in relation to unaccompanied children and youth.
• Under the leadership/with the approval of the GSVPIP organise or participate in meetings to clarify specific issues linked to the implementation of the EU Pact provisions in relation to unaccompanied children and youth and/or take stock of progress.
• Closely collaborate with GSVPIP staff forming part of the MoMA Task Force (or other relevant body) for the EU Pact under the Secretary General for Migration Policy, to ensure complementarity and alignment of positions and policy in the respective review process.
• Produce a comprehensive report on the institutional, policy and legal changes required for Greece to implement the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum with regard to unaccompanied children and youth (project deliverable).
• Assist in the drafting of gaps analysis reports and the national implementation plan of the MoMA in relation to provisions for unaccompanied minors and youth (project deliverable).
• Support, if requested, the drafting of normative and regulatory texts for the implementation of legal provisions with respect to unaccompanied children and youth by respective authorities (in principle the GSVPIP, but also other co-competent sectors of the MoMA and other co-competent Ministries and public sectors as necessary).
• Provide an assessment of the mental health and the vocational / apprenticeship legal context in Greece to propose legal amendments to facilitate access of unaccompanied children and youth to the respective national systems.
• Support the GSVPIP in developing any other supporting document such as internal regulations, and/or tools, such as SOPs and manuals, for the implementation of the new provisions, using best practices at international or regional level and in the UNHCR work, to be followed by front-line officers in line with the new legislation.
• Stay informed of developments at European, international and national level in terms of refugee law and jurisprudence and share related information.
• Participate in meetings, conferences or training as required by the GSVPIP following approval by UNHCR.
  
  

The Expert will be required to deliver the following products throughout the duration of the Action, within specific deadlines:

• Desk review on the existing legislative adjustments and operational framework, and gap analysis (15-20 pages, English and Greek)
• Policy Brief with recommendations for legislative reforms (15-20 pages, English and Greek)
  
  

Qualifications and experience required:

Required:

• University degree in law
  
  

Field of expertise, competencies:

Required:

• Good knowledge of international policies and strategies related to child protection.
• Familiarity with legal aspects of vocational education training, skills development, and employment creation for the youth.
• Good interpersonal skills; respect to cultural diversity.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Good ability to handle software supporting presentations, data analysis or other needed tools for the tasks required.
  
  

Desirable:

• Postgraduate degree in Public International Law, Refugee Law or relevant specialization constitutes a highly desirable qualification.
• Experience on the Greece child protection systems.
• Good knowledge of the UN and NGO humanitarian community is considered an asset.
  
  

Minimum years of work experience:

At least five (5) years of prior working experience on legal issues pertaining to the protection of refugees and of unaccompanied minors.

Language Requirements:

Required

• Excellent command of English.
• Excellent writing skills in English and Greek.
  
  

Compliance with applicable legislation:

The expert will be responsible for her/his compliance with the Greek legislation, including taxation and social security. Accordingly, the expert has to be registered with the relevant tax and social security authorities. UNHCR may require the expert to provide evidence that she/he has registered for and is paying applicable taxation and social security to the relevant national authorities.

Additional Information:

Shortlisted candidates will have to undergo an oral interview and may be requested to sit for a written test.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Skills

Additional Qualifications

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No