Registration Assistant

Deadline for Applications

May 3, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

D

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Non Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA4

Target Start Date

2026-04-01

Terms of Reference

Operational context

After more than three decades of political turmoil and armed conflict that profoundly affected its population, Iraq is gradually emerging into a period of relative stability. The country is making progress towards sustainable development, including efforts to resolve protracted displacement. Iraq continues to host significant numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers and pursues an inclusive policy that enables their access to national services. Despite these advances, substantial humanitarian and development needs persist.

As of the end of 2025, Iraq generously hosts more than 348,600 refugees and asylum-seekers, of whom 88 per cent are Syrian nationals. Approximately 80 per cent of this population resides in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). While most refugees and asylum-seekers live in urban and peri-urban areas, around 30 per cent continue to reside in nine refugee camps nationwide. Iraq also continues to have large numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs), including some 102,000 IDPs who live in IDP camps.

In this evolving context, UNHCR in Iraq has transitioned from a humanitarian response to an approach that increasingly supports development-oriented solutions. UNHCR works closely with the Government of Iraq and partners to support refugees and asylum-seekers in accessing protection, public services such as education and healthcare, and economic opportunities, while also advancing durable solutions for both refugees and IDPs.

Accordingly, UNHCR’s Multi-Year Strategy (2025–2029) envisions that forcibly displaced populations in Iraq will have enhanced access to legal protection, inclusive and quality basic and protection services within national systems and improved economic opportunities.

Desired Candidate Profile

1. The incumbent should have computer literacy and strong technical knowledge of the UNHCR registration tools, including ProGres V4, BIMS, Digital Gateway, and E-file.
2. The incumbent is expected to have an understanding of UNHCR’s protection principles, including protection case management in the context of refugee situations, i.e., experience on interview techniques, including interviews for children and sensitive cases, Best Interest Assessments (BIA), Civilian Character of Asylum assessments CCA and others.
3. The incumbent should have good experience in overall asylum procedures in Iraq in line with the national and international laws related to refugees, including strong experience with the Administrative Instructions for Regulating the Affairs of Asylum seekers in KRI
4. Fluency in English, Kurdish and Arabic languages required, knowledge of Turkish and Persian languages is desired.

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

Instructions for applicants

• When completing the application, candidates are required to list all of their language skills – including their mother tongue. The three broad levels are A1/A2 ("Basic User"), B1/B2 ("Independent User"), and C1/C2 ("Proficient User").
• Shortlisted candidates might be required to undergo a written test.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Standard Job Description

Registration Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Registration Assistant is a member of the registration team and is supervised by a more senior colleague who normally reports directly to the Registration Officer. The incumbent is responsible for supporting all activities related to registration, which may also include functions related to reception, filing and data management. S/he responds to queries from asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's registration procedures and their rights and entitlements. The Registration Assistant liaises with protection staff and partners to ensure timely identification and referral of persons of concern for protection follow up and may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.

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

• Conduct registration interviews in accordance with local SOPs and registration standards.
• Respond to queries from asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's registration procedures and their rights and entitlements.
• Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all individual registration cases.
• Identify persons with specific needs and ensure timely referral to protection follow-up as required.
• Collaborate with protection staff and/or partners in the delivery of assistance and programming, including provision of identity and entitlement documentation
• Act as interpreter and translator when needed.
• Refer cases to other units within the office and to implementing partners as necessary.
• 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

• Education & Professional Work Experience
• Years of Experience / Degree Level
• G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Social Sciences; Statistics; Mathematics;

Information Technology;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Not specified.

Desirable

Experience in working with UNHCR proGres software.

Functional Skills

IT-Computer Literacy;

(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.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy

Education

Certifications

Information Technology - Other, Mathematics - Other, Social Sciences - Other, Statistics - Other

Work Experience

• Other information
• This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No