Repatriation Assistant

July 16, 2026

Grade

GS4

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

H (no hardship)

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2026-07-27

2026-12-31

Standard Job Description

Repatriation Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Repatriation Assistant reports to the Senior Repatriation Assistant, Repatriation Associate, Senior Repatriation Associate, Associate Repatriation Officer, Associate Protection Officer, Repatriation Officer or Protection Officer in a Field Office, Sub Office or a Country Office.
The Repatriation Assistant contributes to ensure the advancement of repatriation activities. S/he should implement the voluntary repatriation programme, in compliance with requisite standard operating procedures. S/he should contribute to ensuring that all repatriation movements respect the principle of voluntariness and occur in safety and dignity, with the full participation and support of persons and communities of concern.
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
- Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and ensure that they make informed decisions on returns, based on up to date information on the conditions in the country of origin.
- Assist in preparing documents (including Voluntary Repatriation Forms) and ensure that refugees are provided with the appropriate documentation.
- Participate in mass information activities aimed at informing refugee communities and other relevant stakeholders about the voluntary repatriation programme.
- Provide logistics and administrative support to voluntary repatriation border-crossing/return movements.
- Assist in assessing the specific needs of vulnerable categories of returnees during return movements and advise on responses.
- Enter data relating to voluntary repatriation in the relevant database.
- In line with the existing SOPs, interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and advise senior colleagues on which individuals to register for further return processing.
- Assist candidates for voluntary repatriation in filling relevant documents.
- Gather and enter information on voluntary repatriation into available databases, in line with SOPs.

- 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
For 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
International Law International Relation Political Science
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Not specified

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.

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:

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to protecting people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. Operating in over 130 countries, UNHCR provides life-saving assistance, safeguards fundamental human rights, and works to help displaced people build better futures.

The UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries covers Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, and is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Counsellor position contributes to ensuring comprehensive and effective counselling and assistance to refugees and subsidiary protection holders in Sweden regarding voluntary repatriation in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The incumbent will be based in Stockholm and will report directly to the Assistant Protection Officer.

The Counsellor will among other things engage directly with individuals who are considering voluntary repatriation, provide accurate and up-to-date information on the Swedish repatriation grant programme, organize individual counselling sessions with grant applicants and their family members (including children, in accordance with their age and maturity), and ensure that all counselling upholds the principles of voluntariness, safety, and dignity.

The Counsellor will provide information on conditions in countries of origin or habitual residence, including available assistance and reintegration support, to enable individuals to make informed decisions. The role also involves supporting applicants throughout the voluntary repatriation process, including by giving guidance on grant application procedures and documentation requirements.

In addition, the Counsellor will contribute to data collection, analysis, and reporting related to counselling activities in line with SOPs. The role further includes assessing individual cases, identifying vulnerabilities and protection risks, and facilitating referrals to appropriate services where needed.

Beyond individual counselling, the Counsellor will support awareness-raising and information provision activities aimed at informing refugee communities and key stakeholders about voluntary repatriation. These may take place in municipalities across Sweden. Therefore, flexibility to undertake travel outside of Stockholm is required.

UNHCR also supports staff development through a range of learning and training opportunities.

Language Requirements

Knowledge of English and Swedish are required; knowledge of other UN languages or languages of countries of origin of refugees is an asset (examples include Arabic, Dari, French, Pashto, Somali, Ukrainian).

Relevant Job Experience

Essential
- Strong communication and social skills;
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with protection-, individual case management- and community-based protection colleagues.

Desirable
- Given the nature of the work, experience in psychosocial support/ psycho-social first aid and working with children and/or older people is an asset.
- Experience in individual counseling and working with forcibly displaced people is an asset.

Living and Working Conditions:

Working conditions
UNHCR’s office is located in Stockholm, not far from Odenplan. While flexible work is a possibility, it is important to note that colleagues work principally from the office. The office hours are from 09:00 – 17:30.

It is further important to note while most counselling is expected to take place online, the Counsellor should be prepared to travel within Sweden, where necessary, to meet applicants in person. This may include remote locations. Therefore, flexibility to undertake in-country travel is required.

Note: Candidates may be subject to a written test as part of the selection process

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

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Swedish

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English

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Skills

IT-Computer Literacy

Education

Certifications

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