Research Consultant for Handbook and Guidance Revision

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

CONS Local

Target Start Date

2024-03-01

Job Posting End Date

August 11, 2024

Terms of Reference

General Background of Project or Assignment:

UNHCR’s consultant, Ms. Clara Odofin, has undertaken preliminary research to examine the ways in which the Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status (HB) and Guidelines on International Protection (GIPs) are currently being used, how their authority is understood, and to canvas informed and expert perspectives on their currency and relevance, as well as any significant gaps or issues that would require attention in the event of any process to update that guidance. This preliminary research was conducted in the period between March 2023 and August 2023.

The research found that there is a pressing need to revise the HB and GIPs, given the conspicuous absence of an update (for over 40 years for the Handbook and 20 years for the earliest GIPS), and the consequent lack of currency of much of their content – creating the risk that these do...