EVALUATION OF UNHCR-LED INITIATIVES TO END STATELESSNESS – FINAL REPORT – VOLUME I
Figure 17 – Individuals completing UNHCR’s self-study module on statelessness, 2012-2020
350
324
300
250
200
150
111
116
2012
2013
146
129
122
135
99
100
95
50
0
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
160. Over the nine-year period, the highest number of trainees were from within G2 to G7 grades – 513
individuals representing 40 percent of the total number of trainees (see Figure 18). A notably large
number – 93 individuals representing 7 percent of all trainees – identified as external users; while 126
individuals – 10 percent of the total – represented consultants or contractors (classified as AW
Professional in Figure 18), accounting for over one third of all trainees in 2020; and a further 114
individuals – 9 percent of the total – were consultants/contractors hired as UN Volunteers. Only two
UNHCR Representatives (P4 and P5 levels) and one Deputy Representative (P5 level) are recorded as
having completed the training. Course evaluations show that the majority of trainees found the module
useful, relevant to their work and provided them with new information, knowledge and skills. In the online
survey for this evaluation, however, as well as in interviews, a number of UNHCR stakeholders
commented that either they had not completed the training (including some individuals with specific
responsibilities for statelessness) or felt that it was outdated or otherwise insufficient.
Figure 18 – UNHCR self-study module on statelessness – trainees by grade92 2012-2020
N/A
UNVIC
P5
P4
P3
P2
NA grades
G2-G7
External Users
AW Professional
0
100
200
300
400
500
161. There are several other external statelessness training initiatives that UNHCR has supported (including
design, teaching, and funding), targeting different stakeholders, which UNHCR staff have benefited from.
These include collaboration with the International Institute for International Humanitarian Law in San
Remo to provide dedicated training on statelessness; joint work with the World Bank on an e-learning
course on statelessness focused on civil registration and vital statistics; 93 the Melbourne University
McMullen Centre on Statelessness course; and a dedicated course on statelessness at Tilburg University
in the Netherlands.94 According to the Statelessness Section, all of these training opportunities have been
oversubscribed, and there is more interest than capacity to support these courses. Headquarters and RB
key informants also mentioned periodic efforts to disseminate guidance through ad hoc internal training
sessions at headquarters, regional workshops, and seminars, particularly for the roll out of the
operational planning guidance in 2016. Some RB key informants noted that they have adapted materials
to offer training in relevant languages for their region to staff, partners and government officials.
162. This patchwork of training and learning support may not be fully adequate to ensure growing demands for
capacity, nor to respond to the needs of individuals within the organization with differing levels of
responsibility and depth of existing knowledge and experience on statelessness. The 2012 UNHCR self92
AW Professional = Affiliated Workforce Professional - individual consultants or contractors hired by UNHCR directly or through UNOPS and other
secondment/loan arrangements; UNVIC = UN Volunteer International Consultant/Contractor.
93
Ibid and UNHCR 2016 Global Strategic Priorities Progress Report.
94
UNHCR, 2018 Global Strategic Priorities Progress Report.
46
UNHCR / May, 2021