Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer (Caseworker) Individual Contractor – International UNOPS ICA 1 254 views0 applications

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering an Associate Resettlement & Complementary Pathways Officer within the Nyamata Field-Office in our Operation in Rwanda.

The position for Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer will be based in Nyamata Field Office. The incumbent’s primary role is to support resettlement and complementary pathways activities in his/her Area of Responsibility (AOR) through identification of needs, submission of cases, monitoring procedural compliance, integrity and quality of case submissions, and ensure progress against targets. S/he takes part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews as well as monitoring procedural compliance and quality of case submissions. The role may also involve managerial responsibilities in supervising staff and affiliate workforce. S/he contributes to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies and needs to make resettlement both strategic as well as responsive to the needs of people of concern to UNHCR.

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

Title: Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer (Caseworker) under UNOPS.

Number of Positions: Two (2) positions

Duty Station: Nyamata, Field Office

Duration: Initially up to 31^st December 2021

Contract Type: Individual Contractor – International UNOPS ICA 1

Closing date: 12 March 2021

Start date: 1^st April 2021

Organizational context

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. Given the deteriorating security situation in and around the Libyan capital of Tripoli, UNHCR is responding to the emergency protection needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, children and youth-at-risk, and others of concern in Libya (urban-based and detention environments) through the establishment of the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM).The ETM has been established under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Rwandan government and the African Union (AU) in September 2019. Under the terms of the MOU, the individuals concerned are transferred on a voluntary basis, from Libya to Rwanda for emergency case processing for durable solutions .UNHCR supports the Rwandan authorities in biometric joint registration of the evacuated persons and in undertaking Refugee Status Determination (RSD) under its mandate in accordance with applicable standards. A durable solution for their situation is pursued, including return to the country of origin for those who voluntarily choose to do so, or third country resettlement to States that are willing to offer admission. This assignment is critical in ensuring this is achieved.

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.

The position

The position for Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer will be based in Nyamata Field Office and must have following:**

· Sound understanding and ability to implement UNHCR’s policy and global strategic priorities, such as AGDM, IDP, Statelessness, and HIV/AIDS, in the area of responsibility at appropriate level. Diverse field experience. Experience working in a multi-cultural environment.

· Knowledge of and/or preparedness to become familiar with and abide by UNHCR’s principles, code of conduct and humanitarian goals.

· Knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced and stateless persons.

· Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines on registration, refugee status determination/resettlement.

· Awareness of issues related to specific needs and vulnerabilities related to specific refugee groups (women, children/UASC, the older, minorities, the disabled) and how to apply rights and community-based approach to identify and respond to specific needs.

· Awareness of the importance of preventing fraud and ways to mitigate risks.

· A minimum of 4 RRFs a week is initially expected from the incumbent, with an expectation that this number will gradually increase to as more experience is gained.

· A weekly output report will be required from the incumbent for reporting purposes and performance monitoring.

· Excellent drafting and analytical skills.

· Knowledge of methods for identifying individual refugees or refugee populations for resettlement.

· Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in teams.

· Ability to work in stressful situations and in hardship locations.

· Knowledge of or willingness to become familiar with methods for identifying individual refugees or refugee populations for resettlement.

· Ability to work well in a multicultural team.

· Resettlement management capacity building and resettlement training.

· Ability to work with proGres v4 (or rapidly learn it) and other computer and technological equipment;

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Resettlement & Complementary Pathways Officer and overall supervision by the Head of Field Office, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks:

· In the context of COVID-19, complete at least 4 assessments in line with the individual case-processing policies and standards relating to registration, RSD, and resettlement of the operation ensuring productivity of five completed cases per full working week, depending on the profiles of evacuated individuals and processing modalities (regular RSD and Resettlement, merged RSD/Resettlement). The targets will be revised upwards as the situation evolves.

· Provide appropriate counseling to persons of concern in relation to the ETM process as necessary including in the context of the notification of decisions on individual cases.

· Participate in training/briefing UNHCR staff and partners on RSD/ resettlement categories/procedures, as required

· Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through registration, RSD, resettlement.

· Make referrals to other UNHCR staff/units, based on identified vulnerabilities and specific needs.

· Ensure adherence to and contribute to continual review of operation-specific SOPs.

· Maintain accurate processing statistics and provide statistical reports on a regular basis.

· Keep systematic, accurate records of all cases considered including ensuring compliance with proGres v4 data entry requirement, uploading of audio recordings on eSAFE and filing of all documents and correspondence in physical files.

· Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in individual case-processing through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and persons of concern.

· Conduct ten reviews per full working week for merged RSD/Resettlement cases as may be directed by the head of the resettlement unit.

· Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions.

· Assist in monitoring individual case processing trends and in compiling and analysing statistics related to individual case processing.

· Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern have accurate information on the UNHCR individual case-processing policies and procedures.

· Act as interpreter and translator, where applicable.

· Perform other related duties as required.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

· University degree in relevant areas: law, political science, social sciences – preferably in social work. Having a Master level or above will be an added advantage;

· At least 2 years of work experience (with a Master level degree) or 3 years of work experience (with a Bachelor level degree) in relevant work area (e.g. assisting refugees in a resettlement context, case advocacy, assisting with family reunification, identifying resettlement needs, preparing resettlement referrals/submissions, conducting RSD interviews and assessments, etc);

· Experience in interviewing and counseling refugees and asylum seekers on case processing.

· Experience in refugee resettlement – conducting refugee resettlement assessments and submissions.

· Cross-cultural interviewing experience.

· Previous working experience with refugee caseloads, will be an asset.

· Working experience in Africa, and especially within the East African and Great Lakes regions, will be an asset.

Location

The successful candidate will be based in Nyamata Field Office/Rwanda.

Conditions

Initially the contract for this position is up to 31 December 2021. It is a full-time role with working hours – Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 17:30, including one-hour lunch break, normally from 13:00 to 14:00. Fridays from 08:00 to 14:00; Saturdays and Sundays are weekend.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.