Job Title: Associate Resettlement Officer

Job ID: 15299

Location: Guerada, Chad

Salary Grade: P2

Hardship Level: E

Family Location Type: Non-Family

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Procedures and Eligibility

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Duties and Qualifications

Associate Resettlement Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

An Associate Resettlement Officer position is typically located at Regional Office, Branch Office or Field Office. Under supervision, the incumbent’s primary role is to assist in providing, in close coordination with concerned sections within UNHCR as well as external parties such as resettlement countries, IOM and NGOs, a continuous support to resettlement operations by ensuring that resettlement polices are correctly implemented and operations are supported in establishing comprehensive protection and solutions strategies. The Associate Resettlement Officer takes part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews as well as monitoring procedural compliance and quality of case submissions. The role of the Associate Resettlement Officer may involve managerial responsibilities in supervising, coaching and training junior staff, and assisting in implementing organisational objectives and priorities.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

• Resettlement delivery in the country is needs-based, non-discriminatory and prioritized for refugees most in need of this solution.
• UNHCR’s resettlement policies and standards are correctly and coherently applied.
• Persons of concern are made aware of UNHCR’s resettlement procedures and have fair and transparent access to and participation in the resettlement process.
• Fraud in the resettlement process is promptly identified and addressed.

Responsibility

• Stay abreast of political, legal, social and economic developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Assist in implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for promoting the resettlement of persons of concern as protection tool and durable solution in the context of comprehensive solution strategies.
• Assist in the development of country resettlement strategy and annual resettlement planning exercise.
• Assist in promoting and monitoring the implementation of UNHCR’s global resettlement policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Propose the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for resettlement practices.
• Assist in guiding and capacitating the country operation to prepare consistent and quality resettlement submissions.
• Assist in monitoring resettlement activities to ensure progress against targets, transparency and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow-up with resettlement countries and other key stakeholders.
• Identify, interview, assess resettlement needs, and process persons identified for resettlement following established procedures; undertake field missions as required; provide counselling to individuals.
• Assist selection missions by resettlement countries to the country.
• Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
• Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud through oversight (including in-country travel), advice and guidance.
• Assist the country operation with group resettlement procedures, including planning, profiling, logistical arrangements, verification and post-verification follow-up.
• Maintain regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure effective resettlement delivery and adherence to adequate protection and resettlement standards.
• Participate, where appropriate, in country-level discussions with resettlement countries and partners.
• Assist in managing a process to ensure that persons of concern and partners receive up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement policies and procedures.
• Assist in the submission of up-to-date and accurate statistics, resettlement reports and needs assessments are submitted to management as required.
• Identify and recommend relevant training activities of UNHCR staff and implementing partners.
• Contribute to a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR’s operations from external partners.

Authority

• Decide and prioritize resettlement interviews of persons of concern.
• Approve submissions for resettlement.
• Represent UNHCR’s resettlement positions.
• Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, resettlement standard operating procedures.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in international law, international relations, political science, social sciences or related fields of discipline plus minimum 3 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s) plus 2 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 1 year of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
• Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

• **For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

• Diverse field experience desirable.
• Ability to understand and implement UNHCR’s policy and global strategic priorities, such as AGDM, IDP, Statelessness, and HIV/AIDS, in the area of responsibility at appropriate level.
• Good IT skills including database management skills.
• Completion of the Protection Learning Programme, RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme.

Position Competencies

• C001L2 – Accountability Level 2
• C002L2 – Teamwork & Collaboration Level 2
• C003L2 – Communication Level 2
• C004L2 – Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 2
• C005L2 – Client & Result Orientation Level 2
• C006L2 – Organizational Awareness Level 2
• M001L2 – Empowering and Building Trust Level 2
• M002L2 – Managing Performance Level 2
• M004L2 – Strategic Planning and Vision Level 2
• X001L2 – Analytical Thinking Level 2
• X005L2 – Planning and Organizing Level 2
• X007L2 – Political Awareness Level 2

Additional Information

For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services – Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. </p>

Desirable Attributes

The Associate Resettlement Officer, will be the resettlement focal person at the Field Office Guereda and quality assurance officer. The Associate Resettlement Officer will work in the Protection team at the SO Iriba to reinforce the capacity in the Resettlement Unit of Field Office, Guereda to conduct resettlement interviews and as directed by his /her supervisors, to prepare new Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs) for referral to the UNHCR Regional Resettlement Unit in Dakar (RRU). The Associate Resettlement Officer will co-ordinate the resettlement activities at the Field Office. As deemed necessary, the Associate Resettlement Officer will also conduct clarifications of cases pending submissions, carry out sensitization of refugees in order to manage unrealistic expectations towards resettlement and assist with tasks related to resettlement out-processing (such as providing orientation to refugees prior to selection missions).

Given the considerable and diverse work load, it is important that the applicant be motivated, hard-working, organized and advanced proficiency in written and spoken English is essential. A good working knowledge of French (able to conduct interviews in the language) is preferred, however this may be waived in lieu of considerable resettlement casework experience. However note that meetings and interactions with UNHCR, partner and government staff will be in French. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset, but is not essential. Knowledge of spoken Arabic is also an advantage.

Current Situation

As at end December 2017, Chad hosts approximately 398, 295 refugees, including 314,452 refugees from Sudan of which the majority are living in camps in the East of Chad. There are three sub-offices in East Chad with 12 refugee camps and one site under their responsibility. SO Iriba and its two Field Offices, Guereda and Amdjarass, cover six camps The majority of the refugees fled the war in Darfur in around 2004 and continue to live in a protracted refugee situation.

Sudanese refugees in Chad do not believe that the Sudanese authorities are demonstrating the political will necessary to allow them to return to Darfur in safety and dignity in the foreseeable future. In 2017, only 4% of Sudanese refugees in Chad expressed their intention to voluntarily repatriate in the near or far future. Local integration possibilities are extremely limited for refugees in Chad due to the poor economic situation, competition for scarce resources, and the volatile and unpredictable security situation. Although, theoretically refugees have the possibility for naturalization, in practice, the procedure is very complicated and lengthy. Resettlement therefore remains the most appropriate durable solution for Sudanese refugees identified with specific protection needs living in Chad.

The projected resettlement needs for Sudanese refugees in 2018 is 31,227 individuals. Changes in migration policies in the USA, which has admitted the majority of refugees resettled from Chad over the years, had a significant impact on resettlement in Chad in 2017 there by reducing the initial overall target from 5947 to 1000 individuals. However, given that there is a continued need for resettlement and that other resettlement countries have expressed interest in resettlement out of Chad, the targets for 2018 are expected to fall somewhere between 1,500 and 3,500 persons.

Working and Living Conditions

Guereda Field Office is a non-family duty station with very limited facilities in terms of medical assistance, availability of commodities and transport. Movements by road within the region are made with military escort provided by the Government of Chad. UN Humanitarian Aviation Services provide regular flights to and from Iriba to other cities in Chad mainly Abéché and N’Djamena.

UNHCR international staff members live mainly in the Guest House managed by UNHCR since private accommodations meeting MORSS requirements are very limited.

R&R for International staff is 8 weeks cycle while national staff members are entitled to compensatory leave every 9 weeks.

Security Considerations

Chad is among the most complex UNHCR operations in terms of security, environment and logistical context. The environment is characterized by unforeseen trends related to these factors. The risk of common criminality – fuelled by poverty, social unrest and high levels of unemployment continues to be one of the main threats to the physical integrity of UNHCR staff. UNHCR staff are always reminded the need to strictly respect all norms of security.

Cultural sensitivity and good security and safety awareness are important elements as Chad is a non-family duty station and there are constant threats to one’s safety and security.

Additional Factors

There are no banking facilities in Guereda. The nearest bank facility is at Abeche where we happen to have most of the banks operating in Chad (BCC, ECOBANK; SGTB’)

Closing Date

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 11 April 2018 (midnight Geneva time).