Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer | Gondar, Ethiopia

Job Description

Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position.

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The position for Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer may be based in Country Operations, Regional Bureaux or Headquarters.

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 and enforcing procedural compliance, integrity and quality of case submissions, and ensure progress against targets. He/she 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

The role may also involve managerial responsibilities in supervising staff and affiliate workforce.

The incumbent works in close coordination with the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection in Headquarters, and protection teams in Bureaux and country operations.

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

– Identify, interview, assess resettlement and complementary pathways needs, and process cases identified for resettlement and complementary pathways following established procedures; provide counselling to individuals.
– Monitor activities for resettlement and complementary pathways, as applicable, to ensure progress against targets, transparency and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow-up with resettlement countries and other key stakeholders.
– Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared in the country office/ by country offices to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery.
– Manage a process to ensure that persons of concern and partners receive up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement and complementary pathways policies and procedures.
– Promote and monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s global resettlement and complementary pathways policies, procedures and guidelines in the AOR.
– Provide guidance and advice on policies, protection standards and procedures for resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Ensure Standard Operating Procedures for identification of cases for resettlement and resettlement case management are in place and in line with UNHCR Global Standards.
– Promote and contribute to measures that enhance the prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern generally and in resettlement and complementary pathways in particular.
– Maintain regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure effective delivery of resettlement and complementary pathways; and adherence to adequate protection standards.
– Guide and support government officials and partners undertaking missions related to resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Assist selection missions by resettlement countries to the region/country operations.
– Stay abreast and analyse the implication of political, legal, social and economic developments in the AOR and recommend policy / strategic approaches to further UNHCR objectives with respect to resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Contribute to the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for resettlement and complementary pathways practices.
– Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement and complementary pathways process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
– Promote and put in place mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement and complementary pathways activities to maintain the integrity of the resettlement and complementary pathways process in the AOR.
– Assist in the production of up-to-date and accurate statistics, analytical reports on resettlement and complementary pathways, updates and briefing notes, including with regard to the trends, the country/ region’s performance in meeting resettlement targets, challenges and responses.
– Ensure that resettlement and complementary pathways activities are reflected in the country operations plans, the protection and solutions strategies in line with the regional strategy.
– Contribute to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies in the country operation or region.

For jobs in the Regional Bureaux only:

– Review and provide feedback and advice to country operations on their resettlement and complementary pathways strategies and priorities, to ensure that they are coherent and consistent with the regional strategy and are fully integrated into country operations plans; Assist offices in the annual planning exercise for resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared by country offices to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery; monitor procedural compliance.
– Conduct periodic field missions to provide advice on the quality and consistency of resettlement submissions, decisions and activities.
– Assist in negotiating with resettlement countries the design and development of regional resettlement programmes and complementary pathways involving governments and non-governmental organisations in close consultation with the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection at Headquarters.
– Coordinate with DIP, other entities within the Bureau and country operations to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach in the prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern across the region.
– Collect resettlement and complementary pathways related information to be used by the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection for external publications.
– Assist in assessing training needs, draw regional training plan and strategy and deliver resettlement, complementary pathways and related training to UNHCR staff, partners and other stakeholders as required.
– Contribute to a communications strategy that generates support from external parties for the expansion of resettlement and complementary pathways.

– 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Political Science;
Social Sciences;
International Law;
Law;
International Public Law;
International Refugee Law;
International Human Rights Law;
Refugee and Forced Migration International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Protection Learning Programme; RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme; MLP;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

At least 6 years ( 5 years with Graduate degree) of professional work experience relevant to refugee protection work, of which 2 years in an international capacity. Demonstrated experience in casework or case management, preferably in a refugee or immigration context.

Desirable

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. Knowledge of and experience with Complementary Pathways programmes. Diverse field experience. Experience working in a multi-cultural environment. Knowledge of additional UN languages.

Functional Skills

DM-Database Management
PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures
PR-Mixed migratory movement management
(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.

The incumbent should have proven competencies and experience in:

– Identify, interview, assess resettlement and complementary pathways needs, and process cases identified for resettlement and complementary pathways following established procedures; provide counselling to individuals.
– Monitor activities for resettlement and complementary pathways, as applicable, to ensure progress against targets, transparency and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow-up with resettlement countries and other key stakeholders.
– Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared in the Northern operations to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery.
– Manage a process to ensure that persons of concern and partners receive up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement and complementary pathways policies and procedures.
– Promote and monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s global resettlement and complementary pathways policies, procedures and guidelines in the AOR.
– Provide guidance and advice on policies, protection standards and procedures for resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Ensure Standard Operating Procedures for identification of cases for resettlement and resettlement case management are in place and in line with UNHCR Global Standards.
– Promote and contribute to measures that enhance the prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern generally and in resettlement and complementary pathways in particular.
– Maintain regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure effective delivery of resettlement and complementary pathways, and adherence to adequate protection standards.
– Guide and support government officials and partners undertaking missions related to resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Assist selection missions by resettlement countries to the region/country operations.
– Stay abreast and analyse the implication of political, legal, social and economic developments in the AOR and recommend policy / strategic approaches to further UNHCR objectives with respect to resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Contribute to the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for resettlement and complementary pathways practices.
– Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement and complementary pathways process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
– Promote and put in place mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement and complementary pathways activities to maintain the integrity of the resettlement and complementary pathways process in the AOR.
– Assist in the production of up-to-date and accurate statistics, analytical reports on resettlement and complementary pathways, updates and briefing notes, including with regard to the trends, the country/region’s performance in meeting resettlement targets, challenges and responses.
– Ensure that resettlement and complementary pathways activities are reflected in the country operations plans, the protection and solutions strategies in line with the regional strategy.
– Contribute to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies in the country operation or region.

Operational context

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

As of 1 January 2023, there are a total of 881,761 refugees and asylum-seekers from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Burundi, Djibouti, Rwanda, and other countries hosted in Ethiopia. Out of this number 22,000 refugees, mainly of Eritrean nationality are hosted in Alemwach refugee site.

Eritrean nationals used to enjoy refugee status granted on a prima facie basis; however, in January 2020, the Government of Ethiopia announced a change in policy towards a hybrid asylum system. After the conflict in Tigray began in November 2020, new Eritrean arrivals were not registered at all, resulting in a lack of access to asylum to an unknown, yet high, number of undocumented Eritreans with critical specific needs.

UNHCR does not currently promote voluntary repatriation to Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan or Yemen, as return in safety and dignity cannot be guaranteed. UNHCR Ethiopia is, however, engaged in regional collaboration to support voluntary repatriation whenever it is deemed feasible. Options for local integration are also limited, as the implementation of the 2019 Proclamation is gradual. Therefore, resettlement and complementary pathways remain the key components of UNHCR’s protection and solutions strategy, which also align with the objective of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework

UNHCR Ethiopia has scaled up the use of resettlement as a protection tool and durable solution using both, individual and group case processing.  UNHCR projects based that around 192.800 refugees are in need of resettlement in 2024.

The incumbent reports to Gondar Head of Office and works closely with other protection teams, such as registration, refugee status determination and child protection but also with the programme and the administration units. The incumbent oversees resettlement and complementary pathways activities in his/her Area of Responsibility (AOR) through identification of needs, submission of cases, monitoring and enforcing procedural compliance, integrity and quality of case submissions, and ensures progress against targets.  S/he contributes to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies and needs to make resettlement both strategic as well as responsive to the needs of forcibly displaced persons in the Northern Operations including Amhara, Afar and Tigray regions.

The role involves direct supervisory responsibility (staff and affiliate workforce). The incumbent works in close coordination with protection colleagues in the Country Office and in the Bureau, as well as the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection in Headquarters.

Living and Working Conditions

The incumbent will be based in Gondar Office. Gondar (also spelt as Gonder), is a city and woreda in Ethiopia. Located in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, Gondar is north of Lake Tana on the Lesser Angereb River and southwest of the Simien Mountains. As of 2016, Gondar had a population of 299,969 and previously served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the subsequent Begemder Province. The city holds the remains of several royal castles, including those in the Fasil Ghebbi UNESCO World Heritage Site for which Gondar has been called the “Camelot of Africa”.

Staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with extremely limited resources. The office deals primarily with several local camp environments with inherent risks to staff safety and health. Regardless of information campaigns, there are realistically few, or no COVID-19 protocols being adhered to in the communities. Staff are required to wear masks but will often work and live within large groups of people who do not. There is a referral medical hospital in Gondar but with limited equipment. Staff with medical conditions are advised to come with at least 3 months of prescribed medication.

The town has a central market where most of the common items can be found.  Also, there are government schools that focus mainly on the National Educational Curriculum.

Staff reside in commercial accommodations, mainly hotels. The town generally lacks apartments for rent save for the new city where it is mainly characterized by upcoming duplex buildings largely meant for family homes.  There is running water as well as national power in the city whereby both services are not reliable. The office relies on WiFi for internet connectivity and staff need to be aware therefore that the internet may be inaccessible after working hours.

There are functioning banks in Gondar, however transacting in dollars is not possible. Staff are also advised to always have a cash reserve on them. It is recommended that first-time travelers to the duty station dispense sufficient funds from the ATMs in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Ethiopian regulations do not permit the transportation of more than $ 4,000 or its equivalent into the country.

The security situation is fluid and staff members should always get the latest travel advice and support prior to travel to Gondar.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

• PR-Resettlement and Complementary Pathways programme implementation

• Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law,
• Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations,
• Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law,
• Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

• HCR Resettlement Learning Program – UNHCR,
• HCR RSD Learning Program – UNHCR

• Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Case Management: Refugees, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees

Competencies

• Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

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