Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA1
Target Start Date2024-04-01
Job Posting End DateMarch 18, 2024
Terms of ReferenceTitle: Assistant Resettlement & Complementary Pathways Officer
Project: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Duty station: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Section/Unit: UNHCR Dominican Republic
ICA Level: IICA-1
Corresponding level: P1
Duration: from 01/04/2024 to 31/12/2024 with possibility of extension
Supervisor: Associate Protection Officer
1. General Background
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, UNHCR reopened its office in the Dominican Republic to provide coordination and humanitarian response to the thousands of people who came seeking International Protection. Since 2014, UNHCR has also been accompanying the Dominican authorities to achieve the effective implementation of Law 169-14, as well as finding document and nationality solutions for people of concern in line with our mandate.
UNHCR also implements its mandate to supervise the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, through technical cooperation with the institutions responsible for the refugee protection system in the Dominican Republic. In addition,
UNHCR is one of the agencies in charge of leading the coordination of the humanitarian response to the refugee population and asylum seekers in Venezuela, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other members of the R4V Inter-Agency Platform. UNHCR and partners deliver humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable persons of concern in the Dominican Republic, and fosters community mobilization and empowerment, following age, gender, and diversity criteria.
2. Operational Context
The Resettlement Unit in the Dominican Republic has an Associate Resettlement & Complementary Pathways Officer who conducts resettlement interviews and drafts submissions and provides direct oversight for the Resettlement Unit. The Unit currently has two Resettlement Associates who help with conducting protection assessments, logistics, data management, and other varied tasks. Alongside all case management activities, the Resettlement Unit also liaises with IOM, local authorities, and partners to help facilitate pre-departure arrangements. The Resettlement Unit in the DR coordinates closely with the Resettlement Unit at MCOW which oversees all resettlement processing activities out of the Northern Caribbean, including the DR. With a full team on the ground, the Resettlement Unit expects to successfully identify and process a heightened number of individuals for resettlement, and to continue to gradually increase the resettlement program over the coming years.
3. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The position for Assistant Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer may be based in Field Offices, Country Operations, Regional Bureaux or Headquarters.
The incumbent’s primary role is to assist resettlement and complementary pathways activities in his/her Area of Responsibility (AOR). Under supervision, the incumbent assists in providing, in close coordination with concerned sections within UNHCR as well as external parties such as resettlement and complementary pathways countries, IOM and NGOs, a continuous support to resettlement and complementary pathways operations by ensuring that polices are correctly implemented and operations are supported in establishing comprehensive protection and solutions strategies.
The Assistant Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer takes part in assessing cases for resettlement and/or complementary pathways, conducting interviews as well as monitoring procedural compliance and quality of case submissions. The incumbent does not normally have managerial responsibilities though it rests upon the supervisor of the post to make time specific arrangements subject to a given situation.
All UNHCR Individual Contractors are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their terms of reference. 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.
4. Duties
- 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 promoting access to complementary pathways for admission in the context of comprehensive solution strategies.
- Assist in the development of country resettlement and complementary pathways for admission strategy and annual planning exercise.
- Assist in promoting and monitoring the implementation of UNHCR’s global resettlement and complementary pathways policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Assist in guiding and capacitating the country operation to prepare consistent and quality resettlement submissions, as well as to promote and facilitate access to complementary pathways for admission to third countries.
- 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.
- Identify, interview, and referrer accordingly persons identified with potential to access complementary pathways for admission following established procedures; undertake field missions as required; provide counselling to individuals.
- Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement and complementary pathways for admission process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
- Assist in mitigating resettlement or complementary pathways related 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 and complementary pathways 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, as well as on complementary pathways for admission opportunities and procedures.
- Assist in the submission of up-to-date and accurate resettlement and complementary pathways statistics, reports and needs assessments to management as required.
- Identify and recommend relevant training activities of UNHCR staff and implementing partners.
- Assist in communication with communities’ activities ensuring that persons of concern are made aware of UNHCR’s resettlement and complementary pathways procedures and have fair and transparent access to and participation in the processes.
- Participate, where appropriate, in country-level discussions with resettlement and/or complementary pathways countries and partners.
- Perform other related duties as required.
5. Minimum Qualification
Education & Professional Work Experience
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
International Law, International Relations, Political Science, Social Sciences or other relevant field.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. 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.
Functional Skills
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
IT-Computer Literacy
DM-Database Management
PR-Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operations & IDPs Status/Rights/Obligation
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
UN-UNHCR's Mandate/Policy and Global Strategic Priorities
PR-Statelessness- Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
MD-Experience with HIV/AIDS situations
EX-Field experience
Language requirements
Fluency in written English and working knowledge of Spanish. French language skills are desirable
but not required.
Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Political Awareness
,
,
,
,
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo