Reg Resett Officer

Regional Resettlement Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

A Regional Resettlement Officer (RRO) position is typically located at a UNHCR Regional Office. The incumbent's primary role is to provide, in close coordination with concerned sections at Headquarters (principally the Resettlement Service and relevant Bureau) and in the field, continuous support to resettlement operations by ensuring that resettlement polices are correctly implemented and operations are assisted in establishing comprehensive protection and solutions strategies. The RRO contributes to policy development, revising and developing resettlement methodologies and systems, monitoring procedural compliance and quality of case submissions, staff training as well as assisting the global management of resettlement operations, resources allocation and coordination of resettlement activities involving governments and non-governmental organisations. The RRO performs an important function in providing policy and operational advice on resettlement matters to internal and external interlocutors.

Additionally, the RRO takes part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews. The role of the RRO may also involve managerial responsibilities in supervising staff, managing resources and implementing broader organisational objectives and priorities. The responsibility entails negotiating with countries the design and development of resettlement programmes and coordinating dialogue on resettlement related issues to bring about global / regional coherence and synergy to make resettlement both strategic as well as responsive to the needs of people of concern to UNHCR.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- Resettlement delivery in the region 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; efficient, fair and transparent resettlement procedures are in place across the region.
- 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 and analyze the implication of political, legal, social and economic developments in the region and recommends policy / strategic approaches to further UNHCR objectives with respect to resettlement.
- Review and provide feedback and advice to country operations on their resettlement 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 resettlement planning exercise.
- Promote and monitor the implementation of UNHCR's global resettlement policies, procedures and guidelines in the region.
- Contribute to the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for resettlement practices.
- Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared by country offices to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery.
- Conduct periodic field missions to provide advice on the quality and consistency of resettlement submissions, decisions and activities.
- Identify, interview, assess resettlement needs, and process persons identified for resettlement following established procedures;. provide counselling to individuals. 
- Assist selection missions by resettlement countries to the region.
- Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
- Promote mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement activities to maintain the integrity of the resettlement process in the region.
- Assist in negotiating with resettlement countries the design and development of resettlement programmes in close consultation with the Headquarters.
- Manage 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 production of up-to-date and accurate statistics, analytical resettlement reports, updates and briefing notes, including with regard to the trends, the region's performance in meeting resettlement targets, challenges and responses.
- Coordinate, in close consultation with Headquarters, to collect resettlement-related information for external publications.
- Assist in assessing training needs, draw regional training plan and strategy and deliver resettlement and related training to UNHCR staff, partners and other stakeholders as required.
- Contribute to a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR's operations from external partners.
Authority

- Take review decisions on individual cases and approve resettlement submissions / withdrawals / resubmissions.
- Approve expenditures under the budget as applicable.
- Represent UNHCR's resettlement positions with resettlement receiving countries and in regional fora.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, resettlement standard operating procedures across the region.
- Enforce compliance of supervised staff with global resettlement policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of resettlement services.
- Appraise the performance of supervised staff and act as the reviewing officer for the appraisal of resettlement staff.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Education: University degree in international law, international relations, political science, social sciences or related fields of discipline
- Job experience: At least 8 years (6 years with Advanced University degree) of professional work experience relevant to refugee protection work, of which 2 years in an international capacity.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

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

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, MLP. C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X009L3 - Change Capability and Adaptability Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 Previous experience on Resettlement Activities;
Training, capacity building, on-the-job coaching and mentoring of RST/ Protection staff Implementing and governmental partners;
Experience in and familiarity with Access, ProGres, Focus, RSR (Resettlement Statistical Report) PGRN (Projected Global Resettlement Need)
Demonstrated drafting skills in French and English;
Demonstrated ability to manage a large team and coordinate with other Country Offices;
Consensus teambuilding and cultural sensitivity needed as the team is diverse;
On-the-job coaching and mentoring.  ;
Ability to come up with innovative and creative solutions to operational challenges. The Regional Resettlement Unit supports and monitors the resettlement activities in 17 countries in West and Central Africa, including review and finalization of country office resettlement referrals, training and capacity-building of UNHCR staff and partners through training and support missions to the country offices, organization of thematic workshops and provision of financial and human resources. The Unit is the main interlocutor with resettlement country representations in the region with which all activities are coordinated through regular communication and meetings. The Unit is under the direct supervision of the Senior Regional Resettlement Officer, with one Regional Resettlement Officer and two Resettlement Associates.

The projected resettlement targets in the region for 2017 are estimated at 2.140 refugees for West Africa and 7.447 refugees for Central Africa (total of 9.587). All the refugees are processed as individual referrals and operations in West Africa are fully depending on RRWA for resettlement processing. In the region of West and Central Africa, most refugees referred for resettlement are recognized on a prima facie basis, and often live in protracted refugee situations. The declaration of the cessation for Liberian refugees (as of 30 June 2012) effectively suspended all resettlement processing from among this refugee population. Exempted Liberians have access to resettlement since 2014 if they meet, after a case by case assessment, resettlement criteria. The re-opening of resettlement activities in Eastern Chad for Darfuris has over-stretched RRWA¿s capacity since 2013 and the reviewing team is now comprise of 5 resettlement experts.

The work of the Unit entails a close review of the referrals and supports the offices in harmonizing approaches to refugee populations across the countries, integration of resettlement into UNHCR¿s overall protection framework and durable solutions strategies. Dakar is a family duty station with modern infrastructures including leisure and recreational facilities such as international schools, hospitals, transport network, etc.
Housing facilities (apartments, villa) are readily available for rent.
The expatriate community is considerable as most foreign missions and international organizations have their regional offices in Dakar
There is an important network of banking facilities including international banks;
Dakar climate is a hot semi-arid climate with a short rainy season and a lengthy dry season. Although a category family duty station, there is a moderate level of general criminality and banditry due to the prevailing economic situation;
Although there is no official curfew in place, staff are advised to be vigilant while circulating after dark. French and English are the essential

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add. 1 to March 2017 Compendium is Wednesday, 3 May 2017 (midnight Geneva time).