Resettlement Associate-UNHCR Tunis Retour vers les opportunités

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

INTERNAL/ EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Vacancy Notice No. TUNZA/20/2021

Title of Post:Resettlement Associate

 Category/grade:LICA-6

Location:Zarzis, Tunisia

Type of contract:UNOPS

Date of Issue:21 December 2021 

Closing Date:3 January 2022

Effective date of assignment:Immediately

Operational Context: 

UNHCR Field Office Zarzis (Southern Tunisia) conducted RSD (Refugee Status Determination) to an increasing number of asylum seekers over the last six months. Those asylum seekers are mostly coming from Libya in the wake of fighting and insecurity affecting Tripoli and its surrounding areas and are predominantly individuals originating from Sub-Sahara African countries, and in particular Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia. 

The operation is in the process of enhancing its RSD capacity at FO level and, among the refugee population, had already identified cases with resettlement needs. Tunisia FO operation has currently no resettlement dedicated staff, only one full-fledged RSD staff (IUNV), a RSD Associate going through on-the-job training, and one RSD Officer on mission are based in the field office, an Associate RSD Officer (UNOPS) and one RSD associate are based in Tunis, neither of them is dedicated to complete RST work, and very random drafting of RRFs is conducted for extremely urgent cases. The quota for 2019 is 70 cases, of which very few resettlement interviews were conducted, and only 9 cases interviewed and submitted in 2018 have departed. UNHCR Tunisia had recruited one Associate RST officer to be based in Tunis, the latter will jointly work with the resettlement associate and will ensure capacity building.   

The caseload registered in Tunisia consist of profiles with extreme vulnerabilities, highly traumatized individuals arrive from Libya having gone through SGBV, torture and forced slavery. The operation also registers cases of women at risk, LGBTI, and persons with legal and physical protection needs. Due to the non-existing resettlement capacity, these cases have to wait at least six months prior to going through RSD, when doing so, the rate of the refugee status granted is of 100% but no resettlement prospects are pursued. The GoT formally requested UNHCR to speed up refugee status determination but also subsequently engage in the identification of sustainable solutions. 

Under the direct supervision of the Senior protection officer in FO Zarzis and the technical  supervision of the Associate RST officer in Tunis, the RST associate will conduct resettlement interviews, drafting RRFs, and submitting for review and processing at CO level.

Functional Statement: 

Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results) 

• Assess the resettlement needs, conduct casework by interviewing identified refugees for resettlement. 
• Complete RRFs (Resettlement Registration Forms) and refer cases for review to the Associate Resettlement Officer in Tunis; 
• Research country of origin information to support and strengthen resettlement cases; 
• Support and assist in the preparation of and facilitation of resettlement country missions; 
• Organize training sessions on resettlement related issues and referrals for UNHCR staff and partners; 
• Manage in a fair manner refugees’ resettlement expectation in FO Zarzis through information sharing, outreach and counselling; 
• Regularly liaise with Protection, Community Based Protection and other relevant Units on protection needs within the Office; 
• Regularly update V4 database with resettlement events and maintain own statistical data for reporting purposes; 
• Participate at the Protection Unit and Field Office meetings when requested; 
• Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned tasks. 
• Ensure that persons of concern have accurate information on the RST procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice. 
• Create and update physical files as needed. 
• Report to the SPO FO Zarzis and the Associate RST Officer (Tunis) on the activities completed (counselling, RRFs, referrals). 

Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)

• The RST associate processes RST interviews (RRFs Assessments completed); during his/her mission. 
• Cases are referred for review in accordance with existing SOPs; 
• Participation at office meetings to discuss cases identified for possible resettlement consideration; 
• Resettlement events in V4 database are properly updated and cases are tracked; 
• Resettlement counselling is provided to refugees; 
• UNHCR’s RST procedures are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies, including policies related to age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming (AGDM); 
• Persons of concern have fair and transparent access to the RST procedures; 
• Persons of concern are treated with dignity, respect and professionalism; 
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment;

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Law, political science, international relations or another related field 

Minimum 2 years of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of resettlement, refugee status determination, protection human rights or international humanitarian law.

Fluency in English and French 

Desirable Qualifications & Competencies:

• Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. 
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively under stress and in crisis situations. 
• Working experience with procedures and principles related to RST is highly desirable. 
• Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees.
• Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals. 
• Completion of UNHCR’s RSD Learning Programme, COI Learning Programme, or Protection Learning Programme.

Required Competencies: