Associate Resettlement Officer

This vacancy is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the USA and is addressed exclusively to candidates WITH THE US NATIONALITY. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT.

Kenya hosts the third largest refugee population in Africa. As of 31 December 2018, the total number of registered refugees and asylum seekers with UNHCR in Kenya stood at  471,724.  The vast majority, 257,318 persons, are from Somalia followed by refugees from South Sudan (115,286), the Democratic Republic of Congo (41,305), Ethiopia (27,701) and other nationalities. Out of the 471,724 refugees and asylum seekers present in Kenya, 75,742 lives in Nairobi and the rest live in the camp.

The Republic of Kenya has acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to the status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol as well as the 1969 OAU Convention, and has ratified various other international instruments protecting human rights.  In December 2006, Kenya enacted its first refugee legislation, the Refugees Act of 2006.  Although the 1951 Convention holds a contracting State responsible for according to refugees, lawfully staying on its territory, the right to choose their place of residence and to move freely within its territory, Kenya has since the early 1990s practiced a policy of encampment which obliges the majority of refugees to remain within the confines of refugee camps.  Although the Act does not indicate specifically whether refugees shall be required to reside in these designated areas, it provides for legal sanctions against those who contravene the Act by residing, without authority, outside camps in urban areas. Between 2012 and 2015 the Kenya authorities have implemented the encampment policy very strictly through implementation of two `Relocation Directives¿ as well as part of the Usalama Security Operation.

Refugees residing in urban centres, as a rule, do not receive material assistance with the exception of extremely vulnerable cases and those with protection concerns.  Refugees in Kenya mainly receive UNHCR protection and assistance at the Sub-Office level in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps. The limited access refugees have to local and national economic activities, combined with a very poor resource base constitute serious constraints for refugees to attain any level of self-sufficiency, let alone local integration.  The psychological effects of surviving trauma, have contributed to a protracted refugee population that is highly vulnerable.  Furthermore, refugees living in urban areas are subject to arbitrary arrest and detention as their refugee certificates are not always recognized by the Kenyan authorities. On 19 December 2014 the President of Kenya signed a new Security Law, including limiting the number of refugees and asylum-seekers to 150,000, while those applying for refugee status would not be allowed to leave the camps. However, on 2 January 2015 the High Court suspended 8 key sections of the new Law, including the one related to refugees.

The working environment in Nairobi is particularly challenging, and requires a dynamic attitude combining both sound knowledge and hands-on approach. Working hours tend to be long, and the issues dealt with are often challenging. The working environment has been further exacerbated by the government directives in December 2012 and March 2014 requiring urban refugees and asylum seekers to relocate to one of the refugee camps.

The candidate of choice will need to be a professional with the ability to function under pressure and to work within an international and highly dynamic team in harmony and good spirit.   

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.
-       Resettlement targets are met.

Responsibility 
- Interview vulnerable refugees identified by internal and external partners, undertake necessary action to finalise the resettlement assessment.
-       Review resettlement referrals by internal and external actors and resettlement assessments by Resettlement Assistants;
- Complete Resettlement Referral Forms (RRFs) to meet agreed targets in Nairobi; review RRFs from other caseworkers as required;
- Conduct resettlement related counselling for refugees and participate in outreach activities in coordination with colleagues from other protection units;
- Liaise with other functional units within UNHCR and partner agencies to ensure necessary action is taken / assessments made to finalise documentation on resettlement submissions;
- Draft BIAs for resettlement processing:
- Conduct support missions to the camps in Dadaab and Kakuma, in order to assist the colleagues in the field to meet their respective targets. Conduct resettlement interviews, counselling, prepare RRFs and perform any other task as requested by the Heads of Units.
- 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.
- 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.
- Represent UNHCR¿s resettlement positions.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, resettlement standard operating procedures.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. 

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION: Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Law, International Law, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) may also be accepted. The degree must have been obtained in an accredited institution listed under www.whed.net.

WORK EXPERIENCE: With a Master's degree, minimum 2 years of professionnal work experience relevant to the function (3 with a BA and 1 with a PhD).

SKILLS: Coaching and stake-holders management; very good drafting skills.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES.

Experience with immigration laws and representation of asylum-seekers.  Knowledge of UNHCR protection standards and RSD, REQUIRED COMPETENCIES, which illustrate behaviours that are essential to achieving deliverables described above, and that are critical to successful performance. All jobs require the staff to abide to the Values and Core competencies of UNHCR.  Where applicable, select a maximum of six Managerial and three Cross-Functional Competencies.

Code Managerial Competencies            

M001: Empowering and Building Trust
M003: Judgement and Decision Making


Code Cross-Functional Competencies      
X001: Analytical Thinking
X008: Stakeholder Management
X009: Change Capability and Adaptability LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

- Essential: English, 
- Desirable: Working knowledge of another UN language SUPERVISION: The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the manager indicated under `Supervisor title and position number¿.  The supervisor will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the JPO. The manager will also ensure that the JPO is provided a thorough induction and orientation briefing, followed by on-the-job training as well as continuous guidance for training/learning opportunities throughout the assignment. In support to the manager, the JPO Unit provides the Supervisory Guidelines upon recruitment/reassignment of the JPO. TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS

TRAINING COMPONENTS:
- Mandatory training courses:
1. Basic Security in the Field (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
2. Advanced Security in the Field  (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
3. Protection Induction Programme (PIP)
4. UN Course on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
5.    Orientation to IPSAS

- Recommended training courses
Please indicate at least 1-2 training courses relevant to the particular JPO function, available through Learn &Connect platform.

- New hires- UNHCR ethics
- New hires- basic of interviewing
- New hires-resilience and vicarious trauma
- Best interest of the Child ¿ basic principles and procedures
- Age Gender Diversity Approach
- Country of Origin Information (elearning)
- Interviewing applicants for refugee status (video)
- Identification of refugees in need of resettlement
- RST essentials training videos

The learning will be ensured through day-to-day coaching and mentoring. The Associate Resettlement Officer will be exposed to a range of protection and resettlement issues.  The incumbent will be required to develop, with the assistance of senior staff, a sound, all-round portfolio of the key competencies. These will include interviewing skills, legal analysis/advice and drafting RRFs and related documents.  Coaching and mentoring will be reinforced by participation within in-house/external training opportunities as available and supported within the budgetary limits given by the JPO¿s Government.


LEARNING ELEMENTS
Please indicate what the incumbent will learn during the assignment, defined in measurable results through applied skills or demonstrated competencies and specified per year.

At the beginning of the assignment and depending on the previous work experience of the incumbent, he or she will be thoroughly trained on UNHCR¿s resettlement criteria, policies, procedures and guidelines. If necessary, the incumbent will also be trained in Refugee Status Determination, Exclusion triggers as well as basic Child Protection issues for resettlement processing.

During his or her assignment, the incumbent will learn how to identify the most vulnerable refugees and / or refugees with imminent protection needs for whom resettlement will be the only viable durable solution. The incumbent will learn how to conduct resettlement interviews and to provide proper counseling to refugees on resettlement criteria and policies. He or she will learn how to write proper resettlement assessments as well as Resettlement Registration forms, including establishing refugee claims and identifying exclusion triggers. The incumbent will furthermore learn how to draft Best Interest Assessments (BIAs) for the purpose of resettlement processing.

Depending on the progress with regards to the a/m learning elements, the incumbent may learn how to plan for resettlement and be tasked with basic training activities for internal and external partners. LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DUTY STATION

Housing/accommodation: to be arranged by the JPO themselves/rental allowance possible.

Health care:  Kenyan Hospitals are generally of high quality in Nairobi

Educational facilities: There are a great variety of international schools in Nairobi even Japanese schools are available

Security
Security situation is the one of a big city. There has been several terrorist attacks in Kenya in the recent years. However Nairobi remains a family duty station where families can leave happily.

Other (transports, banks, etc): There are a number of reliable taxi companies. Matatus, ie Kenyan public transports, are not generally recommended for international staff. Very good banking sytem. Please note that the closing date for this JPO advertisement is Saturday 23 December 2019 (midnight Geneva time).