Resettlement Caseworker - IICA1  ( UNOPS ) '' International Position ''

This Job Opening is available to eligible UNHCR staff members and external applicants.

Cameroonian Nationals are not eligible for this position. AIM OF THE MISSION

Resettlement cases are identified through proGres generated list based on specific needs and protection profiles, or through internal referrals and referrals of UNHCR implementing partners. All profiled cases must be approved by the Senior Protection Officer and by the Deputy Representative for Protection prior to being authorized for resettlement processing.

While UNHCR Cameroon is currently considering putting forward a project proposal for P2 group submission to the USA of refugees from Nigeria, for the time being the resettlement cases of Nigerian refugees are being processed on an individual basis, as per advice of the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service and the Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa.

The Resettlement Caseworker based in the Maroua Sub Office will be mainly conducting resettlement interviews with non-urban refugees originating from Nigeria. Another fundamental task of the Resettlement Caseworker will be to support the colleagues carrying out resettlement needs assessments (¿profiling¿) with on-the-job training, coaching, and advice on technical matters related to resettlement case identification and processing.

MISSION OBJECTIVES

¿ Ensure that four (4) Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs) are drafted each week;
¿ Ensure that the capacity of national staff engaged in profiling is improved.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Senior Protection Officer, the Resettlement Caseworker will:
¿ Conduct 6 resettlement interviews per week and complete 4 Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs) per week for review by the Resettlement Officer, and referral to the Regional Bureau;
¿ Provide capacity building of national staff engaged in profiling, through proof-reading and on-the-job coaching prior to submission to the Protection Unit for approval;
¿ Ensure that relevant supporting documentation such as refugee certificates, birth / death / marriage / divorce certificates, custody consent forms, Medical Assessment Forms (MAFs), psychological assessments, BID/BIA reports and unofficial English translations, where required, are included in the referrals and correspond to the UNHCR policy and guidelines;
¿ Conduct BIAs as needed, and refer cases for Best Interest Procedures to the CBP Unit as necessary;
¿ Prioritize resettlement referrals according to the criteria set out in the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook;
¿ Respond to clarifications and queries by the Regional Bureau Resettlement Unit or the Branch Office Resettlement Unit on the referred cases;
¿ Counselling of refugees in the pipeline for resettlement as necessary;
¿ Regularly update resettlement events in ProGres v4;
¿ Identify, prevent and report fraud in the resettlement and registration process;
¿ Assist in ensuring appropriate out-processing of accepted cases as necessary;
¿ Ensure appropriate information-flow throughout the resettlement process, toward meeting submission targets;
¿ Throughout the above process, ensure that all required information is complete, credible and consistent, that the refugees qualify for resettlement, and that the standards set forth in the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook are met, including application of resettlement criteria for all countries;
¿ Perform any other resettlement-related activities as requested.

PROFILE
Essential qualifications and experience

¿ University degree in relevant area (e.g. international law/refugee law, political science, social science-preferably in social work, etc.);
¿ Minimum of 2 years of work experience in relevant field (e.g. assisting refugees in a resettlement context, case advocacy, assisting with family reunification, identifying resettlement needs, preparing resettlement referrals / submissions etc.);
¿ Excellent interviewing and counselling skills as demonstrated in previous assignments;
¿ Excellent drafting and writing skills in English, very strong attention to detail, very strong analytical skills, as demonstrated in previous assignments;
¿ Knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and statelessness;
¿ Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines on refugee status determination and/or resettlement as well as complementary pathways for refugees;
¿ Ability to assess and to identify protection risks of individuals and groups, and family reunification needs;
¿ Awareness of UNHCR mandate, the importance of preventing fraud and ways to mitigate risks;
¿ Knowledge of and preparedness to adhere to UNHCR¿s principles, code of conduct and humanitarian goals;
¿ Awareness of gender issues and how to apply rights and community-based approach to identify and respond to specific needs;
¿ Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in team.

Desirable qualifications and experience

¿ Experience giving advice on resettlement guidelines and policy;
¿ Skills and knowledge of child protection;
¿ Experience liaising with medical professionals in the context of resettlement;
¿ Knowledge of refugee status determination with a focus on possible application of the Exclusion article 1F of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.


Core competences
¿ Accountability
¿ Communication
¿ Organizational Awareness
¿ Teamwork and Collaboration
¿ Commitment to Continuous Learning
¿ Client and Result Orientation

Managerial competences
¿ Empowering and Building Trist
¿ Managing Performance
¿ Judgment and Decision Making

Cross-functional competences
¿ Analytical Thinking
¿ Innovation and Creativity
¿ Political Awareness Language requirements

¿ Advanced proficiency in written and spoken English is essential.
¿ A good working knowledge of French is desirable. Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

For equal competences, females candidates are encouraged.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

As of 30 June 2021, there were a total of 452,159 refugees and asylum seekers in Cameroon, the vast majority living in rural areas, and only a minority reside in the urban areas of Yaoundé and Douala. Most refugees in Cameroon originate from the Central African Republic (CAR), followed by Nigeria, and a small number from a variety of other countries. Of the 118,334 Nigerian refugees currently hosted in Cameroon, 67,702 are camp based (Minawao refugee camp), 48,735 are living in rural areas and 1,897 are urban refugees.
Cameroon is a State party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. The status and treatment of refugees in Cameroon is mainly governed under law No. 2005/006. Cameroon has practiced an open-door policy towards refugees, allowing them to settle among host communities and to access services and natural resources. Official refugee sites were only created during the 2014 crisis, in view of the massive influx of new arrivals in appalling conditions. However, the increasing number of refugees has put some strains on the above-mentioned policy, as their presence has intensified pressure on already scarce natural resources and social infrastructure. Cameroon is hosting over 116,000 Nigerian refugees in the Far North, with limited access to basic services.
Key protection issues for the refugees in Cameroon remain freedom of movement, lack of access to documentation officially recognized by the Government, Child protection, SGBV and poverty. These problems are compounded by a high level of female-headed households and a lack of decision-making power for women, due to cultural factors. Reductions of UNHCR¿s budget negatively impacted on the assistance being provided to refugees, further hampering their ability to become self-reliant. Additionally, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the coping mechanisms used by refugees to cater to their basic and essential needs. This has led some refugees to resort to negative coping mechanisms such as begging, child exploitation, sexual violence, and abuse, etc.

Although voluntary repatriation is an option for some refugees, owing to the continued instability in the region Cameroon continues to receive refugees and asylum-seekers arriving from neighbouring countries in deplorable physical and psychological conditions. Although the Government of Nigeria was requesting for the voluntary repatriation of its citizens in 2020, this has not been possible due to high levels of insecurity. Since March 2021, 3,880 refugees have returned to Nigeria. However, the security situation in the Borno State, where most of the Nigerian refugees originate from, is not conducive for a voluntary repatriation as of yet, despite the keen interest of the Nigerian authorities.
Finding durable solutions for refugees remains one of the priorities of the operation. UNHCR Cameroon estimates that approximately 41,600 refugees are in need of resettlement in 2021. This figure increases to 43,000 in the projections for 2022. The specific population projected to be in need of resettlement are refugees from CAR and Nigeria, in addition to a few refugees of other nationalities. Standard Operational Procedures for resettlement activities are in place and UNHCR Cameroon continues to use resettlement as a protection tool and durable solution to address the protection needs of vulnerable refugees. Resettlement is also considered for refugees who lack foreseeable alternative durable solutions. The rationale for the assignment is to strengthen the capacity of the operation in addressing the protection needs of refugees through the processing of resettlement cases for refugees with protection/resettlement needs. The assignment therefore fits into the overall protection strategy of the Operation.

The UNHCR Resettlement Unit is currently composed of two Resettlement Officers, two Senior Resettlement Assistants, two National UNV Resettlement Assistants, and one Resettlement Expert. The operation is currently working towards expanding its resettlement activities in field locations where the majority of refugees are settled.
UNHCR resettlement activities in Cameroon are currently coordinated by the Branch Office in Yaoundé and by two sub-offices located in Bertoua (overseeing the entire CAR population, through its two field offices of Batouri and Meiganga, which oversees Djohong and Touboro Field Units) and Maroua (overseeing Nigerian refugees); and the Douala field unit. DURATION

Until 31 December 2021 Closing date for submissions or applications is 30 September 2021.