Eligible Applicants
This position is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the USA.
Applicants must have the US nationality.
Detailed Job Description
GENERAL
Regional Office for Southern Africa covers the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Indian Ocean Islands, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Priorities in Southern Africa are focused on finding adequate responses to protection needs and seeking long-term solutions for refugees. Resettlement is used as a protection tool and a durable solution for refugees who are in protracted situations, where voluntary repatriation and local integration are not foreseeable options. Also, resettlement has increasingly been used more strategically in the Region to achieve solutions for refugees in the country of operation not directly benefiting from resettlement, i.e. improving asylum conditions and advancing local integration possibilities. Furthermore, resettlement is part of phase-out initiatives in Botswana and Angola.
Local integration in the region continues to be a challenge for refugees settling in camps. Angola and South Africa are the only two countries without refugees¿ camps, however, refugees are facing challenges in these countries as well.
In 2017, UNHCR plans to submit 5,750 refugees from Southern Africa to resettlement countries. This figure is based on projected needs and dedicated human resources that will be in place in terms of established resettlement positions, and affiliate staff including ICMC, DRC and Refuge Point Deployments and International UNVs.
In 2017, the Regional Office will continue to resettle refugees with protection needs that cannot be addressed in the countries of asylum and as part of a durable solution strategy of the office in line with the global and Africa Bureau objectives and the increased resettlement submissions to the United States. In particular, refugees who fall within the following broad criteria would be considered for resettlement:
– Refugees with legal and physical protection needs;
– Victims of torture or gross human rights abuses
– Vulnerable refugees including women and girls survivors of gender based violence;
– Refugees whose medical needs cannot be met in the host countries; and
– Refugees in protracted situation who have no prospects of other durable solutions.
Main Refugee Caseloads in Southern Africa
The following are the most prominent refugee caseloads in the Southern African region for which resettlement is being and will be considered as a protection tool and durable solution in 2017.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Southern Africa receives a high number of asylum applications from Congolese fleeing the formerly government-held territories, as well as from the formerly rebel-controlled areas in the Eastern part of the country. The crisis in Eastern DRC, particularly in the Kivus and its side effects in the region is also prompting the need to respond through resettlement to a number of cases of this background. This trend is likely to continue due to instability in eastern part of the DRC.
Somalia
UNHCR expects to continue and increase its resettlement submissions of Somali refugees; mainly those living in South Africa (see section on South Africa for more details). As prospects for voluntary repatriation remain slim for those coming from areas other than Somaliland and Puntland and challenges in local integration, resettlement is the most appropriate solution for many of these cases.
Others: Burundi, Namibians and Rwanda
Due to the improved security and political environments in Rwanda, UNHCR expects resettlement submissions from these countries on a moderate scale, primarily targeting cases of grave human rights abuses, women-at-risk, survivors of rape, victims of torture and violence, for whom resettlement is the only viable solution. The situation in Burundi is being closely monitored in light of the recent political instability and some Burundian refugees will be considered for resettlement. A group of Namibians in Botswana have been discussed with PRM and will also be considered for resettlement in 2016 and 2017.
Regional Resettlement Activities
The Regional Resettlement Support Unit (RSU) under Regional Office Pretoria, South Africa overseas resettlement activities in Southern Africa. The RSU has been working with country offices in Southern Africa in the implementation of the following activities:
Completion of refugee registration forms (RRFs): Monthly targets established with the UNHCR offices in the region based on 2017 Planning figures.
Quality control reviews: Prior to submission to a resettlement country, all cases received by the RSU are subjected to a quality control review to ensure that the RRF is well prepared, has no credibility issues and that case integrity is satisfied.
Submissions to countries of resettlement:
Regional Resettlement Support Unit is in constant communication with resettlement countries and determines the distribution of resettlement country quotas, in consultation with resettlement countries and HQs Resettlement Service. Resettlement country missions are coordinated by RSU in discussion with Country Offices
Support missions and training to countries of the region: RO supports country offices by assisting in the preparation of RRFs, training new and existing staff and through quality control reviews helping to improve the quality of RRFs.
Developing standard operating procedures in the countries of the region (SOPs): Countries in the region have now finalized SOPs, which require periodical updating and revision. SOPs ensure accountability in the resettlement process, consistency in the application of resettlement categories and procedures, and prevention of fraud.
UNHCR Offices in the region, under the leadership and guidance of Regional Office Pretoria, will intensify efforts for the identification of refugees in need of resettlement. In addition to other methods, implementing and operational partner networks inside the camps and in urban settings will be used. Clear criteria and guidelines will be established for partners who will continue to play an important role in this process.
UNHCR will ensure transparency in the resettlement process, while at the same time respecting the right to privacy of refugees. Public information will be enhanced by providing more information to refugees, which among other things, will help curb unrealistic expectations. Also, information will include other options for durable solutions.
The Regional Office maintains a zero tolerance to fraud within resettlement processes. Appropriate measures will be taken against all those who are engaged in fraudulent practices in line with the ¿Policy and Procedural Guidelines: Addressing Resettlement Fraud Perpetrated by Refugees¿ (March 2008).
FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT.
Accountability
– Refugee Registration Form (RRFs) well prepared with clear and concise information are completed.
– Case review targets, which is approximately 15-20 cases per week are reached.
– Close communication with the supervisor at all times, is kept and supervisor is informed of challenges in meeting objectives.
– Contribution to meeting Southern Africa¿s yearly resettlement quota.
Responsibility
– Prepare resettlement submissions in accordance with Resettlement Handbook, in countries covered by the Regional Office, including South Africa. This would entail missions to Country Offices, when required, and working closely with resettlement and protection colleagues in the field.
– Interview refugees identified for resettlement, and complete well drafted and clear Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs), for onward submission to resettlement countries.
– Conduct quality control reviews of RRFs prepared in both South Africa and the Region in a timely manner, providing prompt, clear and concise feedback to case workers.
– Assist in the updating and review of SOPs in the Southern African Region.
– Draft and reply to correspondence related to resettlement.
– Participate in Protection Needs Assessment (PNAs) exercises in South Africa, which entails interviews and assessments of urban refugees facing problems in the country of asylum. PNAs are conducted by a multi-functional team composed of mainly UNHCR.
– Participate in UNHCR intake sessions (reception days) in South Africa and identify possible resettlement cases.
– Safeguard all resettlement case files and in a manner that would ensure confidentiality and adequate protection from fraud and abuse.
– Compile periodic reports on resettlement as may be required by the Regional Office and by UNHCR headquarters.
– Undertake other activities as directed by the supervisor.
Authority
– Recommend the submission or non-submission of a case for resettlement subject to a review process.
– Feedback to resettlement case workers following the review of RRFs and comments on ways of improving the RRFs.
– During the absence of the Senior Regional Resettlement Officer and Regional Resettlement Officer, coordinate activities of the Regional Resettlement Unit.
– When directed by the supervisor, provide guidance and instruction to resettlement deployees and national staff.
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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. (Note that the Performance Appraisal and Management System (PAMS) allows for up to five Cross-Functional Competencies to be selected by the staff member and the supervisor.)
Code Managerial Competencies (Max. 4)
M001 Empowering and Building Trust
cross-Functional Competencies
X001 Analytical Thinking
X005 Planning and Organizing
X007 Political Awareness
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION:
– University degree in Law, Political Science, Economics, or International Relations/Studies.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
– BA and 4 years of relevant experience or MA and 2 years of relevant experience.
SKILLS:
– Knowledge of international legal framework governing refugees and asylum seekers.
– Excellent research skills and capacity to adopt to changing requirements.
LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE
– Essential: English
– Desirable: French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian or Arabic
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS COMPETENCIES.
– Field experience.
– Ability to understand and implement UNHCR¿s policy and global strategic priorities such as AGDM, SGBV, IDP, Statelessness and HIV/AIDS in the area of responsibility and at appropriate level.
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Supervision
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
TRAINING COMPONENTS
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
Additional Information
LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DUTY STATION
Housing/accommodation Yes
Health care Yes
Educational facilities Yes
Security Yes
Other (transports, banks, etc) All basic services are available, including health and education facilities, with several international oriented schools.
Duration of Appointment
Initially one year with the possibility to extend up to two (2) years.
Grade: P2 step I for the first year.
Closing Date
Applications must be received no later than Thursday 8 December 2016 (midnight Geneva time)
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.