Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

General Background

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office based in Canberra, Australia, is responsible for the promotion and protection of refugee rights in the Pacific region which includes Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

Since 2013, approximately 3,000 refugees and asylum-seekers have been forcibly transferred by Australia for so-called “offshore processing” in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Of these, hundreds remain on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea, while many have been transferred back to Australia for medical or other reasons and others have obtained resettlement in a third country. Circumstances and conditions for refugees under Australia’s “offshore processing” policy have had severely negative impacts on health, and particularly significantly mental health.

Under a bilateral arrangement between Australia and the United States of America, announced in November 2016, 1,250 refugees are expected to be relocated from Nauru, Papua New Guinea and Australia to the United States. The Canada Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSR) by civil society actors has also facilitated a durable solution for many refugees of this cohort. However, hundreds of refugees subject to offshore processing are not eligible or are otherwise unable to benefit from these two programs. Specific planning and risk mitigation is critical for those not accepted via PSR, including thorough case analysis and resettlement resubmission for some.

In March 2022, New Zealand and Australia agreed to a resettlement arrangement under which New Zealand will resettle eligible refugees subject to Australia’s offshore transfer policy and are located in Nauru and Australia. As per the agreement, New Zealand will resettle up to 150 refugees per year for three years, with resettlement submissions made by UNHCR in line with UNHCR resettlement guidelines and procedures. As transferred persons currently in Papua New Guinea are not included in this arrangement, UNHCR has agreed with New Zealand that it will refer eligible refugees from Papua New Guinea under New Zealand’s refugee quota program.

The UNHCR MCO in Canberra requires additional resources to ensure the efficient implementation of the New Zealand arrangement and any other appropriate durable solutions identified for this population of PoCs. The most common countries of origin of PoCs subject to the offshore processing arrangement is Iran, Pakistan, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka though there is a diversity of countries as well as claims. The cases are generally complex with thorough review of the case file required as well as experience working with psychologically vulnerable PoCs, including remotely.

Duties

The Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, reporting to the Senior Durable Solutions Officer, will:

• Conduct remote and/or in person resettlement (RST) and Refugee Status Determination (RSD) interviews to support the referral of cases to New Zealand under the above arrangement and in accordance with relevant UNHCR RST and RSD guidelines and criteria
• Provide feedback to other case workers / partners on aspects of RST case processing, including family composition and unity, refugee claim, identity and supporting documents etc
• Conduct verification interviews and counselling with applicants, including identity and relationship verification and declaration page counselling, while ensuring all civil status and supporting documentation is available
• Ensure PoCs are appropriately counselled and the voluntariness of participation in any resettlement arrangement to a third country is guaranteed
• Prioritise assessment of cases according to priority grouping and referral from protection. Ensure individual case processing aligns with the MCO’s strategy of prioritisation
• Ensure that the internal records (physical or electronic files as well as database and tracking systems) are updated
• Undertake support missions to Nauru, PNG and/or in Australia to assist with interviews and the preparation of assessment as required
• Assist in reviewing, updating and implementing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the various processes in place

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer is expected to finalise a minimum of 4 cases per week, including RSD and RST casework.

The successful candidate will maintain their own individual case tracking report in which relevant case processing data will be recorded (interviews and complementary interviews completed, cases sent for review, cases pending clarifications, etc) and shared with the Senior Durable Solutions Officer weekly.

The Senior Durable Solutions Officer and other relevant MCO staff will provide case conferencing and technical support to the successful candidate as required.

Qualification and Experience

a. Education

Undergraduate degree with 3 years relevant experience, or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree, or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Fields of education: Political Science, Law, International Human Rights Law, Social Sciences, International Public Law, Refugee and Forced Migration, International Law, International Refugee Law, International Relations, or other relevant field.

b. Work Experience

Required:

• At least 1 year of professional work experience relevant to refugee protection work, preferably within the international capacity. Demonstrated experience in casework or case management, preferably in a refugee or immigration context.
• Thorough knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and statelessness;
• Thorough knowledge of UNHCR guidelines on refugee status determination;
• Experience interviewing PoCs with psychological vulnerabilities;
• Capacity to adapt to changing work requirements and work in a team, including in hardship locations;
• Excellent interviewing, drafting and analytical skills (in English);
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in teams;
• Capacity to work under extremely tight deadlines and under pressure.

Desirable:

• Experience delivering training in relevant areas;
• Experience giving advice on RSD guidelines / policy;
• Experience in the area of refugee resettlement – conducting refugee resettlement assessments and submissions;
• International / field experience – particularly with NGOs or UN agencies working with refugees in countries of refuge;
• Experience with refugees from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

c. Key Competencies

Functional Skills

PR-Resettlement/Repatriation/Voluntary Repatriation

PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures

PR-Experience in Operations facing mixed migratory movements

DM-Database Management

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Managing Performance

Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Planning and Organizing

Political Awareness