Associate Resettlement & Complementary Pathways Officer, P2, Douala (for US nationals) At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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

Duties and Qualifications

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT.
The UNHCR operation in Cameroon has a Representation Office in Yaoundé, one Field Office in Douala (Littoral region), a Sub-Office in Maroua (Far North region), a Sub-Office in Bertoua (East region), a Sub-Office in Buéa (South West Region) and a Sub-Office in Meiganga (Adamaoua region), as well as Field Offices in Batouri (East region), Bamenda (North West region), Touboro and Djohong (Adamaoua region).
Cameroon, a signatory of the 1951 Convention, has practiced an open-door policy towards CAR 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, as regards to agro-pastoral conflict, access to water, health, education and firewood. Underfunding of the humanitarian operation and scarce development funding has also worsened the situation. A drastic reduction of the UNHCR budget has also negatively impacted on the assistance being provided to refugees, hampering their ability to become self-reliant.
Key protection issues for the refugees in Cameroon remain freedom of movement, lack of access to documentation officially recognized by the Government and, to some extent, by the private sector, child protection and SGBV issues, 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. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated these problems and disrupted the survival strategies previously used by refugees to cater to their basic and essential needs, leading some of them to resort to negative coping mechanisms such as begging, child labour, sexual exploitation and abuse.
Finding durable slutions for refugees remains one of the priorities of the operation.
Refugees in Cameroon have the rights to legal residence, primary education, public health and employment. Despite this, and due to the lack of government-issued identity cards, refugees’ living conditions are generally precarious in the country of asylum and prospects for socio-economic integration are poor. Freedom of movement for the search of livelihood opportunities is challenging, as refugees are often subject to arbitrary arrest. Refugees rely on casual labour, whereby they are often underpaid, work in unsafe conditions and without safeguards. Many refugee men work in construction and digging septic tanks, while women sell street food or engage in domestic work, where they are at risk of abuse, including of a sexual nature. UNHCR often intervenes in cases of abuse by (informal) employers, particularly in cases of exploitation. High levels of illiteracy, as well as the lack of professional/vocational training, prevent refugees from becoming self-reliant and from integrating locally. Such challenges have been observed in particular within the Central African refugee population.
Although voluntary repatriation is as option for some refugees from some specific areas of CAR and Nigeria, with continued instability in both countries as well as regionally, Cameroon will likely continue receiving refugees. Newly arrived asylum seekers are currently arriving in Cameroon in deplorable physical and psychological conditions, after suffering traumatic experiences and witnessing atrocities in their countries of origin. Therefore, refugees from these countries currently have limited prospects for repatriation in safety and dignity.
In light of the above, resettlement remains a fundamental durable solution and protection tool to respond to the needs of vulnerable refugees. The Projected Global Resettlement Needs (PGRN) for the year 2022 are of 43,000 persons in need of resettlement across the country. UNHCR Cameroon is currently submitting resettlement cases to France and the USA, as well as under the Global Unallocated Quota, while waiting for additional quotas to be confirmed later in the year. Standard Operating Procedures for resettlement activities are in place.
While UNHCR Cameroon is currently expanding its resettlement activities in the field, refugees residing in urban areas are also living in precarious conditions and often present needs warranting resettlement consideration. In urban contexts such as Douala, most refugees live in makeshift shelters at building sites, in very poor hygienic conditions and without any substantial protection or safety. In their efforts to provide for the livelihoods of their families, they are exposed to discrimination and exploitation. Owing to a generalized lack of financial means, children are at risk of school drop-out and medical conditions often remain untreated.
The UNHCR field office in Douala currently comprises of a Senior Resettlement Assistant. Both in-person and remote interviews have been used on a regular basis to allow for processing of resettlement cases from this area. In the first half of 2022, the UNHCR Douala office is bound to receive a short-term deployee who will support identification and profiling for a period of three months.
The incumbent will coordinate the work of the resettlement team in Douala, ensuring adherence to standard procedures and that adequate safeguarding measuers are in place. He/she will conduct casework as needed. The incumbent will work closely with the Resettlement Unit in Yaounde, as part of a dynamic team of national and international staff members. The incumbent should be flexible and adaptable, possess excellent drafting skills, and be able to work in a multicultural environment and meet tight deadlines.

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; efficient, fair and transparent resettlement procedures are in place.
• 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.

Responsibility
The overall responsibility is to implement resettlement policies, strategies, and standard operating procedures to maintain a coherent, credible, and transparent resettlement programme, and specifically to:

• Coordinate the resettlement work of the Douala Office, alongside the Branch Office and the Bureau;
• Assist in the identification of vulnerable refugees who are eligible for resettlement consideration;
• Interview refugees following established procedures to assess resettlement needs and process suitable candidates for resettlement;
• Prepare written documentation for resettlement submission (RRFs), and take appropriate decisions as required by UNHCR¿s Standard Operating Procedures;
• Conduct resettlement case follow-up as required
• Provide counselling and advice to refugees concerning criteria, prospects, and problems in connection with the resettlement process;
• Assist in the dissemination of resettlement policy issues among refugees, partners, and Government authorities;
• Assist in the organization and oversight of selection missions by resettlement countries
• Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud through oversight (including in-country travel), advice and guidance;
• Prepare situation reports and compile correct monthly resettlement reports to supervisors and the Regional Bureau;
• Perform other duties as required and requested by Senior Management.

Authority

• Ensure proper identification of potential resettlement cases.
• 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:
  University degree in law, international law, political sciences, or international relations. Knowledge of refugee issues, international human rights and refugee law are desirable.
  WORK EXPERIENCE:
  3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree.
  2 years of directly relevant work experience with a Master’s degree, 3 years with a BA. Prior experience in interviewing will be an asset.
  SKILLS:
  The incumbent should be flexible and able to work under pressure and deadlines. A solid grounding in international human rights law and refugee law is necessary.