Associate Resettlement Officer, UNOPS IICA-1, Algiers At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering an Associate Resettlement Officer IICA-1 position within the executive team of UNHCR Representation in Algeria, Algiers Office.

UNHCR is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 135 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

The Associate Resettlement Officer IICA-1 position offers a unique opportunity to work within the UNHCR team in Algeria and gain experience in working within the UN system.

• Title: Associate Resettlement Officer
• Duty Station: Algiers, Algeria (with possibility of Teleworking/telecommuting)
• Duration: 01 September – 31 December 2021
• Contract Type: UNOPS International Specialist, Level IICA – 1 (Corresponding level P-2)
• Application start date: 03 August 2021
• Application closing date: 16 August 2021

Organisational context

UNHCR Representation in Algeria was accredited in 27 September 1984 under the Accord de Siège concluded between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, desiring to continue and strengthen their long-standing cooperation in the field of protection and assistance to refugees in Algeria.

UNHCR operation in Algeria operates through its two offices serving two different caseloads; Algiers Country Office deals with the Representation and the Urban refugees and asylum seekers, it conducts many activities such as but not limited to, registration of PoCs , Refugee Status Determination, basic needs support to PoCs etc. with the aim to promote the protection space. The Sub-Office in Tindouf deals with camps situation providing protection and assistance to vulnerable Saharawi refugees living in Tindouf area. The Sub Office is pursuing the implementation of strategic objectives driving the Algeria Multi-Year Multi-Partner protection and solutions strategy. The overarching objective is to shift from care and maintenance to sustainable interventions in many sectors mainly Water and Sanitation, health, nutrition, education and livelihood.

BO Algiers protection activities include: Registration, Refugee Status Determination; monitoring of the refugees/asylum seeker protection situation; interventions on detention cases to prevent refoulement; ensuring the physical and legal safety of refugees and asylum seekers; prevention and response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and other forms of human rights violations; refugee law training workshops for Implementing Partners and civil society and research for durable solutions.

Algeria being a signatory to the 1951 Convention and its Protocols, it is developing a law on asylum to establish a comprehensive national asylum system.

The urban population of concerns consists of around 10,000 individuals including 7,731 refugees (86.6 % are Syrians) and 2,337 asylum-seekers from various sub-saharan nationalities. On average, the office receive approximately 300 asylum requests a month and register some 200 individuals per months. The absence of a national law on asylum in Algeria and an operational body to rule on asylum requests UNHCR undertakes registration and mandate refugee status determination.

Refugees and asylum seekers in Algeria face protection challenges related to the mixed migration context. Protection needs and incidents include smuggling and human trafficking. In addition, sub-saharan refugees face some additional challenges related to their nationality and/or profile and have no prospect for local integration.

In this context, the operation has recently received additional resettlement quotas and is looking into enhancing its resettlement capacities to meet the planned resettlement targets.

The position

We are seeking a dynamic, motivated and results driven team player, to take-up a five-months assignment as Associate Resettlement Officer UNOPS IICA – 1 in Algiers Office.

Under the supervision of the RSD Officer, the incumbent’s primary role is to support resettlement activities in his/her Area of Responsibility (AOR) through identification of needs, submission of cases, monitoring procedural compliance, integrity and quality of case submissions, and ensure progress against targets. S/he takes part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews as well as monitoring procedural compliance and quality of case submissions. The role may also involve functional supervision of staff and affiliate workforce. S/he contributes to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies and needs to make resettlement both strategic as well as responsive to the needs of people of concern to UNHCR.

Duties and responsibilities

• Identify, interview, assess resettlement needs, and process cases identified for resettlement following established procedures; provide counselling to individuals.
• Support monitoring of activities for resettlement, as applicable, to ensure progress against targets, transparency and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow-up with resettlement countries and other key stakeholders.
• Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared in the country office/ by country offices to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery.
• Support the management of processes to ensure that persons of concern and partners receive up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement policies and procedures.
• Support the implementation of UNHCR’s global resettlement policies, procedures and guidelines in the AOR.
• Ensure Standard Operating Procedures for identification of cases for resettlement and resettlement case management are in place and in line with UNHCR Global Standards.
• Support and contribute to measures that enhance the prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern generally and in resettlement in particular.
• Support senior management in maintaining regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure effective delivery of resettlement and adherence to adequate protection standards.
• Support government officials and partners undertaking missions related to resettlement.
• Assist selection missions by resettlement countries to the region/country operations.
• Stay abreast and analyse the implication of political, legal, social and economic developments in the AOR and recommend policy / strategic approaches to further UNHCR objectives with respect to resettlement.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for practices.
• Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
• Promote and support the establishment of mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement activities to maintain the integrity of the resettlement process in the AOR.
• Assist in the production of up-to-date and accurate statistics, analytical reports on resettlement, updates and briefing notes, including with regard to the trends, the country/ region’s performance in meeting resettlement targets, challenges and responses.
• Contribute to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies in the country operation or region.
• Perform other related duties as required

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1-year relevant experience with Doctorate degree, in the field of Political Science, Social Sciences International Law; Law; International Public Law; International Refugee Law; International Human Rights Law; Refugee and Forced Migration International Relations; or other relevant field.
• Possess 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.
• Be a strong communicator with fluency in English and French

Required Key Competencies

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

Functional skills

• Resettlement/Repatriation/Voluntary Repatriation;
• PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures;
• PR-Experience in Operations facing mixed migratory movements;
• DM-Database Management;

Desirable Qualifications & Competencies.

• Sound understanding and ability to implement UNHCR’s policy and global strategic priorities, such as AGDM, IDP, Statelessness, and HIV/AIDS, in the area of responsibility at appropriate level. Diverse field experience. Experience working in a multi-cultural environment.

Location

The successful candidate will be based with the team in UNHCR’s Office in Algiers, Algeria; and may be required to start by Telecommuting/Teleworking.

Conditions

The position is for four months and the start date would be in September 2021. It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.30am to 5pm Sunday to Thursday (40 hours per week).