Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, JPO, Guatemala City

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The position for Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer may be based in Country Operations, Regional Bureaux or Headquarters.

The incumbent’s primary role is to support resettlement and complementary pathways 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 managerial responsibilities in supervising 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.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Identify, interview, assess resettlement and complementary pathways needs, and process cases identified for resettlement and complementary pathways following established procedures; provide counselling to individuals.
– Support monitoring of activities for resettlement and complementary pathways, 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 and complementary pathways policies and procedures.
– Support the implementation of UNHCR’s global resettlement and complementary pathways 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 and complementary pathways in particular.
– Support senior management in maintaining regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure effective delivery of resettlement and complementary pathways; and adherence to adequate protection standards.
– Support government officials and partners undertaking missions related to resettlement and complementary pathways.
– 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 and complementary pathways.
– Contribute to the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for resettlement and complementary pathways practices.
– Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement and complementary pathways process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
– Promote and support the establishment of mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement and complementary pathways activities to maintain the integrity of the resettlement and complementary pathways process in the AOR.
– Assist in the production of up-to-date and accurate statistics, analytical reports on resettlement and complementary pathways, 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.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

For jobs in the Regional Bureaux only:
– Review and provide feedback and advice to country operations on their resettlement and complementary pathways strategies and priorities, to ensure that they are coherent and consistent with the regional strategy and are fully integrated into country operations plans.
– Assist offices in the annual planning exercise for resettlement and complementary pathways.
– Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared by country offices to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery; assist the supervisor in monitoring procedural compliance.
– Conduct periodic field missions to provide advice on the quality and consistency of resettlement submissions, decisions and activities.
– Assist in negotiating with resettlement countries the design and development of regional resettlement programmes and complementary pathways involving governments and non-governmental organisations in close consultation with the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection (DIP) at Headquarters.
– Coordinate with DIP, other entities within the Bureau and country operations to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach in the prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern across the region.
– Collect resettlement and complementary pathways related information to be used by the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the DIP for external publications.
– Assist in assessing training needs, draw regional training plan and strategy and deliver resettlement, complementary pathways and related training to UNHCR staff, partners and other stakeholders as required.
– Contribute to a communications strategy that generates support from external parties for the expansion of resettlement and complementary pathways.

Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
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.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Protection Learning Programme;
Resettlement Learning Programme;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
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.
Desirable
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.

Functional Skills
DM-Database Management
PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures
PR-Mixed migratory movement management
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

In recent years, transit through Guatemala has risen sharply by people fleeing violence linked to street gangs and organized crime in Central America. There are constant flows of persons creating mixed movements from and in transit through Guatemala in addition to a rise in people also seeking asylum in the country. Among movement of PoCs, there are high numbers of families, unaccompanied children, persons fleeing acute violence and targeting, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals.

In 2022, UNHCR aims at expanding its operation in Guatemala to pursue a twofold objective: i) improve the protection environment and solutions prospective to support refugees, asylum-seekers, people with protection needs in mixed movements, host communities, and returnees; and ii) enhance area-based prevention and protection activities with Guatemalan nationals and communities affected by or at risk of displacement. The comprehensive vision is to generate an overall improvement on the prevention, protection, and solution prospective for all targeted population groups in the next three to five years.

Enhanced efforts on protection and solutions for refugees, asylum-seekers and Guatemalans at risk, both in communities and/or within specific population groups (children, youth, women, LGBTI population, among others), being at their place of origin, upon return/deportation or in the mixed movements, will contribute to reduce risks and mitigate circumstances that force individuals and families to forcibly displace. The focus will be on mitigating and addressing key protection risks by institutional support to concerned government actors and support community-based response with civil society and local governments. This will be done in parallel to actions aiming at reinforcing the resilience, the self-reliance, and the socio-economic inclusion of the same population groups, or to ensure access to: local intergration, resettlement and the Protection Transfer Arrangement (PTA) for persons in need.

The North of Central America ― El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala ― has seen a dramatic escalation in the acute violence of street gangs and organized criminal groups that is driving increased forced displacement both within and from these countries. The NCA countries are experiencing some of the highest homicide rates ever recorded, and sexual violence, forced disappearances, forced recruitment into gangs, forced prostitution and trafficking of girls and women for sexual exploitation have also been reported as part of the violence pattern.

UNHCR has developed a comprehensive protection strategy for the NCA countries within the framework of the 2014 Brazil Declaration and Plan of Action and the 2016 San José Statement with the aim to provide protection to persons of concern to UNHCR. UNHCR is building its response capacity in order to offer durable solutions to persons of concern in Guatemala.

The persons of concern to UNHCR in the NCA countries are both people still in their countries of origin, as well as refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries. Resettlement is one of the durable solutions offered to persons of concern in the NCA countries. ‘Traditional’ resettlement of persons outside of their country of origin, particularly those returned by the US government, and persons in transit is taking place from Guatemala. Moreover, UNHCR already has in place a resettlement programme called the Protection Transfer Agreement (PTA) for persons of concern who are still in their countries of origin, that is taking place in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

The ongoing scale-up of the Guatemala operation saw a sharp increase in terms of annual quotas for PTA and RST. For 2022 a total of 2,900 individuals between PTA (Guatemala nationals) and RST (refugees and asylum seekers) is expected. Both the RST and PTA programmes are elements of the regional protection and solutions strategy and represents an innovative life-saving mechanism that provides individuals facing severe protection risks within Guatemala with a safe and legal access to another country where they can enjoy effective protection. The programs are coordinated by UNHCR, IOM, local NGOs, the Republic of Costa Rica which is used as a transit country for specific profiles and most vulnerable cases; and with the Governments of the countries of asylum/origin and participating resettlement countries.

UNHCR works with civil society partners to identify cases at high risk in the country of origin, who also provide humanitarian assistance to identified cases and, where needed, provisional protection in safe houses. UNHCR interviews eligible cases and refers them with an assessment of the individuals’ protection needs. Upon desk review by the receiving country, the case may be accepted for further consideration and UNHCR liaises with the transit country to ensure a smooth transfer. UNHCR partners in the transit country receive the individuals and ensure access to protection and assistance until finalization of case processing by the receiving country. IOM is currently supporting the transfers with logistical and administrative arrangements.

POC Children are often the most at risk in Guatemala and due to the transient nature of families, both high-risk Guatemalan and POCs of other nationalities, they are at risk of abuse and exploitation, including trafficking and sexual exploitation. They are the most at risk to be recruited by gangs and other organized criminal groups. Given the national and regional reach of these groups, POC children and families do not have access to adequate state protection to minimize these threats to their security. In this respect, it is estimated that at least 25% of resettlement cases processed for submission to resettlement countries undergoes a best interest process and requires the completion of a BIA or BID report to be submitted alongside the resettlement application, and many cases quite often require several BIAs or BIDs.

The JPO is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective resettlement response to the needs of populations of concern. Further, the incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive resettlement strategy and represents the organization externally on resettlement doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that persons of concern are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of persons of concern. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders.

Responsibility:
Under the overall supervision of the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, the incumbent will be have the following responsabilities:

– Identify, interview, assess resettlement and complementary pathways needs, and process cases identified for resettlement and complementary pathways following established procedures; provide counselling to individuals.
– Support monitoring of activities for resettlement and complementary pathways, 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 and complementary pathways policies and procedures.
– Support the implementation of UNHCR’s global resettlement and complementary pathways 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 and complementary pathways in particular.
– Support senior management in maintaining regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure effective delivery of resettlement and complementary pathways; and adherence to adequate protection standards.
– Support government officials and partners undertaking missions related to resettlement and complementary pathways.
– 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 and complementary pathways.
– Contribute to the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for resettlement and complementary pathways practices.
– Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement and complementary pathways process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
– Promote and support the establishment of mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement and complementary pathways activities to maintain the integrity of the resettlement and complementary pathways process in the AOR.
– Assist in the production of up-to-date and accurate statistics, analytical reports on resettlement and complementary pathways, 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.
– Contribute to the effective implementation of Best Interests Procedure by UNHCR and partners for timely support for children at heightened risk including supervision of UNHCR case management staff in line with UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines.
– Supervise and review BIP (BIA and BID) casework management of partners and UNHCR staff, ensuring proper monitoring, tracking/follow-up of cases and updating proGres database;
– Perform other duties as required

Authority:
-Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
-Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
-Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures
-Supervise staff as required.

This job is advertised in the frame of the JPO Programme and reserved exclusively to candidates with nationality of the United States of America.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Spanish

,

English

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Database Management, PR-Mixed migratory movement management, PR-Refugee Resettlement programs, PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program – UNHCR

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance