Resettlement Officer

Mission Statement

RefugePoint was founded in 2005 to provide lasting solutions for the world’s most vulnerable refugees. We work to fill the critical and unmet needs of people affected by war and conflict who have fallen through the net of humanitarian assistance, in particular women, children, and urban refugees.

Main Purpose of the Position

As part of the UNHCR-RefugePoint Collaboration Project, the Resettlement Expert (hereinafter “Expert”) provides direct support to UNHCR through temporary deployments to UNHCR offices throughout Africa. Assigned to one or more specific duty station(s) over the course of the contract, the Expert is considered an “Expert on Mission” to UNHCR tasked with enhancing local refugee resettlement capacity. On all assignments, the Expert’s core responsibility is to provide direct casework support to UNHCR by interviewing refugees and completing Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs). Depending on the needs of the assigned duty station(s), the Expert may also assist in other resettlement related casework such as profiling, Best Interest Assessments (BIAs) and Best Interests Determinations (BIDs), and file review and capacity building through training, mentoring, and other activities such as monitoring and evaluating existing resettlement systems. In addition, the Expert contributes to the logistical planning and execution of resettlement deployments and maintains regular operational and administrative communication with RefugePoint’s Nairobi and Headquarters offices during all stages of deployments.

Essential Functions

Actual functions may vary according to the circumstances of the UNHCR duty station and will be outlined more specifically in Terms of Reference (TOR) particular to the assignment.

• Interview refugees and complete RRFs and other resettlement related casework
• Interview refugees and complete RRFs and other resettlement related casework
• Conduct interviews and complete RRFs in accordance with applicable guidelines and standard operating procedures
• Provide technical guidance on resettlement matters, including internal review of casework
• As part of the casework process, refer vulnerable refugees to available services as appropriate
• Participate in other related casework such as profiling exercises, BIAs/BIDs, and file review, as needed
• Aid in the on-site execution of resettlement activities, including scheduling cases, hiring and training interpreters, acquiring needed supplies, arranging transportation and workspace, and managing other logistics
• Meet set targets for the number of interviews and number of RRFs
• Training, mentoring, and other capacity building, as needed
• Strengthen resettlement capacity by providing training and/or mentoring for UNHCR, NGO, and government staff, as needed
• Strengthen linkages between resettlement and protection, including the use of resettlement processing to refer vulnerable refugees to needed services
• Work with UNHCR colleagues to enhance resettlement programming
• Training, mentoring, and other capacity building, as needed
• Strengthen resettlement capacity by providing training and/or mentoring for UNHCR, NGO, and government staff, as needed
• Strengthen linkages between resettlement and protection, including the use of resettlement processing to refer vulnerable refugees to needed services
• Work with UNHCR colleagues to enhance resettlement programming
• Internal operational, administrative, and other reporting:
• Submit timely, accurate, and informative monthly narrative and case tracking reports
• Submit timely and complete monthly Timesheets and Expense Reports
• As requested, provide thoughtful work highlights and/or visual material for external communications to donors, partners, and other constituents
• Other reporting and communication as needed
• Ensure the highest standards of professionalism
• Adhere to both UNHCR’s and RefugePoint’s Code of Conduct, standard operating procedures, and guiding principles, and uphold the highest professional and ethical standards
• Uphold programmatic integrity by guarding against fraud and any other misconduct;
• When on assignment to UNHCR, actively participate as a member of the UNHCR team and comply with all UNHCR policies
• At all times, actively contribute to RefugePoint’s programs by embracing a learning attitude and by engaging in lively discussion to develop professionally and improve programs
• Any other duties as assigned by the UNHCR supervisor, in accordance with RefugePoint’s goals and agreed upon by the RefugePoint supervisor

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Familiarity with refugee law, protection, and assistance, including resettlement
• Excellent interviewing and counseling skills, including use of age-appropriate and gender-sensitive techniques
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills; ability to work effectively with partners and cross-cultural teams; ability to navigate administrative systems and work effectively and efficiently in a structured environment
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure, maintaining flexibility and attention-to-detail under challenging circumstances
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office; knowledge of proGres database or the ability to learn computer programs quickly
• Ability to travel in Africa on short notice and sometimes under difficult conditions, including to refugee camps
• Ability to adhere to RefugePoint and UNHCR Code of Conduct and conduct oneself in a professional and courteous manner at all times
• English language fluency

Education: University Degree in a relevant field (e.g. international affairs, human rights and humanitarian affairs, public health, social work, anthropology, etc.).

Experience: Previous experience in a related activity in the field of refugee protection.