Senior Resettlement Assistant (Interviewer) – G5 – 2 Vacancies – BEY053 & BEY080 – UNOPS Contracts - Beirut, Lebanon

General Background

There are currently nearly 880,000 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, which makes Lebanon the highest refugee-hosting country per capita in the world. There are no approved camps in the country and refugees are spread over 1,750 localities. The refugee response is led by the Government and local actors, supported by the international community. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field to support the Government. 

The structure brings together 13 UN agencies, 60 national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. The Lebanon national response falls under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), whereby UNHCR guides the refugee response while UNDP facilitates the resilience and stabilization component.

Through inter-agency coordination mechanisms, 9 sectors have been established in Lebanon, with UNHCR leading or co-leading the Protection, Basic Assistance, Shelter, and Health sectors. UNHCR is also providing information management support to all. The Office has grown substantially in the past years.  Aside from the Branch Office in the capital city of Beirut, UNHCR has two sub-offices in Zahle and Tripoli and two field offices in Mt Lebanon, Tyr (South), and one field unit in Qobayat under the Tripoli Sub-Office.

A Senior Resettlement Assistant position is typically located at Regional Office, Branch Office or Field Office. Under supervision, the incumbent’s primary role is to assist the supervisor in effective resettlement delivery of a given UNHCR Office in accordance with the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, UNHCR Manual and relevant policy papers and publications. The Senior Resettlement Assistant is required to assess cases for resettlement, conduct interviews with refugees under resettlement consideration, and  provide important clerical and administrative support to resettlement operations. 

The incumbent maintains frequent contacts with his/her supervisor, relevant colleagues within the same Office or Offices under purview to exchange information and discuss issues on resettlement cases. Some contacts and communication at a working level are required with Embassy/Immigration Officials of resettlement countries, IOM as well as with other operating partners regarding resettlement issues.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Responsibility

• Carry out preliminary interviews and initial assessments to identify and/or process refugees for resettlement following established procedures, ensuring UNHCR’s RSD and RST procedures are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies.
• Prepare written documentation for identification and/or resettlement submission; ensure that records / files of individual cases are updated in a systematic and timely manner.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of cases.
• Assess and review individual resettlement cases and prepare individual/group submission for scrutiny by the supervisor. 
• Provide persons of concern with up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s RSD/resettlement policies and procedures.
• Follow up on cases from time of submission to final decision and departure; ensure effective in-country communication on the status and follow-up on persons of concern being considered for resettlement. 
• Assist in maintaining and updating proGres database and provide technical support.
• Coordinate travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.
• Organize logistical support for governments undertaking resettlement missions.
• Provide administrative support for resettlement-related training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required. 
• Maintain accurate resettlement statistics as well as up-to-date records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.
• Draft / type routine correspondence to Field Offices /Regional Offices / Headquarters.
• Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS. 
• Assist in mitigating RSD/resettlement fraud by reporting suspected fraud.
• Other tasks, as needed.
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Authority

• Recommend eligible cases for resettlement consideration.
• Provide counselling to persons of concern.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Accountability

• UNHCR’s resettlement policies and standards are correctly and coherently applied.
• Persons of concern are made aware of UNHCR’s resettlement procedures and have fair and transparent access to and participation in the resettlement process.
• Suspected fraud in the resettlement process is promptly reported.