Mission and objectives

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

In support of the rural – urban linkages, SDG-aligned strategies, UNHCR in Jordan has a dedicated Technical Unit in Amman and technical staff in camps. Together, they support in coordination with the Government, to assess needs and coordinate the provision of WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene), and in particular, hygiene promotion services to Persons of Concern (PoC) to UNHCR. This will include coordination at site level with WASH partners in conjunction with the government authorities, and monitoring progress of hygiene promotion programme implementation to ensure that an adequate level of hygiene promotion service is provided at each site in accordance with the UNHCR WASH Manual and Technical Guidelines, and applicable UNHCR Standards and/or National Standards.

Context

The resettlement of refugees from Jordan is currently limited to refugees with compelling protection vulnerabilities in Jordan. In 2024 9,000 refugees will be submitted for resettlement. The current quota for resettlement in 2025 will largely depend on the resettlement countries pledges such as USA, Canada, Sweden, Germany; UNHCR Jordan aims at a figure of resettlement for roughly 7,500 refugees both Syrian and non-Syrian populations.

As the Syrian crisis continues into its twelfth year, Jordan has witnessed ongoing protection needs paired with limited available solutions. In addition, opportunities for local integration remain a legal impossibility and there are limited livelihoods and educations opportunities created by government restrictions and a difficult economic environment. Due to these factors, UNHCR has been working to better support refugees’ access to complementary pathways from Jordan.

Recognizing a multitude of existing pathways and the potential for refugees to secure access to solutions through immigration channels to third countries, UNHCR works with partners and refugee communities to increase knowledge of these avenues and expand access. Since 2019 when UNHCR Jordan started tracking complementary pathways departures, over 1,500 refugees are known to have departed Jordan.

There are opportunities for refugees to access an increasing number of employment and education visas from Jordan. The refugee population in Jordan includes those with in-demand skills and experience, gained both in the home country, as well as in Jordan. Refugees in Jordan are registered to have experience in occupations ranging from skilled trades (mechanics, electricians, carpenters, plumbers, butchers, chefs) to highly skilled professions including engineers, IT, and medical professionals. UNHCR works closely with key partners to facilitate access to third country employment pathways, yet the scale of departures remains low, and additional capacity is needed to support qualified refugees to successfully access available opportunities.

UNHCR Jordan will continue to strengthen and mainstream its engagement in complementary pathways in close coordination with the MENA Protection Service. Throughout 2024 and 2025, the operation plans to support complementary pathways initiatives and partners to better facilitate access to complementary pathways for refugees in Jordan. This will include activities aimed at providing targeted individual case support to refugees seeking to access pathways, strengthening outreach and awareness raising with refugee communities on pathways, improving coordination and partner engagement, and building evidence and best practices.

International UN Volunteers are entitled to:

• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of USD 2538.43 (subject to change in monthly Post Adjustment Modifier).

• Entry lumpsum, Exit lumpsum; and Travel Allowance

• Annual and learning leaves;

• Free Medical and life insurance; and

• Free access to different learning platforms.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Associate Complementary Pathways Officer will:

•Coordinate the work of BO Amman to facilitate and improve access to complementary pathways for refugees together with resettlement, livelihoods, education and external relations colleagues;

•Research and map various complementary pathways opportunities available to refugees in Jordan, including through focus group discussions with refugees on existing pathways, information needs, and the obstacles in accessing them;

•Mainstream complementary pathways activities within the operation including through the maintenance of standard operating procedures, ensuring data quality and review, and regular reporting on complementary pathways activities.

•Provide training to UNHCR relevant units/colleagues and key partners on complementary pathways and UNHCR’s role in facilitating complementary pathways;

•Ensure that persons of concern have access to information and accurate messages on complementary pathways and explore innovative ways to design information sharing tools together with refugees;

•Engage with partners who are or have the potential to facilitate the admission of refugees through complementary pathways and work to address barriers to access specific to refugees (e.g. related to documentation, access to embassies, etc.)

•Monitor and advise on integrity issues, and data protection safeguards related to complementary pathways as necessary.

•Work with relevant colleagues to strengthen data on refugee skills and develop advocacy materials highlighting the contributions that refugees in Jordan could make through complementary pathways.

•Support the management and monitoring of UNHCR implementing partnerships aimed at expanding refugee knowledge and awareness of complementary pathways through refugee-led outreach initiatives.

•Provide guidance and support for new pilot initiatives on complementary pathways in the Jordan operation, including around labor migration, educational scholarships, and family reunification.

Applications deadline is 04 November 2024

Skills

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

4 years of experience in relevant work area (e.g. assisting refugees in case advocacy, assisting with family reunification, community-based protection and outreach activities, coordination and partnership management, etc);

- Working experience in immigration or international refugee law, in counseling or supporting immigrants, refugees/asylum-seekers, and other groups in immigration or humanitarian pathways.

- Knowledge of and/or preparedness to become familiar with and abide by UNHCR’s principles, code of conduct and humanitarian goals;

- Knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced and statelessness persons;

- Strong understanding of international refugee law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law are a must;

- Technical knowledge of complementary pathways processes and experience engaging with partners to implement and facilitate such programs, including to test new and innovative models.

- Cross-cultural interviewing experience;

- Awareness of the importance of preventing fraud and ways to mitigate risks;

- Knowledge of or willingness to become familiar with methods for communication with communities, counselling, and information dissemination.

- The Associate Complementary Pathways Officer should be able to work well in a multicultural team.

- The Associate Complementary Pathways Officer should also be ready to provide training and capacity development on pathways to both UNHCR staff and external partners.

- Previous working experience with above-mentioned refugee caseloads, would be an asset;

- Working experience in the Middle East would be an asset;

- Ability to work with proGres (or rapidly learn it) and other computer and technological equipment

Particular other skills needed to fulfil the assignment (experience / demonstrable skills):

- Excellent interviewing and counselling skills;

- Excellent drafting and analytical skills including a background in academic research methods, data collection, and analysis;

- Knowledge of or willingness to become familiar with methods for supporting individual refugees or refugee populations to access Complementary Pathways;

- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in teams;

- Ability to work in stressful situations and in hardship locations;

- Have affinity with or interest in refugee protection, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Social work, Crisis and emergency response, Legal affairs

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Arabic, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in law, political science, social sciences or social work or relevant field.