Published
6/13/2024
Deadline for applications
6/23/2024
2024 Resettlement Traineeship Program
Program Dates: 01 September 2024 – 15 December 2024
Program Locations: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ecuador
Working with refugees seeking resettlement requires both practical and theoretical knowledge about the refugee resettlement process. RefugePoint’s Traineeship Program gives our Trainees a chance to learn the specific processes and skills they need to interview refugees and support UNHCR to submit applications for resettlement. This program helps Trainees bridge the gap between their wealth of previous experience, including lived experience, and the unique demands of working as a resettlement caseworker. Candidates from historically underrepresented group(s) and with lived refugee and forced migration experience are encouraged to apply.
As part of the UNHCR-RefugePoint Collaboration Project, the Resettlement Trainee will undergo three weeks of resettlement training at RefugePoint’s office in Nairobi Kenya. The training will consist of an introductory course on the theory of resettlement and resettlement casework, including shadowing and mentoring experienced RefugePoint resettlement staff. Trainees will work with RefugePoint clients in interviewing and drafting resettlement submissions.
The Trainee will then be deployed to a UNHCR duty station for approximately 2.5 months. The Trainee will work as part of the UNHCR Resettlement Unit conducting resettlement interviews and submitting cases for resettlement consideration. The Trainee will work within a dual reporting structure that includes a UNHCR supervisor at their duty station and a reporting line to RefugePoint’s offices maintained through regular operational and administrative communication during all stages of deployment.
Upon successful completion of the Traineeship Program, the Trainee will be eligible for inclusion on future shortlists for RefugePoint resettlement deployments.
What You’ll Do
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.
Interviewing refugees and completing resettlement casework:
– Conduct interviews and complete resettlement submissions following applicable guidelines and standard operating procedures
– As part of the casework process, refer vulnerable refugees to available services as appropriate
– Meet set targets for the number of interviews and number of resettlement referrals completed
Internal operational, administrative, and other reporting:
– Submit timely, accurate, and informative quarterly 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
– Contribute to other reporting and communication as needed
Ensuring 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 a 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
Who You Are
– You have good command of the English language (spoken, reading, and written); for Ecuador deployment, Spanish language is required (spoken, reading, and written)
– You have strong writing and analytical skills
– You have strong computer skills, proficient in using Microsoft Office, and have the ability to learn computer programs quickly
– You have familiariaty with the refugee and forced migration context, either through work or lived experience
– You have excellent interviewing and counseling skills, including the use of age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed techniques and principles
– Are an effective communicator who operates with emotional intelligence. You are a deep listener and seek to understand others’ perspectives and needs before responding
– You work well under pressure, maintaining flexibility and attention to detail under challenging circumstances
– You have strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills; ability to work effectively with partners and cross-cultural teams
– You have the ability to travel on short notice and live under difficult conditions, including refugee camps
Package of Benefits
– Salary: USD 3,025 (monthly)
– Monthly deployment allowance pegged to the individual duty station.
– Reimbursement for visas and flights.
– Enrollment in RefugePoint’s group health insurance policy, as well as additional life and disability insurance.
– Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other MHPSS support
Our Values
RefugePoint has core, cross-cutting principles and values that define our work:
– Refugee-Centered: We create space for and elevate refugee voices and leadership within the organization to guide our work.
– Anti-Racist & Anti-Colonial: Recognizing that racism, colonialism, and global white supremacy culture have caused many of the inequities driving the world’s refugee situations, we seek to integrate and center anti-racist and anti-colonialist principles in all that we do.
– Equity-Focused: We deliver services, build capacity, and influence policies and systems to strengthen equity in the humanitarian sector.
– Trauma-Informed: We integrate a trauma-informed approach and offer mental health and psycho-social support services to clients and staff.
– Evidence-Informed Practice: We use an evidence-informed approach to practice, i.e., the integration of research evidence alongside practitioner expertise and the people experiencing the practice.
– Collaborative: The urgency of need and the magnitude of the problem requires shared responsibility and shared action. We seek opportunities to engage in networks and partnerships.