Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer

March 29, 2026

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Accra, Ghana

PR2

Junior Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-01

Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer

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
Not specified.

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.

The successful candidate’s primary role is to support resettlement and complementary pathways activities, by monitoring and enforcing procedural compliance, integrity and quality of case submissions, and capacity building among local staff to reduce the risk of, and respond to, fraud. Additionally, he/ she will support the response to refugees’ resettlement and complementary pathways needs, by reviewing cases of refugees (and in some complementary pathways contexts asylum seekers) identified, profiled, interviewed and assessed for resettlement (or complementary pathways) consideration and submission following established procedures, by caseworkers, according to the allocated and non-allocated quotas. He/she will thereby contribute to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies and needs by helping to make resettlement both strategic as well as responsive to the needs of refugees in Niger.

The role will also involve some managerial responsibilities in supervising staff and affiliate workforce. The incumbent will work in close coordination with the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service of the Regional Bureau in Dakar.
The incumbent will also lead missions of counselling to refugees already within a resettlement procedure.

The incumbent will guide and support and assist government officials and partners from prospective resettlement and complementary pathway countries undertaking refugee selection missions.

Years of Experience / Degree Level: A minimum of 4 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree.

Field(s) of Education: Political Science; Social Sciences; International Relations; Refugee and Forced Migration Studies; Law, in particular the following areas of law with an international component: Public / Refugee/ Human Rights Law; or other relevant fields.

Relevant Work Experience
At least 4 years of professional work experience relevant to refugee protection work, of which 1 year in an international capacity. Demonstrated experience in casework or case management, preferably in a refugee or immigration context.

Functional Skills
• Database Management
• Interviewing, Coaching, Drafting, Analytical and Teamwork skills
• Knowledge and experience of Refugee Resettlement programs, Anti-Fraud Policies and Procedures
• Mixed migratory movement management
• The candidate should have experience in resettlement management and casework as well as team management. S/he must have excellent English writing and oral skills and good French language skills (written and spoken).

The JPO position includes a Duty travel and training allowance (DTTA) of $ 4.000 per year which may be used for learning activities related to the assignment and career development.

Maximum age limit is 32 years as of 31 December of the year of application.

Candidates who have already completed a JPO assignment are not eligible. Candidates who are nationals of the country of assignment (Niger) are not eligible.

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English

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view the occupational health and safety considerations for this location, please click on this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The UNHCR representation office in Niger was first opened in 2012 in response forced displacements driven by the rise in violent extremism in the West African Sahel region, and now consists of the Niamey Country Office, Sub-Offices in Niamey; Tahoua; Maradi and Field Units in Diffa, Tillaberi, Agadez, and Madaoua.

As of September 2025, Niger is protecting 938,429 forcibly displaced people including 431,464 refugees and asylum seekers, 459,585 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 47,380 others of concern.

Violence by regional non-state armed groups has plagued the Sahel region and cross-border armed incursions are all too common.

The population of forcibly displaced people in Niger consists of 49 per cent (IDPs), 46% per cent refugees and asylum seekers and 5% others of concern. Most refugees come from North Nigeria (60%) and Mali (29%), but there are also some asylum seekers from Burkina Faso (9%), Sudan and Chad, Central African Republic and small numbers from other countries (2%).

The complex scenario of the country is triggered by instability in the neighboring Burkina Faso, Libya, Chad, Nigeria (including Boko Haram activities) and Mali (including JNIM activities), which has caused forced displacements towards Niger. A coup d’etat on 26 July 2023, ousting President Mohamadou Bazoum, resulted in temporary sanctions that have deepened already high levels of socio-economic vulnerability and political tensions in the country. UNHCR continues to closely monitor the situation and address protection needs of forcibly displaced people in the country in coordination with partners, and its operations continue without interruption.

Tillaberi, Tahoua, Ouallam, Abala, Maradi and Diffa regions are most affected by frequent displacements of people due to persistent insecurity and terrorist threats.

These large-scale displacements into and within the country are exacerbated by climate change and related hazards such as flooding and droughts, which contribute to rural poverty (80 per cent of the population depends on agriculture) and worsen issues with public service delivery.

UNHCR work in Niger focuses on using community-based, and (Humanitarian-Development-Peacebuilding) Nexus approaches to providing holistic assistance and comprehensive protection and solutions for forcibly displaced people, with particular attention on women, children and other persons with specific needs and resettlement or complementary pathways for the most vulnerable refugees.

Urbanization projects and livelihood opportunities strengthen protection, resilience and peaceful cohabitation between both forcibly displaced and host communities.

Niger is party to the most relevant international and regional legal instruments protecting refugees, IDPs, and stateless persons.

Resettlement work by UNHCR in Niger

In December 2017, Niger was also the first country to host an Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) for refugees evacuated from Libya. In parallel with the establishment of the ETM, UNHCR set up a resettlement Programme to submit to resettlement countries equal numbers of ETM refugees and non-ETM refugees. From early 2018 until May 2023 when evacuation flights ceased, more than 4,000 asylum seekers were brought to Niger. Since 2018, nearly all these beneficiaries were recognized as refugees and resettled to the United States, Canada, and to Italy, and other EU countries.

The UNHCR resettlement and complementary pathways unit, an integral part of the UNHCR Protection Section, seeks to identify and submit for resettlement some of the most vulnerable of 15,000 refugees estimated to have resettlement needs in 2025 out of the total 393,112 refugees hosted in Niger. It currently has a quota of 200 resettlement places to Canada in 2025. The unit also works with the External Relations Section, Regional Bureau and HQ to advocate and seek partnerships with faith-based organizations, the private sector or governments to offer more resettlement quotas and space for complementary and humanitarian pathways for vulnerable refugees. For example, in October 2024, under COMET project, Italy received 98 vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers from Niger to take up education, training and work opportunities.

Since the US 27 January 2025 Executive Order halting all resettlement for 90 days, in addition to case work, UNHCR stepped up its communication activities to reach more than 800 refugees whose cases had been submitted to the United States for resettlement. The most urgent of those were submitted as parallel submissions to Canada.

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to PEOPLE WITH THE NATIONALITY OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBLE* COUNTRIES: eligible-countries-DC-JPOs.pdf

Candidates must be under the age of thirty-two (32) at the time of application.

For the minimum qualification requirements, see the website of Nedworc Foundation:

Junior Professional Officer Programme - Nedworc Foundation

Please read the selection criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying

*Excluding Niger, due to the restriction that nationals of the country where the position is located cannot be considered.

Candidates who have already completed a JPO assignment are not eligible. Candidates who are nationals of the country of assignment (Niger) are not eligible.

Living and Working Conditions:

• Housing/accommodation: Private properties of international standard are available for rent at commercial rates. Frequent power cuts and variable internet connectivity are challenges. Communication by mobile is acceptable. International staff must reside within a certain perimeter, preferably in areas located maximum 30 minutes from the office.

• Health care: The Medical Section in Geneva has recommended two clinics safely accessible by UNHCR staff in Niamey, including a good, functioning UN clinic, though the medical technical services are limited. Malaria is rife, and advice about preventative measures issued by the UNHCR Medical Section should be followed.

• Educational facilities: N/A (An international American school is available, but duty stations in Niger are non-family duty stations)

• Security: Niamey is a category E duty station, non-family with an 8-week R&R cycle. Niamey is classified as Level 3 - Moderate, in the UNDSS Security Level System.

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• Other (transports, banks, etc): Public transport is not recommended. Niger is a cash-based economy; several banks and ATMs available in the capital issue West African Francs (XOF).

• There are three seasons in Niger: rainy (June-Sept), cool (Oct-Feb), and very hot often above 40 degrees Celsius (March-May).

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance