Is the ICMC-UNHCR Resettlement Deployment Scheme right for you?

Deployees are individuals who have a good foundation of experience in refugee work, and who have experience living in difficult developing country situations. This basis of skills and experience assists deployees in working effectively in challenging refugee situations.

The following information describes the skills and experience required of deployees in order to contribute to the work at a UNHCR field post and will allow you to determine your eligibility for this type of work.

Deployee profiles

All candidates approved to the Deployment Scheme are qualified as Resettlement Generalists who meet or exceed the following criteria:

2 years relevant work experience (e.g. assisting refugees in a resettlement context, refugee status determination, preparing resettlement referrals/submissions, assisting with family reunification, identifying refugee protection needs, etc.)
Excellent interviewing and counselling skills
Excellent drafting and analytical skills
University degree in relevant area (preferable in international law/refugee law, human rights or social work)
Knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and stateless individuals
Fluency in English
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in teams

Highly Desirable

knowledge of UNHCR guidelines on refugee status determination / resettlement
experience providing advice on resettlement guidelines / policy
ability to conduct assessments and identify protection risks of individuals and groups
awareness of gender issues and how to apply rights and community-based approaches to respond to specific needs
fluency in French, Arabic, or Russian

In addition to the overall roster, ICMC maintains four sub-rosters comprised of resettlement personnel with specialized training as listed below. Individuals with a minimum of two years expertise in the following areas of specialisation are encouraged to apply:

Refugee children / BIDs (e.g. prior experience in community services, social work/counselling, family law, child protection/welfare and best interest determinations)
Group resettlement (e.g. prior experience profiling refugee populations, registration, conducting refugee status determinations, preparing resettlement submissions for prima-facie refugee populations, etc.)
Psychosocial (e.g. prior experience providing psychosocial services/counselling to refugees and survivors of violence and torture, mental health, social services)
Refugee status determination (e.g. prior experience conducting refugee status determinations/exclusion assessments, preparing resettlement submissions for prima-facie refugee populations, etc.)
Refugee women and gender issues (e.g. prior experience in community services, social work/counselling, advocacy for womens' rights, family law, gender issues and/or the protection of refugee women and girls)

Length and type of deployments

The majority of deployees are involved in the identification and referral of refugees who will be considered for resettlement to a third country. Some deployees provide expertise in the resettlement of special populations (such as children and women at risk), as well as support for newly emerging resettlement countries.

Most assignments are 6 months, although they can range from 12 weeks to a year. Candidates are deployed under an ICMC contract, or seconded by their organization. They are not considered to be UNHCR staff or consultants.

As requests for positions are made by UNHCR, ICMC will contact candidates from its roster members, based on specific qualifications required by the position's Terms of Reference.

Please note that many posts are unaccompanied and not suitable for families.

Compensation

Compensation includes a competitive NGO salary and benefits package, and travel to and from the post. ICMC uses a grid to determine salary based on position classification and the individual's experience. Organizations may prefer to second staff directly to the project, in which case the organization will be reimbursed for the individual's salary and benefits, within the scheme salary grid.