Resettlement Associate

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA4

Target Start Date2025-08-14

Deadline for Applicationsagosto 27, 2025

Terms of ReferenceCandidates must be legally present in Costa Rica at the time of application, recruitment and hire.
Only candidates holding a legally job permit in Costa Rica will be considered eligible.
UNHCR is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment, so its staff come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and world perspectives. We are committed to maintaining diversity in terms of age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nationality, racial identity, religious beliefs, among others. People belonging to minority groups, people with special abilities, people who are qualified and meet the requirements of each vacancy are especially encouraged. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
Include in your application all your work experience
Eligible candidates may be required to take a technical test and/or an interview.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notify
If you have special needs or require assistance to apply, please contact cossarrhh@unhcr.org

TERMS OF REFERENCE
(Individual Contractor Agreement)
Title: Resettlement Associate
Project: Resettlement
Duty station: San José, Costa Rica
Section/Unit: Resettlement
ICA Level: LICA-4
Corresponding level: GS-4 Duration: from 01/09/2025 to 31/12/2026
Supervisor: Erika BARRAGÁN S.

1. General Background
Since 2018, Costa Rica has been one of the main host countries in Latin America for forcibly displaced people, particularly from Nicaragua. As of September 2024, 87% of the 206,700 asylum seekers and 60% of the 27,600 recognized refugees in the country were Nicaraguan nationals. The continued sociopolitical and human rights crisis in Nicaragua has led over 326,000 Nicaraguans to flee to Costa Rica, with 18,946 new asylum applications submitted between January and September 2024 alone. Costa Rica currently hosts more than half (52%) of all Nicaraguan asylum seekers and refugees worldwide.
In addition to Nicaraguans, the country continues to receive individuals seeking international protection from Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, and Northern Central America. Overall, forcibly displaced persons now account for approximately 5% of Costa Rica’s total population—a proportion among the highest in the region.
The national asylum system, under increasing pressure, underwent a significant reform in June 2024 with the adoption of Decree 44501-MGP. This decree re-established international standards for accessing work permits and has had an immediate positive effect: over 31,000 work permits were issued by September 2024, compared to just 55 in the entirety of 2023.
Costa Rica also remains a key transit country for mixed movements of refugees and migrants traveling north, especially from the Darién Gap through Panama. From January 2023 to October 2024, over 752,000 individuals transited through Costa Rica under the “controlled flow” mechanism jointly managed with Panama. At the southern border, UNHCR supports the EMISUR center in Paso Canoas alongside national authorities and UN agencies, ensuring safe transit conditions and access to basic humanitarian services.
UNHCR's presence in Costa Rica includes a country office in San José, a field office in Upala (northern region), and two field units in Los Chiles (north) and Ciudad Neily (south).
UNHCR’s strategy is focused on strengthening access to international protection, supporting the modernization of the asylum system, and fostering the inclusion of displaced persons in Costa Rican society. Key activities include border monitoring, legal assistance, case management, community-based protection, and the promotion of livelihoods and peaceful coexistence. In 2024, more than 124,500 instances of assistance were provided to over 28,000 people, with a focus on women, children, stateless persons, and people in transit.
Currently, UNHCR in Costa Rica has partnership agreements with 5 partners and the Office provide critical assistance thanks to contributions from donors and through direct implementation, particularly in support of government institutions involved in refugee protection and integration.
Through continued collaboration with the Government of Costa Rica, UN agencies, civil society, and host communities, UNHCR remains committed to upholding the rights and dignity of refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons in the country.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
▪ Assist with the digital archiving of resettlement files. Which includes review and cross-checking of physical and digital documents. Preparation of a document inventory, scanning of missing documents and organization of files for technical review.
▪ Manage individual resettlement cases, following up on the pending departure cases, and post submission cases.
▪ The case management includes document verification for travel preparation, in coordination with IOM.
▪ Follow up on the resettlement country requirements.
▪ Follow up on specific cases that need custody documents, exit permits and have protection concerns.
▪ Updating contact details in UNHCR data base.
▪ Coordination of appointments with IOM and resettlement country authorities.
▪ Monitoring of family composition and document status.
▪ Scheduling of resettlement cases for further counselling or resettlement interviews.
▪ Provide individual counselling on resettlement procedure and requirements.
▪ Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and follow-up
▪ Full digitalization of approximately 1,100 physical files.
▪ Follow up on the submitted cases (360 individuals) interviewed in September by the Resettlement Country.
▪ Coordinate the departure of the accepted cases in October and December 2025 (approximately 600 individuals).
4. Qualifications and Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
▪ 1-year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher
▪ Previous experience with resettlement activities is an asset.

Desirable Education:
International Law, Political Science or another related field
Desirable Experience:
Protection Learning Programme
Resettlement knowledge, or previous experience with resettlement cases.
Functional Skills
▪ IT-Computer Literacy
▪ Progres data base knowledge is an asset.
▪ CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
▪ PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
▪ PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
Language Requirements
Spanish proficiency (C1)
English proficiency (B1)
Key Competencies
▪ Accountability
▪ Communication
▪ Organizational Awareness
▪ Teamwork & Collaboration
▪ Client & Result Orientation
▪ Judgement and Decision Making
▪ Change Capability and Adaptability
▪ Technological Awareness
▪ Analytical Thinking
▪ Confidential handling of information
▪ Commitment to Continuous Learning

Standard Job Description

Resettlement Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
A Resettlement Associate position is typically located at Multi-Country Office, Branch Office or Field Office. Under supervision, the incumbent's primary role is to assist in providing, in close coordination with concerned sections within UNHCR as well as external parties such as resettlement countries, IOM and NGOs, a continuous support to resettlement operations by ensuring that resettlement polices are correctly implemented and operations are supported in establishing comprehensive protection and solutions strategies. The incumbent takes part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews as well as monitoring procedural compliance and quality of case submissions. The role of the Resettlement Associate may involve managerial responsibilities in supervising, coaching and training junior staff, and assisting in implementing organisational objectives and priorities.

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
- Interview, assess resettlement needs, and process persons identified for resettlement, following established procedures; undertake field missions as required.
- Where applicable, review and assess special resettlement cases and prepares individual submissions for presentation to resettlement countries; keep offices informed on the status of special resettlement cases; liaise with offices on case processing and provide advice as required.
- Comply with UNHCR's standard operating procedures on resettlement, ensuring timely action on cases.
- Follow up on status of cases from submission to departure; ensure effective in-country communication on the status and follow-up on persons of concern (PoC) being considered for resettlement; ensure that records on individual cases are kept up-to-date.
- Provide PoC and partners with up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR's resettlement policies and procedures.
- Assist in monitoring the quality of submissions, providing the concerned staff with basic guidance and advice.
- Manage, maintain and update proGres or Consolidated Online Resettlement Tracking System (CORTS) database and provide technical support.
- Coordinate travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.
- Organize logistical support for governments undertaking resettlement missions.
- Maintain accurate resettlement statistics as well as up-to-date records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.
- Assist with preparing a strategy and budget for resettlement activities and monitoring expenditures.
- Provide administrative support for resettlement-related training activities.
- 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 resettlement fraud through oversight (including in-country travel), advice and guidance).
- Recommend cases that are eligible for resettlement consideration.
- Provide counselling to PoC.

- 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
International Relations;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified
Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR Resettlement policies and operational applications in different resettlement countries and situations. Completion of UNHCR specific learning/training activities (e.g., PLP and resettlement anti-fraud workshop).

Functional Skills
CO-Cross-cultural communication
PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures
(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.

Required Languages English

,Spanish

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

SkillsCO-Cross-cultural communication, PR-Refugee Resettlement programs, PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures

Education

CertificationsInternational Law - Other, International Relations - Other

Work Experience

Other informationN/AThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

RemoteNo