Mission and objectivesThe Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assem-bly. 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. The UN Refugee Agency in Niger acting within its mandate of protecting persons in need of international protection, and in partnership with the Government of Niger has established the Evacuation Transit Mechanism (ETM). The mechanism aims at evacuating persons of con-cern with acute protection needs from Libya to Niger, where they undergo RSD and are di-rected to appropriate durable solutions. Most of these evacuees come from Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia and are victims of severe human rights violations during their journey.
ContextNiger is also the first country to establish in December 2017 the 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 the ETM became dormant with no more evacuation flights since May 2023, more than 4,000 asylum seekers were recognized as refugees in Niamey and resettled to the United States, Canada, Italy, and some 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 considered to have resettlement needs out of the total 369,838 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 seek partners with refugees, faith-based groups, the private sector and Global Refugee Compact states advocate for complementary and humanitarian pathways for vulnerable refugees. In October 2024, Italy received 98 vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers who had been hosted Niger to take up education, training and work opportunies in the Southern European country. Since the US 27 January 2025 Executive Order halting all resettlement for 90 days, in addition to case work, UNHCR has began a communication campaign to reach 994 refugees who had been submitted to the United States. Interpreters play a vital communication role in the UNHCR resettlement team, ensuring communication with refugees speaking Hausa, Songhai, Peulh, Timashek and other West African languages.
Task DescriptionWithin the Protection Unit Resettlement Section, and under the direct supervision of the Associate RSD Officer and the overall supervision of the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, the UNV volunteers will be responsible for: โข Sequential interpretation in all manner of interviews of refugees by UNHCR resettlement, protection and field staff for resettlement profiling, case identification, RRF interviews, and selection interviews by agents of resettlement countries on mission or remotely, and BID and BIA interviews, medical interviews complementary interviews with resettlement, protection, child protection, registration and/or medical staff, and individual and group counselling of all refugees in a resettlement procedure by UNHCR resettlement and/or protection staff. These interviews will be conducted in accordance with UNHCR guidelines and procedural standards; โข Providing interpretation services for resettlement counselling services to refugees in a resettlement procedure, supporting the informing and acting upon reports received from refugees within the refugee community or from the local authorities; โข Providing written translations of all supporting documents in from West African languages spoken by the refugees hosted in Niger or French to English provided by refugees within a resettlement procedure and written translations of all written communications to the refugee individuals and communities from French or English to the West African languages spoken by the refugees we serve. โข Performing other duties, as required. Under the direct supervision of Ms. Derboise Ngo Hongla the national UN Volunteers will undertake the following tasks: โข Providing sequential interpretation in all manner of interviews of refugees by UNHCR resettlement, protection and field staff for resettlement profiling, case identification, RRF interviews, and selection interviews by agents of resettlement countries on mission or remotely, and BID and BIA interviews, medical interviews complementary interviews with resettlement, protection, child protection, registration and/or medical staff, and individual and group counselling of all refugees in a resettlement procedure by UNHCR resettlement and/or protection staff. โข Providing interpretation services for resettlement counselling services to refugees in a resettlement procedure, supporting the informing and acting upon reports received from refugees within the refugee community or from the local authorities; โข Providing written translations of all supporting documents in from West African languages spoken by the refugees hosted in Niger or French to English provided by refugees within a resettlement procedure and written translations of all written communications to the refugee individuals and communities from French or English to the West African languages spoken by the refugees we serve. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: โข Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD); โข Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; โข Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; โข Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; โข Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; โข Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. THE EXPECTED RESULTS ARE : โข The UNHCR Niger operation has received a quota of 200 refugee places for Canada (and a possible 70 places for Italy shown in the RSR but not yet confirmed by UNHCR RBWCA Dakar). โข The interpreters will also play a vital role in assisting UNHCR in providing group and individual counselling to 994 refugees whose resettlement submissions to the United States have been suspended initially for 90 days by the new administrationโs Executive Orders of 27 January 2025. โข A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during your assignment such as specific quantification of mobilized volunteers, activities, capacities. The UN Volunteer acquires understanding of the dynamics of the refugee communities and demonstrates the ability to make recommendations for possible interventions. โข The UN Volunteer contributes with ideas and suggestions to the plans and strategy of the UNHCR Representation in Niger. โข The UN Volunteer ensures timely submission of reporting on field visits and other assessment reports. โข The national staff benefits from the advice and the transfer of knowledge and experience of the UN Volunteer. โข A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment such as specific quantification of mobilized volunteers, activities, capacities. โข Age, gender and diversity perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. โข A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and interpretation, casework and counselling capacities developed.
Competencies and valuesAnalytical thinking ; Planning and organization ; Responsibility ; Communication ; Organisational awareness ; Teamwork and collaboration ; Client orientation and results ; Commitment to continuous learning ; Resources management.
Living conditions and remarksNiger is a landlocked country bordered in the north by Libya, Chad to the East, Nigeria in the south, Benin and Burkina Fasso in the southwest, Mali in the west and Algeria in the Northwest. Two-thirds of Niger is desert with much of the northeastern part of the country being uninhabitable. The remaining third of the country is savannah, suitable mainly for raising livestock and limited agriculture. In the north-central region is the volcanic Air Massif, attaining heights of up to 1798m. The Niger River flows for 482 Km along the south-west border, permitting the cultivation of various crops. A portion of Lake Chad is situated in the southeast corner of the country and it shared between Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. You will require a valid visa to enter Niger. Visas are obtainable from the Nigerien Honorary Consulate or Embassy. Entry visa for Niamey is required for all participants traveling with national passports or UNLP. Please refer to your local Niger consulate/embassy in the country of your residence for visa requirement. Please ensure that you obtain the visa before starting your trip. However, should you need assistance with this process, please let Human Resources know as far in advance as possible.