International Refugee Rights Legal Fellowship 2016

Opportunity:

IRAP in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is proud to launch the first and only U.S. legal fellowship program on refugee rights. The goal is to increase UNHCR’s capacity to prepare resettlement applications, conduct Best Interest Determinations (BIDs), and provide related legal services so that the most vulnerable refugees in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region are referred to a third country for resettlement. IRAP is seeking to hire several individuals who will be deployed to the Middle East in spring 2016 to work for UNHCR for various lengths of time in locations throughout the MENA region. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals with experience in the areas of refugees, human rights, and/or international humanitarian issues to make a difference in the lives of those at-risk, and be involved in the response to the most urgent refugee crises since WWII.

Responsibilities:

• Interview refugees for resettlement, Best Interest Determinations (BIDs), and other types of humanitarian assistance. Fellows may also conduct refugee registration and/or protection interviews.
• Prepare and complete refugee applications for submission to various governments seeking referrals of cases for resettlement from UNHCR.
• Conduct legal research, analysis, and writing, and country conditions research in support of refugee cases.
• Provide legal and administrative assistance on projects/cases as needed.
• Travel within the MENA region as determined by UNHCR to complete the assigned tasks.
• Conduct legal research and writing on refugee-related matters, and draft memos and/or documents.
• Respond to inquiries from various internal and external stakeholders. Attend refugee-related meetings and conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree and advanced degree in law, humanitarian assistance, international relations, social sciences or a related field are required
• Must have prior refugee resettlement experience interviewing refugees. This must include conducting RRF/RST/RSD and/or other refugee-type interviews, or being a refugee/asylum/immigration officer on behalf of any government. Prior experience working for UNHCR, preferably in resettlement, RSDs and/or protection, or the U.S. Refugee Admission Program is a plus. (Please note: Candidates without this experience will not be considered.)
• Proven knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and statelessness.
• Previous individual casework experience required (interviewing skills, counseling skills, handling cases for individuals with vulnerabilities – preferably refugees)
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
• Ability to be flexible in a sometimes difficult work situation and stressful environment
• Must be highly organized and motivated, able to multi-task, manage a high volume workload, and have excellent time management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable working with diverse populations
• Good sense of humor
• Knowledge of refugee crises and human rights issues in the MENA region
• Mandatory high-level fluency in oral and written English and proficiency in another UN language (ability to speak and read Arabic is a plus)
• Prior employment, living, and/or study overseas is a plus, especially in the MENA region
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the MENA region
• Microsoft suite
• Open to any nationality; U.S. citizenship is not required (the positions are based overseas)

Compensation:

Fellowship compensation includes a stipend plus benefits.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter (explaining your interest, qualifications, and the source of the job posting), resume, contact information for three references, and a short writing sample in English (no longer than 2-3 pages) to hr@refugeerights.org. Please note “Fellowship” in the email title. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This is an immediate hire. No calls please.

IRAP is an equal opportunity employer.