UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Recrute
Protection Expert
CONTEXT
In the past two decades, a number of conflicts in West Africa have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their country and seek refuge within the region. These violent conflicts occurred respectively in Sierra Leone, Liberia, C te d Ivoire and most recently in Mali and Nigeria. Smaller scale conflicts in Ghana and Togo also generated forced movement, while one of Africa s longest standing conflicts in the Casamance region still holds about 12000 people in exile in Guinea Bissau and the Gambia.
Restoration of peace and stability in some of these countries has not resulted in all refugees returning home. Several reasons contribute to their wish to settle where they are, including very prolonged absence, social and economic integration in the area of asylum, ethnic, linguistic or cultural affinity with the host community. Mostly, they have built their lives and have established strong links with their host country.
Guided by the principles of free movement, right of residence and establishment as embedded in the ECOWAS Protocols, as well as equality of treatment of all ECOWAS citizens, UNHCR works very closely with the Governments of countries of asylum and origin to enhance the protection and social situation of refugees. More particularly, UNHCR advocates for the implementation of the Protocols and their non-discriminatory application to refugees who are citizens of ECOWAS. The ultimate aim would be that refugees can enjoy full integration in their country of residence, in peace and dignity and with the guarantee of all socio-economic and legal rights.
The 1979 Protocol relating to Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment (A/P.1/5/791985) and supplementary protocols, guarantee, among others, the right of stay and residence to all citizens of ECOWAS member states. The right to reside in an ECOWAS member state is based on the acquisition of a residence card or residence permit. The duration and validity of the residence card is three (3) years (art 13) and it can be renewed. The right to access economic activities and to hold employment, including pursuit of the liberal professions is entrenched in the protocols for all citizens of an ECOWAS member state holding a residence card or residence permit.
The 1979 Protocol and the four supplementary protocols provide refugees who are ECOWAS citizens with the right to continue to reside and work in their host country after their refugee status ceased.
In line with the ECOWAS Memorandum on Equality of Treatment (Meeting of the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration, Accra 25-27 September 2007), member states are encouraged to facilitate access to full local integration to those who want to permanently reside in the country of asylum, based on ECOWAS provisions. ECOWAS is aware of the social role the free movement of persons plays in the broader education and unification of the region. For these reasons as well as the evident legal soundness of such an interpretation, ECOWAS recognize the imperative need to ensure that refugees benefit from the protocol on free movement .
In December 2007, the UNHCR Policy Development and Evaluation Service published a study entitled: Promoting integration through mobility: free movement and the ECOWAS Protocol . Since then, we have witnessed the use of the ECOWAS framework in finding real solutions for refugee problems in the context of the cessation of refugee status of Sierra Leonean and Liberian refugees and the privileged residence permit negotiated for long staying Togolese refugees in Benin. These examples have demonstrated that within a cooperative framework between the country of asylum, the country of origin and UNHCR, the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocols give space for finding realistic solutions for protracted refugee situations.
FUNCTIONS
The expert, under supervision of the Senior Regional Protection Officer and in close consultation with the Deputy Regional Representative Protection, both based at the UNHCR Regional Representation in Dakar, shall
- Conduct a desk review of refugees local integration practices in West Africa since 2007, including the issuance and renewal of residence permits and the practice of granting naturalization for locally integrated refugees in the region
- Prepare a review comparing the application of ECOWAS protocols in national legislations in the region
- Map existing obstacles to the application of the ECOWAS Protocols for the benefit of local integration of refugees within the ECOWAS space Prepare a concept paper on the priority issues that need to be addressed in order to remove existing obstacles at national level to facilitate local integration
- Liaise with ECOWAS on the follow-up on the Memorandum on the Equality of Treatment for refugees in the exercise of Free Movement, Right of Residence and Establishment (August 2007, ECOWAS Commission)
- Review the opportunities for non-ECOWAS refugees residing in an ECOWAS country to benefit from similar provisions as ECOWAS citizens for the facilitation of local integration
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
- Concept paper on the priority issues that need to be addressed in order to remove existing obstacles at national level to facilitate local integration
- Overview of obstacles to the application of the ECOWAS Protocols for the benefit of local integration of refugees within the ECOWAS space
- Description of local integration practices in West Africa since 2007
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- University degree, preferably in Law, Political or Social Sciences, Social Work competencies or an equivalent experience;
- A minimum of 5 years experience in the field of refugee protection and migration;
- Experience in working with ECOWAS
- Good level of computer literacy;
- Ability to draft clearly and concisely;
- Experience in publication/ research
- Thorough knowledge of English and French
How to apply:
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications to email address lerutte@unhcr.orgon or before 31 August 2014.
Country: Senegal
In order for the applications to be considered valid, UNHCR only accepts applications with Curriculum Vitae (CV), detailed work plan and a cover letter not more than one page specifying the motivation for application, addressed to Mathijs le Rutte, UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative/Protection, Regional Representation Dakar, Senegal and with a subject line Consultancy on Equality of treatment of refugees citizens of ECOWAS in the application of the ECOWAS Protocols.
All applications should include a functional e-mail address and mobile number (s). Please note that only applications sent by email will be accepted and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Candidates are also expected to propose a daily rate for consultancy fee which should be verifiable.
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