Overview
The Return Counsellor is responsible for undertaking return counselling and providing information on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) to asylum seekers.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide return counselling services and extensive information on AVRR to asylum seekers.
- Organize and facilitate safe journeys home in cooperation with Swiss governmental authorities, screening and supporting vulnerable cases.
- Organize travel documents in coordination with SEM for migrants without them.
- Liaise with IOM Bern for AVRR support services and booking flights.
- Input activities in eRetour and IOM database (Mimosa), and file individual cases.
- Participate in drafting and updating project reports, statistical and narrative reports, handbooks, and the internal newsletter.
- Liaise with relevant partners in reception centres and ensure good information flows.
- Liaise with consulates, consular sections and country missions for travel documents.
- Provide information to IOM missions and counterparts on Swiss AVRR case processing and counselling experience.
- Ensure the visibility of IOM's presence and role as Return Counsellor.
- Travel to Bern for team meetings and to Federal Asylum Centers as needed.
- Coordinate within the team covering the same region for replacements.
- Perform other assigned duties.
Required Experience
3 years of relevant professional experience. Experience in the general area of program and project operations, logistics and coordination. Experience in working with UN, Government agency, or NGO. Experience in communications and liaison with particular emphasis on contact with migrants and counselling. In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration issues in Switzerland.
Qualifications
University degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in Social work, Political Science, International Politics, Social Sciences or a related field from an accredited academic institution.
