The RRF provides operational and financial support to MS to facilitate the development of solutions and activities with an EU-added value in the area of return and reintegration, whilst bridging gaps between existing initiatives. In parallel, the RRF supports the implementation of the EU Strategy on Voluntary Return and Reintegration. The RRF Team is composed of 4 main teams: 1) Facility Support and Knowledge Office, 2) RIAT (Reintegration Assistance Tool) Team, 3) Operational Support to Returns Team, and 4) Referral and Local Ownership Team.

The newly recruited Project Officer will join the ‘Referral and Local Ownership team, which supports the portfolio under RRF Work Area 3: ‘Fostering Local Ownership by Supporting Cooperation Among MS, National Authorities in Countries of Origin and Other Relevant Stakeholders’. This work area focuses on fostering an operational dialogue between EU MS and countries of origin while emphasising that reintegration processes must ultimately be owned by the countries receiving their returning citizens.

This team includes one Project Manager (IP3), two Project Officers (IP2)— including the newly recruited member— and two Junior Project Officers (IP1).

A key activity within Work Area 3 is the establishment of referral hubs in third-priority countries. These hubs are developed based on a blueprint designed to map and document reintegration services in third countries and create referral mechanisms that could support return and reintegration counsellors who assist returnees from EU Member States in navigating their reintegration journey. As a pilot initiative, the RRF is testing the referral hubs by deploying referral counsellors in a number of countries of origin (Pakistan, Ivory Coast and Senegal).

As part of their portfolio, the recruited Project Officer will be involved in the implementation of the above-mentioned pilot referral activities as well as in capacity-building and training sessions organised by RRF to strengthen the capacities and structures of national institutions in third countries.

The Project Officer will report to the Project Manager leading the Referral and Local Ownership Team.