Lai Yuen L.

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Panama City, Panamá, Panama

About

Experience

  • Protection Expert (Anti-fraud and Integrity) at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
    Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (On-site)
    • Resettlement Expert (Level II)
      Aug 2023 - Feb 2025 · 1 yr 7 mos

       Review RRFs/IBMs and ICPs submitted from the Safe Mobility Offices (SMO) operations in the region, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador and Honduras.  Provide feedback and guidance to caseworkers regarding the writing of the RRFs, assessment and contents, including updates on UNHCR's database, such as proGres.  Support operations in the American region on resettlement, including training and capacity building.  Co-focal points for RST coordination for UNHCR South Caribbean islands.  Liaise with other UNHCR operations in the region and resettlement countries on resettlement matters and case processing.

    • Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer
      Aug 2021 - Aug 2023 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) in Nyamata, Rwanda provides protection for refugees evacuated from Libya to Rwanda] ♦ Assumed the role of Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Resettlement Unit during the head of Unit's leave. ♦Reviewed Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs) for resettlement consideration to various resettlement countries. ♦ Conducted Registration, Resettlement [including merged RSD-RST] and Refugee Status Determination (RSD) interviews for asylum seekers and refugees evacuated from Libya to Rwanda in search of a durable solution. ♦ Drafted high-quality RSD assessments to recommend for refugee status and RRFs to advocate for resettlement. ♦ Provided training, guidance and capacity building to colleagues in different sub-offices of the country. ♦ Facilitated the writing of SOPs on resettlement. ♦ Involved in the hiring process of local staff and the writing of Terms of Reference (TORs) for the hiring of new staff. ♦ Served as the Focal point for biodata changes in proGres to mitigate the risk of fraud. ♦ Involved in annual Focus Group Discussion with refugees. ♦Participated in meetings with the Rwandan government and partners to approve biodata changes of refugees. ♦ Liaise with Resettlement countries and the Regional Bureau on resettlement submission.

  • Resettlement Officer at Church World Service
    Apr 2019 - Jul 2019 · 4 mos

    I was a staff within the African Region Deployment Unit (ARDU) in CWS Africa, where staff were deployed to different UNHCR offices in the region.

  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (WP. Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia · On-site)
    • RSD Associate
      Mar 2018 - Apr 2019 · 1 yr 2 mos

    • Resettlement Assistant
      Mar 2015 - Feb 2018 · 3 yrs

  • Senior Resettlement Assistant at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
    Sep 2014 - Dec 2014 · 4 mos