2.5.2 Qualifications and Training of UNHCR Interpreters Unit 2: General Issues Interpreters who are engaged to provide services in UNHCR RSD procedures need to have adequate language and interpreting skills and the necessary training. Whenever possible, UNHCR should engage certified interpreters. For guidance on recruitment procedures for UNHCR Interpreters, please refer to the Guidelines for the field on recruitment procedures, conditions of service, training and supervision of interpreters annexed to the IOM-FOM 005/2009. As a general rule, refugees, asylum-seekers and asylum-seekers whose claims have been rejected should not be hired to provide interpretation services in UNHCR RSD procedures. Where a UNHCR Office does not have an adequate number of interpreters who speak the languages required, UNHCR Offices may use the interpretation services of recognized refugees, provided that they have the necessary training and skills. In such situations, UNHCR Offices should make every effort to employ refugees who have a legal status in the host country/country of asylum allowing them to work, or refugees who have been accepted for resettlement to a third country and are awaiting travel. If UNHCR has no other viable option than to select as an interpreter an individual who has no right to work in the host country, all possible efforts should be made by the Office to negotiate the issuance of a work permit to the person concerned on exceptional grounds on the basis of existing national law provisions. Interpretation by refugees who do not have a right to work in the host country/country of asylum may be used only as an exceptional and temporary arrangement until UNHCR interpreter staff shortages can be addressed. UNHCR Offices may use the services of interpreters provided by regular arrangement with designated implementing partners, provided that such interpreters receive training on interpreting in UNHCR RSD procedures, as set out below, and the services provided are subject to effective monitoring and supervision by UNHCR Protection staff (see § 2.5.9 – Supervision and Oversight of Interpreters). The Eligibility Officer must ascertain that the Interpreter is fluent in the language and dialect of the Applicant as well as the language of the Eligibility Officer. Where interpretation has to be carried out in a dialect other than that of the Applicant due to gaps in resources, this should be taken into account in assessing the credibility of the Applicant’s account. Every person engaged by UNHCR to provide interpretation services in mandate RSD procedures must sign the UNHCR Interpreter Undertaking of Confidentiality and Impartiality (Annex 2-1), as well as the UNHCR Code of Conduct for non-UN personnel, before assuming their responsibilities. All UNHCR Interpreters must receive induction training on UNHCR’s mandate and the RSD process. 47