Senior Protection Assistant

About the job

Standard Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that PoC are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
Contribute to a country-level education plan for PoC as part of the protection strategy.
Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
Participate in individual protection case management including cases of GBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses

International Law;

Political Science;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential: Not specified.

Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills

IT-Computer Literacy

PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Associate Protection Officer of UNHCR Sub-Office Hargeisa.
The position has cross-cutting responsibilities including RSD and resettlement case work. Hence ability to establish priorities, plan work assignments, respond to competing demands and work under pressure of multiple deadlines and targets.
Strong drafting skills in English and ability to articulate complex issues.
Experience working directly with forcibly displaced communities, protection of vulnerable groups and practical knowledge of working with UN/UNHCR is an asset.
Training in either child protection, Gender Based Violence, community engagement, humanitarian action and/or knowledge of the protection cluster and human rights is an added advantage.
Knowledge of Arabic, Amharic, Oromo and/or Tigrinya will be an asset.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Desired languages

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Skills

Additional Qualifications

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Education

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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