E (most hardship)

Non Family

Non FamilyDanger Pay

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2024-10-15

October 30, 2024

Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. 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 Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate 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
– Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
– Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
– Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
– Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
– Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
– 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 as part of the protection strategy.
– Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
– Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
– Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
– Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
– Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
– Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
– Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
– Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

– 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
For G6 – 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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.

• Proven communication skills both oral and written.
• Very good negotiation skills in coordinating with local authorities.
• 2 years of relevant experience in working closely with the communities.
• Solid Protection/legal/community-based protection-related knowledge is preferable.
• Excellent advocacy skills with partners to ensure standardization of provided protection services.
• Good work experience, in diverse circumstances and complex operational contexts with experience in managing teams.
• Very good experience in sustainability support through meaningful community engagement and in line with the principles of AGD.
• Previous work experience with the UN and Local NGOs in the humanitarian field focused on internally displaced persons/returnees.
• Knowledge of the local context in Northeast Syria including Hassakeh, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, including the political and socio-economic situation.

,

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Nature of Position:

Sub-Office Qamishli (SOQ) in the North-East of Syria (NES) is operating in a highly complex context in three governorates namely Hassakeh, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. Large part of them is currently under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). UNHCR is coordinating the response in 6 camps hosting Syrians, Iraqis and third country nationals. The largest of the camps, Al Hol expanded significantly in the first months of 2019 to accommodate civilians transported from the last ISIS-held territory in Syria as it came under the control of SDF supported by international coalition forces (ICF). The camp presents complex protection and assistance-delivery challenge due to the complex profile of its population. UNHCR is directly responsible to provide NFIs and shelter assistance, ensure that new arrivals in camps are identified and assisted, as wells as departures registered. UNHCR also supports camp coordination and the delivery of humanitarian assistance in close coordination with other UN agencies and NGOs operating in NES. Outside the camps UNHCR is providing assistance to IDPs and Iraqi asylum-seekers living among the local communities and in informal settlements.

The present situation in the Northeast Syria is unstable. This creates ongoing pressures at work and in daily life as priorities are frequently upended for other urgent ad hoc tasks. This might required a well preparation to work under very challenging conditions and managing stressful situations. Also, travel by air to and from Qamishli is complicated.

Given the nature of the operation in the Northeast of Syria, the incumbent may face multiple challenges, including sensitive relationship with the authorities and partners; a challenging security situation; few independent or objective sources of information; and an overriding need to be perceived as impartial in all matters.

The position is part of the protection team in Sub Office Qamishli. The role demands protection related knowledge/skills and work experience, in diverse and complex operational context, as well as considerable insight of the UNHCR internal and international policies and standards on Protection.

Living and Working Conditions:

Residents from other governorates would face challenges with the relocation to Qamishli due to inadequate opportunities obtaining living quarters, and frequent family visits might be complicated. Qamishli enjoys relative security, and staff is able to move around town (some area restrictions are in place for walking); the situation remains unstable, however, and may be subject to sudden change. Travel from Qamishli to Damascus is by UNHAS and commercial airlines (Syrian Air and Cham Wings). There is fair internet connectivity in Qamishli.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Certifications

International Law – Other, Political Science – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

 Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.

 The broad levels are A1/A2 (Basic User), B1/B2 (Independent User), and C1/C2 (Proficient User).

 Qualified Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance