Community-Based Protection Associate

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    FULL_TIME
  • Posted:
    12 hours ago
  • Category:
    Peace and Security
  • Deadline:
    04/11/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

Hardship Level

D

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Family Type

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Residential location (if applicable)

Budapest, Hungary

Grade

GS6

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2024-12-01

Deadline for Applications

November 3, 2024

Standard Job Description

Community-Based Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Community-Based Protection Associate is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Community-Based Protection Associate works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the Community-Based Protection Associate is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of PoC. The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.

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
– Assist functional units, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection strategy and operational procedures.
– Through relationships with PoC and network of partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
– Work with host communities to identify opportunities for national civil society involvement in improving the protection of PoC.
– Work with implementing and operational partners as well as with displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.
– Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
– Support participatory assessments by multifunctional teams and ongoing consultation with PoC.
– Assist in planning and monitoring of programmes and budgets, with an AGD perspective
– Build office capacity for community-based protection through training and establishing systems for community mobilization and participation of PoC.
– Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
– Ensure community understanding of UNHCR’s commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
– Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
– Contribute to the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR’s work.
– Initiate AGD sensitive interventions at the appropriate level on community-based protection issues and to respond to protection concerns and incidents within the office, with external interlocutors, groups and individuals based on agreed parameters.
– Identify and select which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
– Intervene with authorities on protection.
– Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.

– 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

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
Development, Human Rights, International Law
International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.

Desirable
UNHCR learning programmes (PLP). Knowledge of MSRP.

Functional Skills
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
*IT-Computer Literacy
UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
PR-Community-based Protection – Principles and methodologies
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
TR-Capacity Buidling
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Advertisement

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

Operational context:
UNHCR, present in Ukraine since 1994, expanded its presence significantly following the 2022 invasion. UNHCR’s offices in Kyiv and field units across major cities bolster the emergency response. The war in Ukraine has led to extensive suffering and displacement. By 2024, 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, with 3.7 million internally displaced and 6 million refugees across Europe, mainly women and children. The destruction of civilian infrastructure, especially the energy sector, has severely disrupted access to essential services like electricity, water, heating, healthcare, education, and social protection. Humanitarian access remains challenging, particularly in areas under temporary Russian control, necessitating a deep understanding of protection needs and the implementation of community-based approaches in volatile areas. Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson have faced varying conflict levels due to their proximity to conflict zones, resulting in significant displacement and complex security environments. Military operations and checkpoints are common, affecting movement and access. Odesa Oblast: As a strategic port city, Odesa has seen influxes of displaced persons. The urban environment presents unique challenges in shelter and integration, requiring effective coordination with local authorities and communities. Mykolaiv Oblast: Proximity to conflict zones makes Mykolaiv critical for humanitarian intervention, facing infrastructure damage and access issues. Efforts focus on immediate relief and long-term recovery support. Kherson Oblast: Kherson experiences significant displacement and security concerns. Disruption to its agricultural base affects food security, with humanitarian responses providing emergency aid and supporting agricultural recovery.
Civilians face serious risks, especially in eastern and southern Ukraine. The risk of GBV, sexual violence, and child protection concerns is high among IDPs, returnees, stateless persons, and refugees. Separation of families is a common issue. Displaced or war-affected populations live in deprivation due to loss of housing, income, and access to essential services. The Ukrainian government leads the response to these needs, with UNHCR supporting protection, shelter, cash, and in-kind assistance. UNHCR’s strategic orientation aims to reach vulnerable people in frontline areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced and returning populations with protection advice, housing, and cash assistance for recovery and durable solutions. Engaging communities to identify protection concerns and promoting participatory approaches is crucial. Protection remains central to this response, with UNHCR leading the Protection Cluster. Given Ukraine’s sophisticated systems, UNHCR’s programs address immediate needs while supporting sustainable and inclusive national protection systems.

Desired candidate profile:
The incumbent is expected to work in a dynamic environment with recurrent security incidents. The function requires field missions to areas subjected to military action. A successful candidate should have the skills and capacity to collaborate and coordinate with governmental and non-governmental counterparts in the three regions covered by the office. H/she should be able to work with communities to identify their protection concerns and priorities is critical, promote participatory approaches, ensuring that communities are involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of protection programs. Strengthening the capacity of local actors, including community-based organizations and local authorities, is essential. The incumbent will support enhancement of the local protection mechanisms and AAP. H/she will work within the framework of the Protection Cluster and other coordination mechanisms, collaborate with other UN agencies, NGOs, and local partners to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated response to protection needs. H/she will implement regular monitoring and evaluation of protection programmes to ensure their effectiveness and accountability.

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

Ukrainian

,

English

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PR-Community-based Protection – Principles and methodologies, TR-Capacity Buidling, UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

Education

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work – Other, Development Studies – Other, Human Rights – Other, International Law – Other, Political Science – Other, Social Sciences – Other

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance