Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

D

Family

UNOPS IICA1

2025-01-01

November 7, 2024

1. General Background

As of September 2024, Bangladesh hosts 1 million Rohingya refugees, 52% of whom are female, and 52% of whom are under the age of 18. Most refugees live in 33 extremely congested camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar, and 35,510 reside on Bhasan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal, 60 km from the Bangladesh mainland. August 2024 marked seven years since the Rohingya crisis when more than 700,000 Rohingya women, men, and children fled Myanmar to Bangladesh, joining hundreds of thousands who sought and found refuge in the country in previous years. Yet, comprehensive solutions for Rohingya refugees remain elusive. While voluntary repatriation constitutes the main durable solution, a return in significant numbers in the immediate future is highly unlikely due to the ongoing developments following the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 and the resurgence end 2023, of active armed conflict in Rakhine State where the million Rohingya refugees come from. Conditions in Myanmar are not presently considered conducive for the safe, voluntary, sustainable, and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.

With the escalation of the conflict in Northern Rakhine State since November 2023, the operation in Bangladesh has experienced the spill overs in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. On the one hand, UNHCR and partners have been recording a significant increase in security incidents in the camps, including homicides and abductions. UNHCR has also seen an emerging trend of organized groups recruiting refugees to engage them in the armed conflict in Myanmar. The compromised civilian and humanitarian character of asylum in the camps has heightened risks for refugees, refugee volunteers (the backbone of the humanitarian response) and humanitarian workers. On the other hand, the operation has been recording new arrivals in the camps despite the Government’s closed-door policy at the border with Myanmar. New arrivals are extremely vulnerable, many have suffered injuries as they were fleeing; there are an estimated 30,000 or more new arrivals. The government has just authorized their assistance but without registration.

In response to the Rohingya refugee influx in 2017, the Common Feedback Mechanism (CFM) was established in Cox’s Bazar. To centralize information from the various channels (Helpline, Suggestions/Complaints boxes, dedicated email addresses, Complaints Feedback and Mechanism (CFM) desks), track UNHCR’s response to refugees, enhance information management and ultimately accountability to affected populations, the Centralized Automated Information Processing Platform (CAIPP) has been developed to facilitate this process. The pilot was launched in December 2023 in 5 camps, and CAIPP was rolled out in all 33 camps in June 2024. RAIS, the UNHCR corporate tool to manage tickets with its interface with proGres, is now being incorporated into CAIPP. The next phase will entail working on the inter-operability with other CFM systems in the Rohingya Refugee Response, notably IOM’s system as co-lead of the Joint Response Plan but also WFP, UNICEF and others. UNHCR is an active member of the AAP Technical Working Group hosted by the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) and feeds into the discussions that will aim at enhanced collective accountability at the level of the whole response.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Associate Protection Officer (AAP) will be a member of the Community-Based Protection Unit in Cox’s Bazar Sub-Office. S/he will report to the Protection Officer (AAP), who is the Head of the team managing the Helpline, all Complaint and Feedback Mechanism (CFM) Desks as well as Communication with the Communities (CwC). Under the supervision of the Protection Officer (AAP), the Associate Protection Officer (AAP) will:

• As part of the Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) team contribute to the implementation of, and reporting on, the AAP strategy in the operation.

• Support the AAP team in the continued development of the Centralized Automated Information Processing Platform (CAIPP) focusing specifically on all the camp CFM desks.

• Liaise weekly with the Field and Site Management Unit as well as other Protection Section Units and Teams to ensure an integrated approach as well as accuracy and currency of the information provided by CFM Desks. Where necessary, also liaise with IOM regarding issues that would gain from a one-camp approach.

• Oversee the daily operations of the CFM Desks in the camps, ensuring partners, their staff and volunteers have the necessary systems and tools to ensure a robust AAP.

• Provide ongoing coaching as well as specialized training to frontline workers in the field on CFM desk management (including ticket entry and feedback).

• Ensure the roll out of the Refugee Assistance and Information System (RAIS) fully integrates the CFM Desks, trouble shooting is done in a timely manner and partners managing the CFM Desks are supported.

• Support the development and updating of systems (SOPs, Guidance notes) to strengthen CAIPP and the CFM desks in particular, including for the interface with the Camp-in-Charges.

• Regularly assess CFM desks at the camps to provide feedback on quality, make recommendations for continuous improvement and follow up on implementation.

• Contribute to the weekly CAIPP Updates and ensure quality controls are embedded in the management of the CFM Desks.

• In close collaboration with IM, systematically compile statistics and reports related to CFM desks as well as other AAP channels for internal and external distribution.

• Provide inputs to the Unit protection reports as required.

3. Qualifications and Experience

Experience
• Demonstrated up-to-date knowledge of the UNHCR’s policies and operational guidance on CBP, AGD and AAP.
• Experience on working with Complaints and Feedback mechanisms in a camp setting.
• Demonstrated ability and experience working collaboratively across units and teams.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in managing diverse implementing partners with adequately tailored monitoring tools to support the timely delivery of high-quality services.
• Experience in developing SOPs and guidance notes.
• Experience in providing training.
• Experience in the region and/or contexts involving encampment.

Essential requirements
• Field experience in a camp-based setting
• Excellent drafting skills in English.
• Strong background in AAP specifically on CFM in camp settings.
• Facilitation skills and ability to provide effective training internally.

Personal Characteristics
• Due to the complexity and fast pace of the operation, the candidate must be highly flexible and adaptable, and able to work under pressure.

a. Education

• Undergraduate degree; Graduate degree; or Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Legal Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, or another relevant field.

b. Work Experience

• Five years of relevant working experiences.
• Previous experience in a similar position in the UN and/or humanitarian work is an asset.
• Experiences in project management and coordination.
• Experience on AAP in camp setting specifically on CFM desks is desirable.
• Knowledge of Bangladesh’s unique inter-sector coordination environment is desirable.

c. Key Competencies

• The position requires strong planning, strategy development and implementation as well as advocacy skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, planning and prioritization skills, and an ability to carry out tasks independently with minimal supervision are required.
• Multi-tasking skills, attention to detail, and an ability to find necessary information from various sources with minimal support by others.
• Experience in project implementation at humanitarian setting and knowledge of UNHCR programming and donors’ funding schemes are an asset.
• Strong coordination skills and an ability to work as a team.

Standard Job Description

Associate Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that persons of concern are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of persons of concern. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

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.
– Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
– Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application through mainstreaming in all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations.
– Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to persons of concern.
– Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
– Conduct eligibility and status determination for persons of concern in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
– Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
– Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach.
– Contribute to a country-level education plan.
– Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities which integrate AGD sensitive procedures.
– Oversee and manage individual protection cases, including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
– Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
– Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern.
– Participate in the organisation and implementation of participatory assessments and methodologies throughout the operations management cycle and promote AGD sensitive programming with implementing and operational partners.
– Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
– Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
– Promote and integrate community-based approaches to protection and contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
– Support activities in the area of risk management related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, fraud, case-processing, data protection, and human rights due diligence at country level.
– Participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
– Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
– Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
– Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
– Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

– 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 P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law, International Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
Desirable
Field experience, including in working directly with communities. Good IT skills including database management skills.

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, MG-Project Management, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No