Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family

UNOPS LICA4

2025-01-01

December 11, 2024

TERMS OF REFERENCE
(Individual Contractor Agreement)

Title: Protection Assistant
Project: SERBIA/2025/01
Duty station: Belgrade, Serbia
Section/Unit: Protection/Legal Unit
Duration: 01/01/2025 to 31/12/2025
Contract/Level: Local ICA, Level LICA 4
Corresponding level: GS 4

1. General Background

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners’ needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

Background information – Job Specific

UNHCR Office in Serbia actively promotes a protection-sensitive approach to mixed movements in the Western Balkan countries which will strengthen and enable national asylum systems to better respond to the rights and needs of refugees and asylum-seekers, especially in situations of mixed population flows. UNHCR’s engagement in Serbia builds on 45 years of supporting refugees, displacement, and statelessness issues since 1976. In the 1990’s, UNHCR assisted Serbia initially with emergency reception and accommodation of refugees and IDPs from the region, and subsequently with facilitating voluntary return or local integration, including through the Regional Housing Programme (RHP).

Since 2015, over one million refugees and migrants have arrived in Serbia, of whom the majority has continued their journey towards the European Union. While for many Serbia is a country of transit, it is also gradually becoming a country of asylum. Serbia established its national asylum system in 2008 by adoption of the relevant legislation subsequently amended in 2018. UNHCR Representation in Serbia support the Government in strengthening the national asylum system at all instances to ensure fair and effective asylum procedure fully aligned with international and EU standards.

UNHCR will further support the authorities to ensure refugees benefit from fair and fast asylum procedures, through support to building of the asylum system paying special attention to categories with specific needs and ensuring their rights are fully respected.

The incumbent of this UNOPS position is expected to be able to deal with multiple tasks in a courteous and result-oriented manner, often with short deadlines and fluctuating workload. Ability to work under pressure and prioritize tasks is essential. Experience with handling confidential data while respecting privacy principles, is required.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Assoc. Protection Officer, the incumbent will be required to work with a wide range of stakeholders and will perform the following duties:

– Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct
– Observe and respect protection related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
– Support and participate in organization of capacity building activities of the Unit
– Support coordination with other Units, including organization of meetings on coordination on legal issues
– Provide functional and administrative support in all protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners
– Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities
– Facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents
– Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics
– Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
– Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Protection Assistant is a member of the legal/protection team in the Country Office and reports to the Head of the Protection/Legal unit. S/he will have important role to contribute to the involvement of the persons of concern with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. The incumbent will need to support involvement of communities of concern and relevant authorities in continuous cooperation. The supervisor exercises close control and regular review of the work processes and provides regular advice and guidance.

The incumbent keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Partners on routine subject matters under the direction of the supervisor.

4. Qualifications and Experience

For G4 – 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Desirable – law degree, political science or similar

Functional Skills

PR-Interviewing and counseling refugees/asylum seekers and in individual case management
IT-Computer literacy
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
c. Language requirements

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

● Excellent drafting skills required

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Not applicable.

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

Serbian

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

Test may be conducted upon manager’s request.This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements