JOB DESCRIPTION

August 27, 2025

B

Family

Family

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-10-01

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.

Professional Experience & Technical Skills
• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian or development work, particularly in field settings with vulnerable and marginalized communities.
• Prior experience in child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) is highly desirable.
• Legal training or background is considered an asset.
• Skilled in conducting protection assessments, and in collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related to protection gaps and concerns.
• Proven ability to train partners and teams on community outreach and protection-related issues.
Stakeholder engagement and coordination
• Experience working and negotiating with Government authorities and agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and development actors.
• Familiarity with the challenges faced by refugees’ communities and ability to engage constructively with affected populations.
Communication
• Excellent proficiency in French, both oral and written; strong drafting and communication skills.
• Full computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with online/digital tools.
• Strong ICT skills and ability to work with digital platforms for data collection and reporting.
Personal attributes and work ethic
• Ability to make timely and sound decisions.
• High ethical standards and integrity.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to establish and follow workplans and standard procedures.
• Proven capacity to deliver quality work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated respect for cultural diversity and ability to work effectively in multicultural and multiethnic environments.

,

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Republic of Congo continues to be a country of asylum, primarily for refugees from neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR). The country currently hosts over 35,000 Central African and 32,000 Congolese (DRC) refugees, who live in relative peace and are gradually integrating into host communities.
Although an asylum law was adopted in 2021, the implementing decree has yet to be signed. This legal gap prevents refugees from fully enjoying their rights, particularly access to social services and legal documentation. UNHCR is actively advocating for the adoption of the decree and the issuance of identity and legal documents to refugees, which are essential for their protection and inclusion.
Following a joint verification exercise completed in 2024, UNHCR and the National Refugee Assistance Committee (CNAR) confirmed the presence of 71,680 refugees and asylum seekers. Since then, over 8,000 new arrivals from the DRC have been identified, though they have not yet been registered and granted refugee status by the Congolese authorities.
UNHCR’s strategy in the Republic of Congo is anchored in three pillars: i) Legal Protection, by strengthening the legal framework for refugee protection, including through advocacy for the implementation of the asylum law, and ensuring refugees receive appropriate documentation to access rights and services ii) Catalyzing inclusion, by acting as a catalyst to mobilize development actors and the private sector to design and implement inclusive projects that benefit both host communities and refugees. This includes promoting refugee access to education, health care, and livelihoods within national systems iii) Durable solutions by facilitating voluntary repatriation, with a priority focus on CAR refugees, while also supporting returns to the DRC when conditions allow.
UNHCR in RoC also works to ensure that newly arrived refugees are identified, registered, and assisted promptly.
This comprehensive approach aims to reduce pressure on national systems and natural resources, while fostering peaceful coexistence and long-term resilience for both refugees and host populations.
The Protection Associate (G6) will operate under the supervision of the Head of National Office in the Republic of Congo (RoC), and in close coordination with the Assistant Representative for Protection at the Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Yaoundé. As part of the RoC Office team, the incumbent will support the implementation of UNHCR’s protection mandate, focusing on legal protection, community engagement, and durable solutions.
Key responsibilities will be
•    Protection delivery:
–    Provide protection assistance to refugees, former refugees, and asylum-seekers in RoC.
–    Support prevention, mitigation, and response to protection risks and incidents.
–    Advise and collaborate with competent authorities to promote a protective environment for refugees and persons at risk of statelessness.
•    Stakeholder engagement:
–    Foster collaboration with government agencies, development actors, NGOs, civil society, and refugee communities.
–    Support the implementation of the national Refugee Policy through strategic partnerships and advocacy.
•    Durable solutions and inclusion:
–    Contribute to strategies that promote resilience, self-reliance, and long-term inclusion of forcibly displaced persons.
–    Facilitate access to national services and opportunities for refugees.
–    Promote social cohesion between refugees and host communities.
•    Operational protection activities:
–    Conduct vulnerability and protection needs assessments.
–    Support registration and protection consultations with partners.
–    Monitor detention and border areas, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion, or other protection violations.
•    Accountability and community engagement:
–    Lead efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
–    Strengthen Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), including through staff and partner training.
–    Enhance outreach and counselling initiatives to identify vulnerable individuals and maintain safe feedback channels for communities.

Living and Working Conditions:

The Republic of the Congo generally has a hot, humid climate, with a rainy season from October to April and a cooler, dry season from May to September. Brazzaville, the capital, is a small and relatively safe city with a low crime rate; it is rated as UNDSS Security Level 2, while the rest of the country is Level 1.

The cost of living is high, reflected in the post adjustment. The central area of Brazzaville, where most expatriates reside, is well developed, experiences minimal traffic issues, and has an abundance of taxis. The city offers a variety of African, French, Indian, and Chinese restaurants, as well as a small shopping mall with supermarkets.

Several international schools operate in Brazzaville, including French and American institutions. Basic medical care is available locally, but for serious conditions, treatment abroad is often recommended. Malaria is endemic throughout the country, and preventive measures are essential.

Cultural life is supported by institutions such as the French Institute which hosts regular events and offers a well-stocked library and the Russian Institute. The country also offers diverse leisure opportunities, including nature reserves and other holiday destinations.

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

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance