Associate Protection Officer

Hardship Level: E (most hardship)

Family Type: Non Family with Residential Location

Family Type: Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Residential location (if applicable: Nairobi (CO), Kenya

Grade: NOA

Staff Member / Affiliate Type: National Professional Officer

Reason: Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted: No

Target Start Date: 2024-04-01

Job Posting End Date: February 21, 2024

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
Protection Learning Programme
(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.

Desired Candidate Profile

This role requires a dynamic individual who can navigate the complexities of humanitarian work and effectively coordinate with various stakeholders and supervise multiple protection interventions implemented by UNHCR. The ideal candidate should be familiar with international protection principles and standards and along with a thorough understanding of UNHCR’s protection mandate and humanitarian coordination processes and/or development coordination. He/she should have proved experience in managing and in implementing a broad range of protection activities and mainstreaming of protection into various sectors. Given that UNHCR work is grounded on international refugee protection, candidates with a legal background and legal practice in Somalia possessing a strong comprehension of various international refugee legal instruments such as International Refugee Law, Humanitarian Law, and national laws, are encouraged to apply.

Additionally, the candidate should be capable of championing protection advocacy and integrating cross-cutting issues related to protection and durable solutions. Moreover, He/She must have a deep understanding of the humanitarian, socio-cultural and political context of Puntland state and more particularly Bari and Nuugaal regions, including an understanding of cross-border dynamics that frequently precipitate displacement and mixed migrations He must possess the ability to identify key protection issues, analyze, and identify solutions as well as develop develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities foresees risks. The candidate should have proven experience in leading teams, strategic planning, and achieving tangible protection outcomes.

As a vital member of the protection team, the incumbent is expected to bolster UNHCR leadership within the interagency framework and demonstrate adept coordination and negotiation skills. The candidate is expected to be proactive and adaptable, possessing skills in capacity building for diverse stakeholders, including government counterparts and partners, across various aspects of protection. The incumbent must possess excellent analytical, writing, editing, and communication skills, along with the ability to deliver quality work under pressure, within a short time frame.

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

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

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 Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer and will play a leading role in the implementation of a range of protection programmes including reception, registration, and continuous verification of refugees and asylum seekers, assisted voluntary return, legal assistance, RSD and various assistance programmes for IDPs, refugees and asylum seekers, including emergency response, health, and education, CCCM, livelihoods, case management of GBV and child protection cases as well as overseeing the functioning of UNHCR clusters of CCCM, Protection and NFI/ shelter. The candidate will play a prominent role in executing the operation's comprehensive strategy for protection and solutions, recognizing the growing impact of conflict and various natural disasters like flooding, drought, and food insecurity. These factors have worsened displacement, leading to an increased number of individuals requiring internal protection and assistance.

She/He supports technical teams to ensure a sustainable response, including conducting joint analyses and designing medium- and longer-term joint programming in support of national systems and services with emphasis on durable solutions for various categories of populations of concern to UNHCR. He/she will specifically liase with authorities to advance lasting solutions for IDPs based on a site-oriented approach, in accordance with the Somali IDP policy, in coordination with the Durable Solutions Working Groups. He/she she will assist the sub office in fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical elements of the work, including partnerships with government actors, civil society, other humanitarian and development agencies, and a wide array of other stakeholders.

The incumbent will work in close coordination with other sections of the Galkayo Sub- Office to ensure effective UNHCR leadership roles and responses to situations affecting forcibly displaced people (i.e., Refugees, Asylum Seekers, IDPs, returnees, host communities, Mixed Migrants) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the state Governments of Puntland and Galmudug Government.

The incumbent is expected to work in agreement with the Multi-Functional Team and other results managers ensuring that support for strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, analysis and reporting with UNHCR partners.

He/she must be able to support Sub-Office management in maintaining a constant dialogue with Government and partners on the overall protection context. In this regard, the incumbent will also facilitate regular meetings with the Government, Partners and the expansion of mutual information through timely meeting reports, operational, security, political, situational updates, and newsletters.

Living and Working Conditions:

Security

The overall security environment in Puntland and Galmudug is substantial, with armed conflict, Terrorism, and organised crimes as the main threats. Staff are encouraged to attain respective briefings before any travel. All staff are encouraged to submit their TRIP before any movement.

Transportation

With the approval of several domestic flights, UNHAS remains the preferred means of transportation to and from Galkayo due to the irregularities. However, within Puntland, Ethiopian Airlines regularly has flights to and from Garowe and Bossaso, along with other domestic flights like Freedom and Premier Airlines.

For inter-town movements, local staff can move by road transport using third-party transport under low profile on official missions, and taxi services are available for private movements.

Medical

Regarding medical facilities, there is a UN dispensary in the Common Compound managed by a medical doctor and a nurse from UNDP. In addition to the dispensary, Modern Hospital and GMC Hospital have an agreement with UNHCR Somalia and do accept the use of our medical insurance (MIP).

Accommodation

In Galkayo, local staff can get accommodation from reliable guest houses with support from the security team. Also, local dishes can be found from the local restaurants in the town and vicinity.

Banking

There are no official banking facilities like in Mogadishu with ATMs, but local staff can access their accounts using a mobile money transfer agent, Amal Money Transfer. Local staff are encouraged to open an account with Amal. 

Dress code

UN staff travelling to the field are advised to respect the Somali culture, and women are particularly encouraged to cover their hair and wear long skirts/trousers and long-sleeved blouses.

Telecommunication

The major telecommunication companies in Galkayo are Golis and SOMTEL with all staff using Golis. Nevertheless, the network supports roaming services for Hormud telecommunication and Kenya’s Safaricom network.

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

HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake a written test.

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Click below APPLY HERE