GradeNOA
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonTemporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment
Hardship LevelH (no hardship)
Family TypeFamily<p></p><p></p>
Residential location (if applicable)
Target Start Date2023-08-01
Target End Date2023-12-31
Job Posting End DateAugust 18, 2023
Standard Job DescriptionAssistant Community-Based Protection Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is a member of the Protection Unit in a Country Operation 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 Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer 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 Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (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 - Be fully informed about community structures and the protection and security situation of the PoC and develop strong links with a cross-section of members of refugee/IDP/stateless communities, using an AGD approach. - 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 senior management. - Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC are reflected in the protection strategy, planning processes and operations plan addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups. - Support a consultative process with government counterparts at local levels, partners and PoC to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, child protection, education and GBV, and solutions approaches. - Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners and implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all community-based protection related issues. - Support the design, implementation and evaluation of protection centred and solutions oriented programming with implementing and operational partners guaranteeing that community-owned activities are integrated. - Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures - Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among PoC, authorities and host communities. - Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with PoC, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, contribute the development of an AGD-compliant strategy on which the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded and covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations. - Support the Operation's work to fully integrate the protection strategy into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian action plan where applicable. - Contribute to the Protection team's information management component which: provides disaggregated data on PoC and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary. - Support the inclusion of participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches in strategies and plans in the Country Operation. - Support community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response. - Support PoC to develop structures that enhance their participation and protection. - Contribute to the design of project submissions and the budget for endorsement by the supervisor. - Intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues. - Negotiate with local counterparts, partners and PoC. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights, International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology, International Law or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Some professional working experience.in the areas of community services, social work (e.g., gender, GBV programs, women¿s empowerment and protection, work with refugees) or/and human rights or related tasks in government, NGO or international organisation. Desirable Proven communication skills, both oral and written. Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches Understanding of and demonstrated competencies in forced displacement and protection, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy. Functional Skills PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework IT-Computer Literacy DM-Database Management PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming PR-Gender Equality PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming (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 ProfileOperational Context:
Since 2013, asylum-seekers from the North of Central America, Mexico, and other regions have arrived in growing numbers at the U.S. southern border, including rising numbers of family units and unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) travelling within mixed flows. Reception practices and systems that were originally built primarily with single male undocumented migrants in mind are evolving to manage the challenges involved at the border. Given the challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border, UNHCR has established small presences in four locations at the U.S. border (Brownsville, El Paso, Tucson and San Diego), and has expanded its technical engagement with U.S. government entities, as well as extended its interactions to include state and local government as well as civil society stakeholders in the southern border states. UNHCR in the U.S. has also strengthening its cross-border coordination with our counterparts in Mexico, as UNHCR Mexico has established operations and partnerships in the northern border region (with direct field presence in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, and remote coverage of other border points from Monterrey).
The Assistant Protection Officer (Community-Based) is part of the small border team. This position covers UNHCR’s engagement in the south of Texas (from Rio Grande Valley to Del Rio and San Antonio) and activities across the southern border, as a result, regular travel to other key border points is expected. The position will be initially based in El Paso, Texas (possibility to telework) and it is expected that the position will be moved to be based in Brownsville, Texas in October 2023. The successful candidate will provide support with a wide range of activities, including building and maintaining effective and collaborative relationships with relevant federal, state and local governmental authorities, civil society stakeholders and UNHCR field teams in northern Mexico. The Assistant Protection Officer (Community-Based) will also lead UNHCR’s engagement with border shelters through the border shelter network, and work closely with border shelters across the southern border on a variety of activities, including the mainstreaming of age, gender and diversity and legal empowerment activities into regular shelter programming. The successful candidate will also engage with the border shelters to strengthen data collection and feedback mechanisms, working in tandem with government and non-government partners to strengthen sheltering response and referral pathways. The candidate will also contribute to establishing a system to support safe and informed onward movements of asylum seekers to their final destination. The successful candidate will work closely on facilitating daily protection operations in partnership with UNHCR Mexico colleagues, thus some cross-border travel is anticipated, and all cross-border movement would be undertaken in strict adherence with UN staff security guidelines. This position reports to the Senior Protection Officer based in San Diego, California.
Functional Statement:
Responsibility:
Support UNHCR cross-border operations in partnership with the wider UNHCR border team and the UNHCR field staff in northern Mexico, in close coordination with U.S. federal, state and local government entities and NGO partner and community-based organizations;
Provide technical assistance to and liaise with/participate in initiatives alongside authorities, NGOs, and other relevant institutions, and build constructive relationships with key stakeholders to promote dynamic and strategic opportunities for engagement in the RGV and Mid-Texas;
Assist in the establishment and regular functioning of coordination mechanisms;
Provide regular analysis of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on refugees and asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border;
Produce high-quality, timely analysis and reporting on protection developments;
Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the tracking and provision of data on populations we serve;
Lead UNHCR’s southern border work with humanitarian respite shelters in the United States, identifying key technical needs and connecting with adequate assistance;
Identify areas in need of referral pathways and develop cross-border case management mechanisms, notably for GVB survivors;
Contribute to child protection plans in the area of response, in line with the UNHCR strategy;
Support ongoing efforts to strengthen the onward movement of asylum seekers to the interior, through data collection, needs assessments, coordination with key stakeholders, prioritization of intervention, in coordination with UNHCR DC office;
Provide support to individual asylum-seekers in particular need, in coordination with the Washington office as appropriate;
Any other required assistance to support the implementation of UNHCR’s southern border strategy, as needed.
Additional desirable Qualifications & Competencies:
Relevant job experience:
Experience with various aspects of UNHCR processing, including registration, refugee status determination, resettlement and/or case management is desired;
Direct services experience is a strongly desired.
International experience in a humanitarian setting is a strong asset.
Additional skills:
Experience with Microsoft Teams and collaboration software;
Strong written and oral communication skills;
Innovative approach and mindset;
Good time management skills.
Required Competencies:
Core
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial
Judgement and Decision Making
Cross-Functional Competencies
Stakeholder Management
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Legal Status:
Candidates must be US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents.
Functional ClearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
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Additional Qualifications
SkillsDM-Database Management, IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming, PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming, PR-Gender Equality, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Anthropology (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): Cultural Studies (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Development (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Social Work (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science (Required), Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science (Required)
Certifications
Work Experience
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