Hardship LevelD
Family TypeNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
Yaounde, Cameroon
GradePR5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-10-13
Job Posting End DateNovember 9, 2023
Standard Job Description
Deputy Representative - Protection
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Deputy Representative - Protection is the senior protection manager in a Country Office and reports to the Representative. A member of the senior management team, the incumbent has direct or reviewing supervisory responsibility for protection staff who may include community services, registration, resettlement and education. He/she has country-wide functional supervisory responsibility for all protection staff and provides protection oversight and guidance to the information and programme management functions.
The Deputy Representative - Protection transposes UNHCR's Global Strategic Priorities into a comprehensive protection strategy adapted to the country context. He/she is guardian of protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at country level and represents the UNHCR to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.
The Deputy Representative - Protection is relied upon by the Office to plan, manage and guide regional and country-wide protection delivery to populations of concern and to promote and gain support for UNHCR's protection agenda externally. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. He/she ensures that persons and communities of concern are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them and that their interests are effectively represented to authorities, protection and assistance partners and to the broad network of donors and stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.
The grade level of the positions with this role can be P4 or P5 depending on the organizational structure.
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 security developments that have an impact on the protection environment and protection delivery capacity and advise the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR's operations.
- Manage a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement a comprehensive protection strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS; and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
- In operations applying the Cluster Approach, ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
- Ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plans in the region, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and in respect of UNHCR's mandate, the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
- Ensure that necessary resources are allocated to address protection gaps.
- 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 and ensure that all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities mainstreaming protection.
- Design, deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
- Oversee the provision of expert legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors and ensure that legal assistance and documentation is accessible to persons of concern.
- Oversee Eligibility and Status Determination operations ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Oversee the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection /solutions processes and systems.
- Promote and supervise the delivery of effective measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Develop and implement country/regional-level education plans as part of the protection strategy. Ensure the provision of quality and protective education with an emphasis on learning outcomes and lifelong learning opportunities forging partnerships with the Ministry for Education, UNICEF and other partners as appropriate.
- Develop and implement country/regional-level education plans as part of the protection strategy. Ensure the provision of quality and protective education with an emphasis on learning outcomes and lifelong learning opportunities forging partnerships with the Ministry for Education, UNICEF and other partners as appropriate.
- Develop and implement country/regional-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Ensure that appropriate interventions are undertaken by the Offices in the region, or intervene directly, in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Ensure with governments and partners that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration, and where appropriate, resettlement are sought and provided to the largest possible number of persons of concern.
- Oversee the development and implementation of a results-based advocacy programme in consultation with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Advocate with authorities and stakeholders for access to and respect for the rights of persons of concern and their access to services.
- Ensure the Protection Sector or Cluster strategy has an effective information management component to provide disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; and researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
- Build the protection capacity of national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and persons of concern to assert their rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.
- Contribute to a communications strategy to generate external support for UNHCR's operations and the Protection Sector/Cluster.
- Provide effective supervisory and managerial oversight, direction and guidance of the protection function.
- Design and establish effective protection staffing structures in all Offices ensuring staffing configurations, profiles and competencies are commensurate with protection challenges.
- Approve the comprehensive protection strategy for endorsement by the Representative and Regional Office or Headquarters.
- Chair strategic or operational protection meetings, including Protection Cluster meetings in applicable operations and represent the protection sector/cluster in inter-agency mechanisms.
- Issue advocacy statements on behalf of UNHCR or the Protection Cluster in applicable operations. Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
- Clear documents and reports prepared by the Protection Unit / Section.
- Take decisions on individual cases.
- Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and partners on protection funding priorities in inter-agency funding appeals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce regional compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Approve regional expenditures under the UNHCR protection budget and direct transparent and accountable financial and other resource allocation within the Protection Cluster in applicable operations.
- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Humanitarian Law; International Relations; Law;
Political Science; International Refugee Law; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Learning Prog; HCR Managing Operatns Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
- Thorough knowledge in International refugee law, its applications under different circumstances; ability to analyse and advocate the application of various regional refugee instruments for the benefits of the persons of concern to UNHCR. Field experience, preferably in the context of UNHCR, in repatriation and resettlement of refugees.
Desirable
- Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.
- UNHCR specific learning/ training activities (i.e. Management Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme).
Functional Skills
*PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
*PR-Managing large influx of Persons of Concern
FO-Operational activities in hardship duty stations
*SO-Advocacy
*PR-International protection concepts and principles
*PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
(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 The incumbent of the position should possess:
• Proven strong Protection management experience of large and complex operations.
• Strong operational background, with proven experience of overseeing delivery of assistance and protection in mixed settings (IDPs/Refugees/Returnees/Reintegration).
• Experience in coordinating complex emergencies, and ability to deliver in a fast-moving context.
• Demonstrated practical hands-on inter-agency coordination, with proven experience in active engagement with inter-agency Humanitarian Country Teams, knowledge of IASC/Cluster processes, and management of Refugee Coordination Model.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) in French and English.
• Experience in the leadership/management of large teams over multiple layers, and cultural sensitivity in the diverse context of a UN office.
• Very good interpersonal skills to interact with senior level officials and able to work under extreme pressure.
• Previous working experience with peacekeeping mission would be an advantage.
• UN-UNHCR Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): French
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
The Deputy Representative (Protection) is a key senior management position reporting to/and advising the country Representative in protection management related matters. He/she oversees three support sections including General Protection, Durable Solutions and provides protection related technical guidance to SO/FO as necessary. He/she leads the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive protection strategy encompassing all persons of concern to UNHCR in CAR. He/she will is often called upon to step in and act as the stand-in Representative dealing with senior level government officials, Diplomatic donor 's community, and UN agencies. He/she is the Focal Point on PSEA issues to which a strong response is required. Accordingly, the incumbent of the position should possess: ' Proven strong Protection management experience of large and complex operations. ' Strong operational background, with proven experience of overseeing delivery of assistance and protection in mixed settings (IDPs/refugees/returnees and repatriates). ' Experience in coordinating complex emergencies, and ability to deliver in a fast-moving context ' Demonstrated practical hands-on inter-agency coordination, with proven experience in being actively engaged in inter-agency Humanitarian Country Teams, IASC processes, and management of Refugee Coordination Model. ' Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) in French and English. ' Experience in the leadership/management of large teams over multiple layers, and cultural sensitivity in the diverse context of a UN office. ' Very good interpersonal skills to interact with senior level officials. Previous working experience with peacekeeping mission would be an advantage. The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has deteriorated further towards the end of the year 2020 and remains unpredictable despite significant improvements resulting from military operations carried out by the FACAs with the support of allies. The humanitarian consequences of the conflict and ongoing lawlessness are considerable with serious protection concerns. The stability that had been observed since the signing of the Peace agreement on February 6th, 2019, has been jeopardized by armed groups clashes in different parts of the country in their attempt to disrupt the election process towards the end of 2020. As a result, the number of internally displaced people increase from 693,000 in December 2020 to 738,000 in August 2021.
The Deputy Representative (Protection) is a key senior management position reporting to/and advising the country Representative on protection management related matters. S/he oversees three support sections including General Protection, Durable Solutions and provides protection related technical guidance to SO/FO as necessary. S/he leads the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive protection strategy encompassing all persons of concern to UNHCR in CAR. He/she will be often called upon to step in and act as the stand-in Representative dealing with senior level government officials, Diplomatic/Donors community, and UN agencies. S/he is the Focal Point on PSEA issues to which a strong response is required. Accordingly, the incumbent of the position should possess: ¿Proven strong Protection management experience of large and complex operations. 'strong operational background, with proven experience of overseeing delivery of assistance and protection in mixed settings (IDPs/Refugees/Returnees/Reintegration). ¿Experience in coordinating complex emergencies, and ability to deliver in a fast-moving context. ¿Demonstrated practical hands-on inter-agency coordination, with proven experience in active engagement with inter-agency Humanitarian Country Team, knowledge of IASC/Cluster processes, and management of Refugee Coordination Model. ¿Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) in French and English. ¿Experience in the leadership/management of large teams over multiple layers, and cultural sensitivity in the diverse context of a UN office. ¿Very good interpersonal skills to interact with senior level officials and able to work under extreme pressure. ¿Previous working experience with peacekeeping mission would be an advantage. The situation in CAR has deteriorated further towards the end of the year 2020 and remains unpredictable despite significant improvements resulting from military operations carried out by the FACAs with the support of allies. The humanitarian consequences of the conflict and ongoing lawlessness are considerable with serious protection concerns. The stability that had been observed since the signing of the Peace agreement on February 6th, 2019, has been jeopardized by armed group clashes in different parts of the country in their attempt to disrupt the election process towards the end of 2020. As a result, the number of internally displaced people increase from 693,000 in December 2020 to 738,000 in August 2021.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Refugee Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science
CertificationsHCR Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR
Work ExperienceAnnual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned IDPs, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration
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Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance