Hardship LevelH (no hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS6
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2023-10-02
Job Posting End DateSeptember 11, 2023
Standard Job DescriptionProtection 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. - 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.
Desired Candidate Profile
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): English
,Greek
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Desired languages
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Operational context
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
The Protection Associate shall report directly to the Protection Officer, supporting the functions of the Protection Unit. The incumbent shall be responsible for identification of durable solutions with a focus on integration. Integration has been deprioritized in view of the sharp increase in the number of asylum applications since 2013. Evidently, the last integration strategy expired in 2012 with no new strategy adopted since. The incumbent shall maintain contact with the responsible officers both at the central and local level, including the Ministry of Interior, the forthcoming Deputy Ministry for Migration and Asylum and Municipalities, as well as Civil Society Organizations providing support to forcibly displaced and stateless persons in Cyprus. The Protection Associate shall provide them with information on the protection challenges, gaps and needs of forcibly displaced and stateless persons to ensure that policies, actions, projects, as well as the future strategy, will be designed to meet the integration needs of the population. In this regard, the incumbent shall monitor the situation of forcibly displaced persons and maintain contact with individuals and organizations, including refugee-led ones, maintaining two-way communication with UNHCR and providing relevant advice and support, as well as appropriate referrals. The Protection Associate shall also ensure that detention is a measure of last resort and alternatives are exhausted. In this regard, the incumbent shall regularly monitor detention, as well as de-facto detention, both at designated centres and police stations and other facilities. The Protection Associate is expected to identify protection gaps and ensure that policies are in line with international standards. In this regard, periodic reports shall be prepared and submitted to the authorities and oversight bodies, including the Ombudsperson. Given the multifaceted nature of protection activities, the incumbent is also expected to support the Protection Unit as necessary, demonstrating adequate flexibility.
Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus, is classified as a Category H duty station offering all amenities and high quality living conditions. The island of Cyprus is divided since 1974, UNFICYP maintaining a buffer zone between the lines of the Cyprus National Guard and of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces. The Republic of Cyprus became a full member of the European Union in 2004 and adopted the Euro in 2008. The population of Cyprus is estimated at 1.1 million combined. The island is rich in culture, shaped over its 7,000 year-long history influenced both by the West and the East. The official languages are Greek and Turkish, with English also widely spoken by most locals. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and is frequented by tourists. Cyprus has a pleasant Mediterranean climate, enjoying year-round sunshine, with mild winters (mean daily minimum 5°C and maximum 13°C) and sunny, dry summers (mean daily minimum and maximum temperatures are 21°C and 36°C). Cyprus is in general a very safe environment to live and work in.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
CertificationsInternational Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
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Additional InformationShortlisted candidates may be requested to undertake a test and a competency-based interview.
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance