Hardship LevelE (most hardship)
Family TypeNon Family
Family TypeNon FamilyDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS6
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2023-11-16
Job Posting End DateDecember 6, 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 MANDATORY CRITERIA:
Knowledge of and experience in UNHCR's mandate RSD or resettlement processing and case management is required.
OPTIONAL CRITERIA:
Knowledge of and experience in UNHCR's protection case management is desirable.
Shortlisted candidate will be required to sit for an eliminatory Written Test.
The passing score will be 60%, and only the passing candidates will be given a chance to sit for the interview. Scores of the written test will not be combined with the overall scoring.
When completing the application, candidates are required to list all their language skills – including their mother tongue. The three broad levels are A1/A2 (\"Basic User\"), B1/B2 (\"Independent User\"), and C1/C2 (\"Proficient User\").
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
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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: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.
The Protection Associate will be based at the Country Office in Damascus and will report to the Assistant RSD officer.
Refugee Status Determination (RSD) in Syria is centralized at the Country Office with a small RSD team based in Damascus. There is no RSD staff in the field. Cases in need of RSD in the field are referred to the Country Office and interviews and reviews for field-based cases are conducted remotely. In Damascus, all RSD interviews are conducted in person. The strategic use of RSD will be deployed to process cases for RSD, where RSD is conducted where there are tangible protection dividends, solutions or to preserve the integrity of the asylum process. UNHCR Syria currently has applicants of approximately 30 nationalities registered in proGres. The vast majority are of Iraqi origin, followed by Afghan, Sudanese, and Somali applicants.
The incumbent will be required to interview and submit at least three (3) RSD assessments per week. In so doing, S/he will ensure that RSD interviews and assessments are of the highest quality and standard. Ordinarily, while S/he will not be required to review RSD assessment, S/he may be called upon to review appeal and reopening applications when a need arises, and to review simple first instance assessments with a second reviewer by Assistant RSD Officer or Protection Officer.
In addition to the regular RSD interviews, the incumbent will be required to conduct protection interviews for the cases referred to RSD for nationality/identity verification, for pre-cancellation assessments, for upgrade of refugee status, or for any other verification requested by RSD. In so doing, S/he will ensure a thorough and instant response and feedback. Additionally, the incumbent will be required to conduct exclusion interviews and assessments, and counselling for complex cases.
The incumbent will support the Assistant RSD Officer in strengthening the case identification and referral mechanism for cases requiring RSD and this will entail updating RSD records with all referrals received.
The incumbent will be required to keep the Assistant RSD Officer fully appraised of all developments with regard to RSD processing in Damascus and field offices when a case is referred for RSD attention.
The incumbent will support the Assistant RSD Officer in ensuring that RSD Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are up-to-date and adhered to.
The incumbent will be requested to participate in field missions to strengthen our strategies and channels for communicating with communities, to ensure that expectations in the communities are appropriately managed, in the face of the strategic use of RSD. Additionally, the incumbent might be requested to perform any other task according to business requirement.
Additional Qualifications
SkillsIT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
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
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Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance