UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR*)*

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Iraq Operation

Vacancy Notice No. IRQ/ERB/FTA/2021/010

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Title of Post: Protection Associate

Category/grade: General Service, G6

Post Number: 10023500

Type of contract: Fixed-Term Appointmen

Location: Erbil, Iraq

Date of Issue: 16 June 2021

Effective date of assignment: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 29 June 2021

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING, WORK RELATIONSHIPS and OPERATIONAL CONTEXT:

UNHCR Field Office Erbil covers Erbil governorate, serving refugees and IDPs residing in urban areas and camps. Erbil Governorate hosts about 50% of all the refugees in KRI with the vast majority being Syrian refugees but also substantial number of Iranian, Turkish and Palestinian refugees. Nearly 78% of refugees reside in urban areas and the remaining 22% reside in four refugee camps for Syrian refugees. Non-Syrian refugees (mainly Turkish and Iranians of Kurdish origin) mainly live in urban areas and informal settlements. Erbil governorate also hosts about 260,000 IDPs in six camps and urban areas. The camps accommodate about 20% of the total population of IDPs in Erbil, while the overwhelming majority of IDPs in Erbil (about 80%) are living in non-camp locations.

The incumbent will be part of the Protection team and support Protection activities in both the refugee and IDP context. Relevant and extensive experience working with refugees and/or IDPs is essential. The incumbent will work directly with communities/persons of concern to identify the risks they face, conduct protection assessments, provide counselling, and make referrals as appropriate. Therefore, strong interpersonal skills as well as clear communication skills (both written and verbal) are needed and must be demonstrated. A legal background will be considered an asset. The incumbent will closely collaborate with protection partners and other stakeholders. Demonstrated skills in stakeholder management as well as coordination with government entities is required

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 SGBV 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.

  • Assist 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.

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

  • 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

  • Excellent Knowledge of English and working knowledge of Kurdish and Arabic Languages.

Desirable Qualifications & Competencies:

  • Certificates and/or Licenses International Law, Political Science or other related fields

  • Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills:

  • IT-Computer Literacy

  • CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness

  • PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

  • PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Required Competencies:

Core Competencies

  • Accountability

  • Communication

  • Organizational Awareness

  • Teamwork & Collaboration

  • Commitment to Continuous Learning

  • Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

  • Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

  • Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

  • Political Awareness

  • Stakeholder Management

Eligibility:

Internal candidates (Group 1 and Group 2):

Interested staff members should consult the Administrative Instruction on Recruitment and Assignments of Locally Recruited Staff (RALS) (UNHCR/AI/2020/1/REV.2 dated 16 March 2021). If you have questions regarding your eligibility, you may also contact the HR Unit. Internal candidates are Group 1 and vetted group 2[1] candidates.

Group 1: Comprises current GS staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above.

Group 2: Group 2 comprises candidates from the categories listed below after completion of one cumulative or continuous year of service in the country of the vacancy. The Group 2 status will be confirmed by DHR or the HR/Admin in the relevant country, as applicable:

  • Current locally recruited UNHCR staff members holding a temporary appointment

  • Former locally recruited UNHCR staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within 2 years of separation for males and 5 years for females)

  • National United Nations Volunteers currently working for UNHCR

  • National UNOPS and individual contractors currently working for UNHCR

  • Current GS staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment applying to a position in the same category two grades above the staff member’s personal grade

  • Current UNHCR staff members in the International Professional category holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment

  • Current UNHCR staff members in the NPO category holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment.

  • Current locally recruited female staff members from other UN system Organizations holding the equivalent of an indefinite or fixed-term appointment.

External candidates:

  • External candidates must meet the essential minimum requirements of the position and candidates not citizens of the country must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country.

Remuneration:

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org

This vacancy is archived.

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