Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA6
Target Start Date2023-09-01
Job Posting End DateAugust 24, 2023
Terms of Reference1. General Background
The Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to provide protection, assistance and seek durable solutions for refugees and stateless persons. Egypt is a signatory State to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1969 OAU Convention Governing Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding of 1954 concluded between UNHCR and the Government of Egypt, all activities pertaining to registration, documentation and refugee status determination are carried out by UNHCR. UNHCR in Egypt has Offices in Greater Cairo (6th October City and Zamalek district) as well as a Field Office in Alexandria.
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Associate Protection Officer or Senior Protection Associate. 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 (Legal) plays a senior role within the Legal Unit and, therefore s/he should have experience at a senior level in identifying legal and protection needs and designing solutions.
The Protection Associate (Legal) is expected to coordinate quality, timely, and effective protection responses to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, 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.
S/he should ensures that refugees and asylum seekers are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Under the Protection Service in UNHCR Egypt, the Legal Unit plays an important role in attending to the legal needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and others needing international protection in Egypt. The incumbent will work on identifying the legal and physical protection needs and designing and implementing a response in line with the international human rights and refugee standards, national legislation and UNHCR’s case management procedures.
The Protection Associate (Legal) will undertake the following tasks:
- 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 refugees and asylum seekers.
- Provide advice on protection issues to refugees and asylum seekers;
Provide counseling to refugees and as to UNHCR on protection and legal issues and ensuring proper feedback to them is provided;
Conduct interviews and draft protection assessments of legal and physical protection concerns facing asylum seekers and refugees.
- Draft routine correspondence relating to individual cases;
- Draft correspondence to national authorities on different protection issues;
- Compile and enters the statistical data into the UNHCR database for protection;
- Assist in the provision of capacity-building activities for external interlocutors;
- Produce daily, weekly and monthly reports
- Perform other duties as required;
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
- Conduct and finalize 8-10 protection interviews per week
- Screen 20-30 cases and provide counseling to at reception or by telephone
- Draft an average of 5-10 official letters per week
- Daily entry of data on UNHCR protection database
- Produce daily and weekly reports
4. Qualifications and Experience
- Experience in liaison with the national authorities;
- Experience in building the capacity of the national authorities and, or the refugee community on issues related to International Human Rights or International Refugee Law;
- Experience in UNHCR case management procedures and knowledge of UNHCR data systems;
- Drafting and reporting skills in both English and Arabic.
a. Education
- 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
- A degree in law, human rights or political science with minor studies in international law is preferable
b. Work Experience
- Minimum 2 years of professional job experience
- Work experience with UNHCR is an advantage
- Completion of UNHCR's related learning activities is an advantage
c. Key Competencies
- Fluency both in oral and written English and Arabic.
- Basic computer skills.
- Drafting skills, both in English and Arabic.
- Sound interpersonal and communication skills, especially with people from different cultural backgrounds
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Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationFluency in Arabic and English.This position doesn't require a functional clearance