ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING, WORK RELATIONSHIPS and OPERATIONAL CONTEXT:
The Senior Protection Associate reports to the Protection Officer. The position may entail supervisory responsibilities for protection staff including community services, registration, resettlement and education depending on the structure of the Office. 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 Senior 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. The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.
S/he 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.
While the position is based in Karbala, it will be covering all southern Governorates, i.e. Babil, Najaf, Wassit, Basra, Qadissiya, Diwaniya, Muthanna, and Thi-Qar. Therefore, regular travel and missions to these locations may need to be undertaken. Given that these locations are not covered by the HRP and the limited involvement of the Clusters, the position will continue leading all Protection activities in relation to IDP matters and will also directly cover all registration activities in relation to the asylum seeking population in the above mentioned Governorates, in addition to the duties mentioned in the job description.
Functional Statement:
Accountability
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.
Responsibility
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 and guidance 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 in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
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.
Assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
Manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor, and assist the supervisor with intervening 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.
Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster 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 with intervening with authorities on protection issues.
Provide assistance to the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of staff and 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.
Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.
Perform other related duties as required.
Essential Minimum Qualifications and Experience:
4 years relevant work experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
Certificates and/or Licenses in International Law, Political Science or another relevant field.
Fluency in English and working knowledge of Arabic.
Desirable Qualifications & Competencies:
RSD-Resettlement LP and/or Protection Learning Programme.
Prior experience of having worked in the humanitarian sector as well as with persons of concern to UNHCR.
RG – UNHCR Registration Standards and SOPs, Conducting Effective Registration interview.
RG – Specific Needs Identification/Registration, Registration Referral processing.
Functional Skills (Functional skills marked with an asterisk are essential)
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
Empowering and Building Trust
Cross-Functional Competencies
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
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.
[1]In order to be considered as group 2 candidates, the applicants must be vetted at the time of applications. To be considered for Group 2 status, candidates must apply for an open call through the following link: https://www.unhcr.org/iraq-jobs/entry/11409/ and go through the vetting process.
Vetting process takes around 8 weeks.
This vacancy is archived.