Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA2
Target Start Date2024-04-01
Job Posting End DateFebruary 28, 2024
Terms of ReferenceAmid economic deterioration and instability, the MENA region is facing new emergencies and forced displacement due to armed conflicts and natural disasters. The conflict in Sudan, the earthquakes in Syria and Morocco, and the flood in Libya have exacerbated existing vulnerabilities and social tensions. The war in Gaza is threatening the stability of the region as well. The conservative social and cultural environment coupled with restrictive legislations across countries pose additional challenges for LGBTIQ+ persons and other marginalized groups in MENA. In this context, community engagement, accountability to affected people, and localization play an important role to promote social cohesion, ensure equal access to services and opportunities, and prevent fraud and corruption. Budget reductions call for enhanced interagency coordination to maximize the use of resources.
The regional approach to community-based protection (CBP) and Accountability to Affected People (AAP) is guided by the UNHCR Strategic Directions-2022-2026 , the UNHCR Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) Policy 2018 , the UNHCR Operational Guidance on AAP 2020, Global Compact on Refugees 2018, the Syrian Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan and Sustainable Development Goals 2015 . The operationalization of community engagement and accountability approaches is supported through contextualized accountability to affected people (AAP) and evidence-based programme analysis tools. Inclusive and respectful communication tools, such as the MENA Glossary for diverse SOGIESC are key resources to be further disseminated across country operations and partners. The PROSPECTS Partnership has been supportive of AAP in MENA since 2020 when a mapping and research on AAP, including feedback, complaint, and response mechanisms was undertaken to identify gaps and recommendations to strengthen AAP. This research guided a three-year strategy and roadmap that was later updated to consolidate the progress made and adapt to the emerging needs.
In 2021 the MENA AAP Reference Group (MENA AAP RG) was established to guide the update of the interagency online AAP map, the draft of the MENA AAP toolkit, and the MENA AAP Summer Learning Series. The MENA Digital AAP Grant for community and grassroots organizations was provided to six projects implemented in five different countries, strengthening localization and community engagement, as well as integration of AAP in other sectors such as education, child protection, GBV, diverse SOGIESC, and persons with disabilities. In 2023 the draft of MENA AAP toolkit was finalized and is now at final clearance and translation stages. Three webinars and a regional workshop on CBP/AAP were also undertaken and five additional grants provided to refugee-led organizations totaling 14 Grants.
The incumbent will be a key resource to continue to streamline Community-Based Protection (CBP) and Accountability to Affected People (AAP) in the region promoting horizontal learning and integration of CBP and AAP across sectors, while ensuring increased consideration of people with specific needs and diverse profiles. This will involve support in the implementation of the MENA AAP toolkit, the provision of training and technical support to operations and partners, and the regular identification and collection of a CBP/Age, Gender & Diversity (AGD) good practices. Particular attention will be given to supporting the deployment of Refugee Assistance Information System (RAIS) and the implementation of Digital Participatory Tools. The consultancy will also be a key resource to continue enhancing localization and inclusion through the support to community-based and grassroots organizations, as well as strengthening regional interagency AAP coordination.
Key duties and responsibilities will include:
- Support Interagency coordination on AAP, including through consultations on AAP Tools, learning events, grants, and other related activities in closer coordination with UNICEF, World Bank, OCHA, WFP, and other PROSPECTS partnership members.
Support operations’ review of AAP strategies and Feedback and Complaints SOPs in line with the MENA AAP Toolkit (e.g. AAP-Feedback and Complaints SOPs, AAP strategies, MENA Digital Participatory Tool, RAIS, online satisfaction surveys, help.org, inter-agency call centers, Feedback and Complaint forms and map, hotlines, WhatsApp Trees, etc.), ensuring accessibility for diverse communities.
- Support community organizations and monitor AAP Grant’s implementation, while promoting country-based AAP grants.
- Dissemination of the MENA CBP/AGD Good Practices Toolbox and analysis of outreach volunteers’ programmes across the region.
Essential qualification of the desired candidate include:
Essential:
• University degree in community development, social science, human rights, anthropology, cultural studies or any other relevant field
• 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
• Previous experience in Community-Based Protection and Accountability to Affected People
• Expertise on Digital AAP and communication tools in humanitarian and development contexts, including development and implementation (help.org, WhatsApp, hotlines)
• Expertise on community engagement and participation, including face-to-face strategies
• Technical and practical understanding of traditional as well as digital AAP and communication tools, including accessibility strategies and functionalities
• Capacity to develop information and two-way feedback systems
• Capacity to deliver all requested products within the established deadline
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent drafting skills
• Excellent knowledge of English language
Desirable:
- Previous experience in Community-Based Protection and Accountability to Affected People with UNHCR or other UN agencies
- Knowledge of UNHCR’s protection mandate and the inter-agency context
- Familiarity with other organizations conducting AAP and community engagement in MENA and/or other regions
- Knowledge of French and/or Arabic languages
Community-Based Protection Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Community-Based Protection Officer is a member of the Protection Team in a Regional Bureau or a Country Office and normally reports to the Senior Community-Based Protection Officer, the Senior Protection Officer, Head of Sub-Office or the Assistant Representative for protection.
For a regional position, the incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for Protection and Community-Based Protection staff in the regional office, and a technical support role for Community-Based Protection staff in the region. For a country level position the incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for Community-based Protection staff and other protection staff in the operation.
H/he supports the implementation of protection standards and provides advice on community-based protection to senior management and Country Operation(s) in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection (DIP).
The incumbent is relied upon by senior management to support a coordinated approach in the implementation of UNHCR's rights-based and community-based engagement with all persons of concern and contributes to the achievement of UNHCR's commitments to accountability to affected people.
S/he maintains close working relationships and supports Protection and Community-Based Protection staff in the field, who act as the critical interface between UNHCR and communities of concern, enabling them to provide the AGD-sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities that form the essential foundations of national and regional programmes. The incumbent maintains close working relations with sister UN entities, governmental entities, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions that can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions through people centred, community-based and gender responsive approaches.
The incumbent provides guidance to country operations to strengthen their coordination and advocacy on community-based approaches to protection with governments, partners and other key stakeholders.
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
- Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of a community-based protection strategy reflecting the organization's global, regional and country level protection priorities, and ensuring systematic application of participatory, rights- , community-based, and gender responsive approaches in protection and solutions planning, programming and strategies.
- Support compliance with UNHCR Age, Gender and Diversity Policy, including ensuring AGD inclusive programming, advocating for gender equality and strengthening accountability to affected populations (AAP).
- Assist with the implementation and integration of community-based corporate policies in multi-year and multi-partner protection and solutions strategies and operations plans.
- Support the systematic application of participatory, community, rights based, and gender responsive protection approaches throughout the phases of the operations management cycle and across the work of the organisation and implement community-based GBV prevention and response as well as community-based child protection programmes.
- Contribute to the appropriate adaptations of programmes as a result of the analysis of feedback received from persons of concern, as well as other political, social, economic and cultural developments that impact the protection environment.
- Participate in country level planning exercises and advocates for the mobilization and (re)allocation of funds to the implementation of community-based and gender responsive approaches across programmes and sectors in line with regional and country community-based protection strategies.
- Support the establishment and management of a feedback and response system (including on PSEA) and participate in the analysis of feedback gathered through formal and informal feedback and response systems.
- Support capacity development through training and coaching of staff in the domain of AGD, Accountability to Affected People (AAP), CBP, Gender Equality, Youth, Disability and inclusion of other Diversity elements, and mainstreaming of the CBP approach in other sectors.
- Provide technical guidance and support to ensure data relevant to assess and monitor progress on the implementation and impact of community-based and age, gender and diversity approaches is collected and AGD-sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities is undertaken.
- Support the consolidation of reporting on community-based protection and contributes to reporting on the protection of different AGD groups, including identification of trends and collection and dissemination of good practices.
- Contribute to the development of partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including government institutions, UN, civil society actors, and the private sector inclusive of youth, disability, LGBTI, women rights stakeholders and other diverse groups; for the purpose of advocating for community-based approaches for the protection of displaced persons, including implementation of Outreach and communication with diverse groups.
- For functions at a regional level, support harmonization of CBP strategies in the region and their alignment with global policies, identifies and disseminates good practices, supports exchange of expertise in the region and provides a regional level analysis of trends as well as aggregated reporting on implementation of Community-based and AGD approaches.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Community Development;
Human Rights;
Cultural Studies;
Social Science;
Anthropology;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
2-3 years experience of working in the field with direct engagement with persons of concern. Demonstrated expertise in field protection, community development, social surveys/ assessment, counselling, or related areas
Desirable
Very good understanding of displacement and protection issues, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the age, gender and diversity approach. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position such as: PLP (Protection Learning Programme), OMLP (Operations Management Learning Programme), MMLP (Middle Management Learning Programme), CBPLP (Community-based Protection Learning Programme), CBP e-Learning, and Gender Equality e-learning. Experience in project management, and strategy development and implementation.
Functional Skills
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
MG-Team building (development/facilitation)
PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments
PR-Community-based Protection - Coordination and project management
PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies
PR-Community-based Protection - Community engagement and capacity building
PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework
(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.
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SkillsMG-Team building (development/facilitation), PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Community-based Protection - Community engagement and capacity building, PR-Community-based Protection - Coordination and project management, PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments, PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Cultural Studies, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Development, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Social Work, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationNo remote work acceptedThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo