Hardship LevelH (no hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2024-02-01
Job Posting End DateDecember 17, 2023
Standard Job Description
Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (PoC). The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.
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 functional units, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection strategy.
- Through relationships with PoC and network of partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
- Assist in initiatives with host communities to involve national civil society groups in the protection of PoC.
- Support implementing and operational partners as well as displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.
- Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
- Support participatory assessments by multifunctional teams and ongoing consultation with PoC.
- Support efforts to build the office capacity for community-based protection.
- Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
- Ensure community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
- Collect data for monitoring of programmes and budgets from an AGD perspective.
- Draft and type routine correspondence, documents and reports and maintain up-to-date filing systems.
- Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
- Assist in the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR's work.
- Initiate AGD sensitive interventions at the appropriate level on community-based protection issues and to respond to protection concerns and incidents within the office and with persons and communities of concern based on agreed parameters.
- Identify and recommend which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
- Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5- 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable
Certificates and/or Licenses
Development, Human Rights, International Law
Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified
Desirable
UNHCR learning programmes (PLP).
Knowledge of MSRP.
Functional Skills
UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
*IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
(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 Excellent knowledge of the italian legal framework with reference to migration and forced displacement and ability to analyze legislation and principles and contribute to operationalize UNHCR Positions. Experience in legal matters and legal background is required, while to be a lawyer is not mandatory, but considered an asset.
Work experience in Person with Specific Needs related matters and specifically proved experience in Child Protection (essential) and in GBV fields of expertise (highly desirable).
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, drafting and reporting skills in both Italian as well as English language.
Strong sense of team work and collaboration and problem-solving attitude.
Presentation/training related skills are desired.
Experience in project and stakeholders management is preferred and considered an asset.
Very good knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); the knowledge of other programs (OneNote, Access, InfoPath) are appreciated.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Italy.
English is the official working language of UNHCR in Italy. Only applications fully completed in English will be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Assessment of short-listed candidates might comprise of both an interview and a written test.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. Successful candidates will be subject to mandatory UN Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment clearance check prior to receiving an offer.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
In case of any queries, please contact the Italy HR Team at itarovacancies@unhcr.org
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): Italian
,English
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Nature of Position:
Italy remains one of the major points of arrival for persons of concern seeking protection to Europe, with most arriving by sea via the Mediterranean. In 2022, the population of concern to UNHCR in Italy increased considerably, mainly due to the war in Ukraine. By the end of December 2022, 174,000 Ukrainians had officially arrived, and 167,000 applied for temporary protection, making Ukrainians the biggest population of concern to UNHCR in the country. In parallel, more than 101,000 arrived by sea, increasing sea arrivals by 54%, compared to 2021. With many more women and children among the Ukrainian population, this also changed the composition of PoC, presenting other risks, needs and capacities.
A considerable Ukrainian population is expected to remain in Italy for years to come, and their arrival led to widespread use of family-based and other new reception models and the introduction of temporary cash assistance. During 2022, the needs in reception and integration multiplied and the dispersed reception and residence of the Ukrainian population brought pressure for a more prominent role of municipalities and local services in meeting needs.
The political and institutional stalemate in Libya and growing instability in Tunisia, the two main countries of sea departure along the Central Mediterranean route, highly impact the mixed movements towards Italy. The developments in Tunisia in 2023 meant that the country replaced Libya as main country of departure to Italy this year, with 90,223 people arrived (+372% increase) in comparison to the same period (1Jan-1Oct) of last year (19,119 people arrived). Overall, as of 1 October 2023, over 133,800 persons arrived in Italy by sea in 3,000 landings, an 86% increase compared to the same period in 2022 (72,000).
In Italy, UNHCR works with the Italian government, other organizations, the host community and refugees themselves to uphold the basic human rights of people forced to flee and stateless persons, and to improve laws and national systems so refugees and stateless persons stay safe, enjoy fundamental rights such as documentation, education, work and other socio-economic rights. Through its staff and partners, UNHCR is engaged in activities aimed at ensuring protection to persons of concern, addressing protection risks in an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) sensitive manner, with a particular focus on persons with specific needs, such as unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). UNHCR's protection delivery is based on a community-based an right-based approach, which aims at putting people of concern at the center of all decisions affecting their lives. Based on this approach, UNHCR promotes active refugee participation in all aspects of the UNHCR programme cycle, builds protection strategies and solutions in partnership with them and supports the community’s own goals, also through effective engagement and communication with communities.
UNHCR staff perform a variety of tasks country-wide, including: providing new arrivals with information on international protection and monitoring land border procedures and their potential impact on access to asylum and other relevant procedures, and supporting the authorities in identifying persons with specific needs; working with authorities, partners and refugee communities and organizations to identify persons with additional protection needs, such as UASC, survivors of GBV and other persons at risk, so that they can be promptly referred for follow-up and appropriate services; monitoring reception conditions, and providing support to the National (and local) Commission for the Right to Asylum, including on the reform of the RSD procedure. UNHCR also seeks to help refugees thrive in Italy and fully contribute to the economic, cultural and social life of the country, through support to the implementation of the Government’s national integration plan, as well as relevant guidelines on vulnerabilities, provision of information and counselling on rights, entitlements and obligations, promote communication tools and engagement with the private sector to promote refugees’ employment, and by working with relevant authorities and Italian universities to promote access to education at all levels. Furthermore, the agency engages on GBV and child protection and other specific needs’ response through dedicated and specialized programs.
Duties and responsibilities:
Support in providing technical guidance to partners and government counterparts on CBP minimum standards, policies, guidelines and best practices under overall direction of the CBP Officer, consistently applying International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
Assist in the design and implementation of the country-level CBP plans as part of the overall protection strategy.
Contribute to assessing and analyzing protection needs, trends and gaps through multi-sectoral and protection specific assessments and support the implementation of integrated responses to PSN.
Assist interagency coordination with other agencies as well as with civil society organizations at national level as needed.
Support the GBV fp in policy and partnerships related technical tasks, in particular way, under the guidance of the CBP Officer and the GBV Associate staff, facilitate coordination and serve as liason between partners’ representation at national level and CBP staff field level as well as participate to inter-agency meetings to follow-up on specific joint projects with other UN agencies.
Assist the CBP Officer who cover the role of PSEA coordinator/pf in Country in her related duties and responsibilities on this function.
Carry out individual case management related tasks as per office/unit Area of Responsibility (HelpDesk) in coordination with the partner.
Support the Child Protection (CP) fp of the unit to operationalize specific activities such as providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC in particular way on child protection, contribute to the management of CP partnerships and advocacy-related tasks with institutional and non-institutional stakeholders and support the unit/CP fp in carrying out capacity building activities as well as designing and developing plans with key stakeholders as per need.
Draft reports, update relevant documents within the Area of Responsibility (AoR), routine correspondence and provide general support to CBP team in daily/routine activities and perform other related duties as required.
Living and Working Conditions:
Rome is a HQ Duty Station. Italy has a strong UN presence (more than 10 Agencies Programmes and Funds totaling more than 6'000 staff) and is offering high standard of living conditions and relatively high cost of living.
There is no RC System hence no formal inter-agency coordination system other than the DO for Security related matters. FAO leads the UN team and collaborates closely with Rome based WFP and IFAD HQ.
The Italian authorities will issue a visa and residence permit to UNHCR international staff members. Before arriving at a new duty station, finding an accommodation will be a priority. There are some limited facilities to access Duty Free privileges. Buying a new vehicle is a lengthy process while buying second hand is even more complex. The public transport system is relatively reliable, and most colleagues have elected to reside in the office neighborhood.
A valid driving license issued by a European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) member state is automatically accepted in all other member states. People with EU/EEA-issued driver's license who take up residence in Italy are not required to exchange it for an Italian license.
Holders of a standard driving license issued from a non-EU/EEA country may drive in Italy using the foreign license for up to one year after obtaining residency.
Medical care is up to international standards.
UN International expatriates are covered by the medical insurance provided from their workplace. No additional medical coverage is required. A list of English-speaking doctors can be provided, upon request, by the FAO Medical Services.
There are several international schools in Rome. The academic year for schools in Italy is from September to June. Generally, schools have long waiting lists and it is advisable to register your child at school as soon as possible. You should also find out about the specific admission requirements at the school. Transfer certificates from previous schools and academic records are usually required. Contracts are made between the school and private individuals regarding payments of school fees.
This means any deposits and commitments to pay fees are your responsibility and not the UN's.
Spouse employment can be challenging, particularly in a post Covid-19 situation where the economy was affected.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
CertificationsCommunity Development/Social Work - Other, Development Studies - Other, Human Rights - Other, International Law - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance