Hardship LevelB
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2024-03-01
Job Posting End DateJanuary 17, 2024
Standard Job Description
Senior Protection Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. 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 Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.
The Senior Protection Assistant 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.
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
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
- 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 for PoC as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of GBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in 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.
- Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
- Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
- Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
- 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
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
International Law;
Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential: Not specified.
Desirable: Not specified.
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection 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.
Desired Candidate Profile - Previous experience in in Community-Based Protection, with a solid understanding of monitoring and reporting on community mobilization, community structures, and needs assessments with an Age, Gender and Diversity approach in the context of forced displacement and strong knowledge of UNHCR policies and principles.
- Ensure alignment of activities with UNHCR policies and guidelines on the Community-Based Approach and Accountability to Affected Populations amongst others, and protection and sector-specific strategic priorities.
- Demonstrated understanding of community-based approach; and previous experience working directly with community-based structures and communication with communities.
- Identify, monitor and respond to the protection needs of refugees including persons with specific needs in Beirut and Mount Lebanon Governorates supporting community-based and case management interventions by partners based in Community Development Centres (CDCs).
- Strong organizational awareness, communication and inter-personal skills, with a high level of competency in leadership and teamwork given the level of engagement with partners, refugee communities and other stakeholders.
- Coordination closely with UNHCR partners to monitor and to support the implementation of activities in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines.
- Review reporting tools closely including target performance, quantitative and qualitative analysis of interventions, and application of CDC minimum standards by UNHCR Lebanon.
- Enhancement of partners’ capacities in community interventions and case management by providing feedback and capacity building on protection matters.
- Previous experience in stakeholder management at sub-national level including UN agencies, local authorities, refugee led initiatives and organizations, community-based structures and partners as well as ability to represent UNHCR in the different CBP coordination forum.
- Strong coordination, drafting and analytical skills; and ability to undertake efficient reporting.
- Ability to work as a team member and in close collaboration with colleagues in CBP team, other units, Country and Field Offices.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work well under pressure and contribute to a positive working environment.
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
- S/he must be flexible and adaptable in order to respond to unforeseen events and adjust UNHCR’s programming accordingly.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Community-based Protection (CBP) Officer, the Senior Protection Assistant leads the planning, implementation and monitoring of all activities related outreach volunteer programme and other type of community based structures in urban context in addition to activities for communication with communities and supports other community-based protection activities which are conducted directly or through partners in Beirut and Mount Lebanon (ML) to improve community engagement, participation and empowerment of Syrians and other nationalities refugees and stateless persons.
S/he will take a role in regular visits of nine Community Development Centres (CDCs) covering rural and urban areas in Mount Lebanon and Beirut and follow up closely activities of outreach volunteers and minority groups (Iraqis, Sudanese and South Sudanese) in addition to activities such as life skills training, vocational trainings, psychosocial support activities, awareness raising, information dissemination and outreach and capacity development activities for partners to improve actions for response and prevention for protection risks and community empowerment.
S/he works closely with the three CBP partners and provide technical support and guidance for co-managing outreach volunteers programme with the focal points of the partners, and will maintain an overview of needs, trends, challenges, resources and recommendations of the communities and works closely with Protection Unit in ML Field Office (FO) and Country Office CBP Team and other Field Offices to keep abreast of national developments as a part of CBP team of ML FO.
Additional Qualifications
SkillsIT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
Education
CertificationsInternational Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
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Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance