Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA5
Target Start Date2024-02-01
Job Posting End DateFebruary 18, 2024
Terms of ReferenceIMPORTANT INFORMATION:
• This position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Candidates must be legally present in México at the time of application, recruitment and hire. Only Mexicans or candidates holding a valid work permit in México will be considered eligible.
• Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide the proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.
• Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.
• UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
• This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 31/12/2024 with possibility of extension.
• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered depending on relevant experience as per the requirements of the job advertisement. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations.
1. General Background
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.
Mexico is a country of destination, transit, and origin, thus UNHCR is supporting the Government and other actors to build a stronger asylum system that allows asylum seekers and refugees to fully exercise their human rights, from the moment of entry into Mexico, to when a durable solution is found. However, it is crucial to work on alternative migratory pathways and other forms of complementary protection to preserve the integrity of the asylum system in such a complex and dynamic context of human mobility. Such dynamics particularly affects refugees and asylum seekers with specific protection needs due to the interaction of different factors related to their profiles, their journey and the conditions in their country of origin.
Over recent years, Mexico has evolved from being a country predominantly of origin and transit for many refugees and asylum-seekers, to also being a country of destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking international protection from within the region and beyond. The exponential growth in the number of asylum applications in Mexico, which reached a historical record of over 130,000 in 2021 and 118,478 in 2022, has posed multiple challenges to its asylum system and to durable solutions, which has already been strained over the past years.
UNHCR Mexico has progressively strengthened its protection response, including registration procedures in proGres, robust case management and identity systems to provide the required protection services, cash-based assistance -when applicable- and other forms of humanitarian assistance, legal and psychosocial interventions, as well as the establishment of community protection networks. The increasing numbers of asylum seekers in Mexico and, therefore of UNHCR assistance, require a solid capacity to provide timely and effective registration procedures and referral pathways to appropriate services in all Field Offices, as well as together with key partners.
The Senior Protection Assistant is a member of the registration team in Mexico City and is supervised by the Registration Officer. The incumbent is responsible for supporting all field units/office with registration related activities, which may also include functions related to reception, filing, data management and the ongoing implementation of UNHCR case management tools. The Senior Protection Assistant liaises with protection staff and partners to ensure timely identification and referral of persons of concern for protection follow up and may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Under the direct supervision of the Registration Officer, the Senior Protection Assistant will perform the following tasks:
• Deliver training on basic principles and standards of registration and identity management to UNHCR staff, government and civil society agencies, contributing to capacity building efforts.
• Support the implementation and adequate use of UNHCR case management tools (PRIMES) to UNHCR field units and UNHCR partners.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of standard operating procedures (SOPs) on a wide range of protection issues including instances of refoulement, legal representation, special procedures on situations involving unaccompanied and separated children, prevention, and responses to SGBV as well as other situations arising from the field.
• Compile relevant information being collected by Field Offices qualitative information obtained through needs and participatory assessments exercises, with emphasis on the protection situation of groups with special needs such as unaccompanied children, the LGBTI, women at risk and survivors of violence.
• Monitor and provide guidance to UNHCR field staff and partners in registration related activities, as required.
• Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
• Weekly/Bi-Weekly analysis and reporting
• Application of UNHCR rules and regulations
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
• Completed high school or its equivalent with certificate / training in international relations, law, social sciences, psychology, political science, communication or other related area.
• Management of MS Office technology.
• Advanced command of the spoken and written English language (Writing skills in Spanish and English)
b. Work Experience
• Minimum 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1-year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations.
• Experience with the refugee population and with data collection through mobile phones or tablets will be an advantage.
Desirable
Experience in working with UNHCR PRIMES software.
c. Key Competencies
• Skills in oral and written communication.
• Ability of working in a team in a multicultural environment.
• Technological awareness.
• Sensitivity to work with asylum seekers and refugees.
• Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data.
• Demonstrated ability to perform in demanding work contexts.
• Ability to adapt to the different trends and needs of the organization.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
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Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo