Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA1
Target Start Date2024-07-15
Job Posting End DateJune 18, 2024
Terms of ReferenceTerms of Reference
Associate Protection Officer
Protection Unit
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a UNOPS International within the Protection Unit in our Country Office in Quito.
UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
Title: Associate Protection Officer
Duty Station: Quito, Ecuador
Duration: One year
Contract Type: International-Specialist ICA, Level (P2/IICA-1)
Closing date: 18 June 2024, 17h00 Ecuador Time
(19 June 2024, 00h00 Geneva Time)
Start date: 15 July 2024
Organizational context
Ecuador is a State Party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (since 1955); and its 1967 Protocol (since 1969). Ecuador is a State party to main international and regional human rights instruments recognizing the right to asylum. It is also party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (since 1970), and in 2012 it acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Ecuador is the Latin American country hosting the largest refugee population in the region. According to statistics provided by the Refugee Directorate, more than 230,000 people have sought protection and some 65,000 have been recognized as refugees. The vast majority of the refugees in Ecuador is Colombians. With regard to Venezuelans, Ecuador is now the third destination country in South America behind Colombia and Peru: according to Migration authorities, up to 400,000 Venezuelans are estimated to be living in the country, and it is the second country in terms of providing other forms of legal stay.. It is also a transit country. Venezuelans remaining in Ecuador are essentially urban: 45% of them have settled in Quito, some 20% in Guayaquil, followed by Manta, Cuenca and Ibarra, followed by Ambato, Santo Domingo, Quevedo, Latacunga and Riobamba, as well as Machala and Huaquillas town.
UNHCR supports the work of the national asylum authorities by providing technical advice and financial support, regular training and capacity-building support to ensure the implementation of fair and efficient refugee status determination procedures. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, more than 7,000 individuals (most of them Colombians) have been recognized as refugees and the number of asylum-claims has significantly increased in the past few years, generating an increasing number of pending cases.
While UNHCR considers the overall protection climate in Ecuador as favorable (mainly in view of government policies and stated commitments that allow refugees access to documentation, public services and the labor-market, thus paving their way towards local integration), challenges persist as actual access to services is often hindered by bureaucratic obstacles, and refugees encounter instances of xenophobia and discrimination in day to day interactions with the local population as well as local authorities. It is of concern that, even after a change of government position from systematically rejecting Venezuelan asylum-seekers to a rate of admissibility to the RSD procedure of over 60%, many Venezuelans still report difficulties to access asylum (e.g. even to enter the MFA building), “encouragement” or even threats to opt for residence permits, and ill-treatment by asylum officers.
Restrictions on access to the territory for Venezuelans (visa requirement imposed in 2019) require the presence of UNHCR at border areas to ensure persons in need of international protection are identified, their access to the territory ensured, and cases referred to the asylum system. Additionally, cuts in government spending have resulted in a reduction of RSD personnel and local asylum offices, potentially reducing access to asylum and creating increasing delays and backlog.
The International Protection Directorate (asylum authority) in Ecuador has recognized the challenges faced by the asylum system in Ecuador and the need to continue with the implementation of the Quality Assurance Initiative QAI. Therefore, it is necessary to hire the services of a consultant with vast experience in asylum, statelessness, refugee status determination procedures and Human Rights law and practice, in order to strengthen the government´s capacities and uphold an efficient and fair asylum system, in line with international standards.
The position
The Associate Protection Officer is directly supervised by the Senior Protection Officer, while receiving guidance from relevant protection / coordination staff at national level.
Duties and responsibilities
The incumbent is expected to perform the following activities:
• In coordination with UNHCR and the International Protection Directorate, execute all activities related to the implementation of QAI in Ecuador.
• Coordinate working meetings with the International Protection Directorate to plan and follow up on the implementation of QAI diagnostic phases in Ecuador.
• Provide technical support to International Protection Directorate in the development and implementation of a case management strategy and the analysis of cases of refugees and stateless persons.
• Promote technical support and information sharing between UNHCR and the International Protection Directorate to facilitate and solve enquiries, sharing good practices and guaranteeing the application of International Refugee and Statelessness Law and International Human Rights Law.
• Support the strengthening of skills of the International Protection Directorate staff through: a) the identification of training needs; b) participation and contribution to the training program about refugee, statelessness and other relevant issues agreed with the Under-Secretary International Protection; c) analysis and discussion of complex cases through regular meetings with eligibility officers and/or commissioners; d) elaboration and/or revision of protocols and/or procedural guidelines; e) participation, as observer, in meetings held by Ecuador’s Refugee Status Determination Commission.
• Provide technical support to the International Protection Directorate for the development of the regulation for the Human Mobility Law, its complementary norms and current reform process.
• Establish a reference and counter-reference mechanism of cases between the International Protection Directorate, other state institutions and UNHCR and its partners, with the ultimate aim of supporting the search of durable solutions for the refugee population.
• Collaborate in the implementation of PRIMES by providing technical support for the registration strategy, by drafting a registration manual and facilitate training sessions on registration.
Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required
- 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1-year relevant experience with Doctorate degree;
- Good experience in undertaking and managing RSD and asylum systems;
- Knowledge/experience in the region is mandatory;
- Strong knowledge and experience in developing and providing training on RSD and other protection-related issues;
- Good communication skill, both internal and external ;
- Working level of English and Spanish language speaking and drafting skills are essential;
- Good knowledge of Microsoft programmes, such as Word, Excel, Power Point, database system;
- Solid knowledge of protection principles and issues including UNHCR engagement in RSD and strengthening of asylum systems;
- Solid analytical skills and sound judgement in interaction with both persons of concern and partners, particularly when engaging in sensitive situations;
- Knowledge of / experience in statelessness situations would be an asset;
- Excellent analytical, communication and inter-personal skills, including facilitation of trainings and internal coaching;
- Good knowledge of UNHCR’s programmes and protection matters;
- Political awareness and sensitivity;
- Flexibility and adaptability, particularly in time of emergency and changing working environment;
- Orientation towards solutions and actions;
- Ability to work in a team but also in independence;
- Upholding of team spirits and peaceful working environment.
Location
The successful candidate will be based in Quito, Ecuador.
Conditions
- The position is for 1-year and the start date is 15 July 2024. It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 08h30 to 17h30 Monday to Friday (40 hours per week).
- English and Spanish language is mandatory (B2 level)
- A technical test will be administered to the shortlisted candidates.
To apply
“Individuals cannot be hired under an international individual contract in the country of their
nationality or permanent residence. Furthermore, a local individual contract holder cannot be
hired under an international individual contract in the same country and an international individual contract holder cannot be hired under a local individual contract in the same country.”. (parapgraph 60, Administrative Instruction on Managing Affiliate Workforce, 24 April 2024).
If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your application according to the following instructions:
Submit your application through UNHCR's official site for applications: https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html.
Or:
(www.unchr.org / careers / vacancies / Ecuador / IICA Assoc. Protection Officer, Quito)
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 recommended candidate(s) will be required to provide the proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.
CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Associate Protection Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.
The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that persons of concern are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of persons of concern. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.
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
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application through mainstreaming in all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to persons of concern.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for persons of concern in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan.
- Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities which integrate AGD sensitive procedures.
- Oversee and manage individual protection cases, including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern.
- Participate in the organisation and implementation of participatory assessments and methodologies throughout the operations management cycle and promote AGD sensitive programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Promote and integrate community-based approaches to protection and contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Support activities in the area of risk management related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, fraud, case-processing, data protection, and human rights due diligence at country level.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
- Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- 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 P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law, International Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
Desirable
Field experience, including in working directly with communities. Good IT skills including database management skills.
Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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.
,Spanish
,
,
,
SkillsCO-Drafting and Documentation, MG-Project Management, PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo