Protection Assistant

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

E (most hardship)Non Family with Residential LocationUNOPS IICA42024-06-01April 28, 20241. Operational Context
There is a growing humanitarian needs in Tigray region driven by the two-year conflict, compounded by food insecurity and climate effects, while limited humanitarian resources are major obstacles to protection. The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Ethiopia targets approx. 12.2 million people with humanitarian assistance in the three Northern regions. By June 2023, this figure had increased to 12.7 million people with 5.6 million in Tigray, 5.9 million in Amhara and 1.2 million in Afar. Those targeted for response by humanitarian partners include displaced populations, with at least 2.5 million people fleeing their homes in northern Ethiopia in the past two years.

In addition to causing widespread internal displacement, over 60,000 Ethiopians have been forced to seek refuge in neighboring Sudan as a result of the Tigray conflict. The conflict also impacted the Eritrean refugee operation as camp-based refugees hosted in Tigray region faced additional displacement and were compelled to relocate to other locations across the country. The violence of the conflict greatly altered the landscape of refugee protection, with some voluntarily relocating to Amhara and Addis Ababa, where Refugees and Returnees Services (RRS), regional governments, and UNHCR and partners continued to provide protection and assistance, to respond to the needs of the displaced refugees. As of July 2023, approx. 7,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers reside in Tigray region in an urban like settings. Due to the stability created by the peace process, UNHCR and humanitarian partners are making efforts to support the displaced persons to access durable solutions to their displacement.

As of October 2023, more than 594,792 IDPs in Shire remain in the collective sites. Lack of resources has impacted relocation and options for solutions for IDPs to vacate the schools which are used as temporary shelters. The majority of the displaced persons (both refugees and IDPs) are living within host communities and mainly urban areas requiring sustainable solutions for housing, health, education, livelihoods and employment. Many remain vulnerable and have suffered trauma related to the displacement, including exposure to protection risks. Limited resources make it challenges humanitarian partners’ ability to establish and sustain adequate [minimum standards] level of response and services.
The protection environment for Eritrean refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs and returnees (from sudan) remains favorable. The Protection Assistant will be based in Shire Field office supporting and providing protection activities to the People’s We Serve within Shire AoR.
The Protection Assistant will monitor 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 Protection Assistant is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of the People’s We Serve and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. The Protection Assistant also ensures that People’s We Serve are involved with the Office 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.
In order to be successful in this task, the incumbent should be structured and organized, have high integrity, and take responsibility of her/his own work. S/he should be a team player and able to work with minimum supervision based on an established Standard Operating Procedure, action plan and directives from the supervisor or senior protection staff to deliver concrete results. Previous work experience in refugee and IDP protection or registration activities, as well as previous work experience with humanitarian organizations and UN would be desirable. The incumbent should be fluent in English and Tigrigna fluency would be desirable.

2. Desired candidate Profile
knowledge of UNHCR protection policies, methodologies, and operational applications
- Knowledge of UNHCR ProGress V4 registration
- Ability to work effectively in a team and contribute positively to the development of that team.
- Strong networking and coordination skills
- Fluency in English and Tigrigna languages are desirable

 

Standard Job Description

Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent provides functional and administrative support to the protection unit on protection related liaison, correspondence, monitoring, case management and reporting activities.

The Protection Assistant also supports the protection unit in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to persons of concern (PoC). S/he may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on correspondence and/or protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Assistant also facilitates the involvement of PoC 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.
- Observe and respect protection related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Provide functional and administrative support in all protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Provide functional and administrative support in implementing participatory approaches, needs assessments, monitoring, reporting and case management.
- Support assessments on durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents.
- Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- 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
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
Protection
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential: Not specified.
Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
IT-Computer Literacy
(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.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Education

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program Statelessness - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Thematic Protection Learning Program - UNHCR

Other information

An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by competency-based interview.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No