UN Youth Volunteer in Community-Based Protection

Details

Mission and objectives

UNHCR in Ecuador aims at the delivery of protection, assistance and solutions to a variety of persons of concern to UNHCR such as asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless persons, in partnership and close collaboration with national authorities as well as non-governmental organizations and local communities. Related activities often need to be implemented within short timeframes and at times with relatively little resources in a demanding operational environment. The operation is coordinated at the national level by the national branch office in Quito. In addition, UNHCR has field offices in Quito (Solanda), Ambato, Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Huaquillas, Cuenca, Ibarra, Tulcán, and Lago Agrio. Since 2000, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, works in Ecuador to protect and assist the largest population of recognized refugees (mainly Colombians) in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2016, more than five million Venezuelans have left their country. Of them, 2.2 million have entered Ecuador, of whom almost 400,000 are estimated to be staying in the country. At the time of writing, Venezuelans continue to cross the Ecuadorian-Colombian border.

Context

The Assistant Community-Based Protection will support the daily work of the community-based protection team in providing direct protection services to Colombian and Venezuelan arrivals. This includes support for registration interviews and assessments of specific protection needs. Support for delivery of workshops on prevention of GBV, reduction of discrimination and xenophobia, new masculinities, inclusion in education, and child protection. The IUNV will also support in provision of humanitarian assistance including NFIs, protection information, as needed. Conduct regular missions to rural communities to support UNHCR protection activities. Participate in inter-agency coordination meetings and partner activities. Support in the development of Communication with Communities products.

Task description

In order to carry out this work, the UN Volunteer will be properly trained both formally, through available workshops, seminars, e-Learning platforms; and informally through on-the-job training, intensive coaching/mentoring, shadowing other colleagues to familiarize his/herself with the relevant global and local policy and procedures related to community based protection activities. The UN Volunteer will be closely supervised by both senior and middle level management within the unit and it is expected that within a few months s/he will have the necessary skills to carry out many of the daily tasks with limited guidance. Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office Ibarra, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Assist in organizing access to health and HIV prevention activities. • Participate in monitoring access to education activities. • Support in the implementation of workshops on gender equality, prevention of GBV, child protection, discrimination and xenophobia, and inclusion in education. • Support mobile protection missions, and registration and identification of special needs of families. • Support other colleagues to familiarize his/herself with the relevant global and local policy and procedures related to Community Based Protection activities. • Support in the development of Communications with Communities products. • Contribute to inter-agency coordination meetings, events, and reports. • Support in reporting, data and information management efforts. • Support with referrals to NGOs and government services.