Protection Assistant

UNHCR’s main objectives in Poland are to monitor access to territory and reception conditions as well as advocate for an efficient and protection-sensitive asylum system and related policies. UNHCR also aims to improve durable solutions such as local integration opportunities and increase public awareness of refugees and asylum issues. UNHCR works closely with both governmental and non-governmental organisations in Poland to achieve these objectives.

Poland’s eastern borders with Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine serve as the European Union’s external boundaries. Poland currently hosts over one million registered refugees. Among them, approximately 12% originate from temporarily occupied territories in the East of Ukraine, where forces of the Russian Federation are present. Poland is also home to approximately 600,000 Ukrainians who arrived before 24 February 2022, holding various forms of legal status and who are unable to return to Ukraine due to the ongoing war, pushing the total number of Ukrainians in Poland to over 1.6 million persons. Women and children continue to represent the majority of refugees in Poland, accounting for approximately 80% of the refugee population.

UNHCR has been in Poland for 30 years (since 1992), working with national authorities on refugee-related matters. With the Ukraine emergency, UNHCR has substantially scaled up its presence and operations. It currently has a Country Office with a workforce of about 40 national and international staff.

In line with the strategic priorities of the Refugee Response Plan (RRP), as endorsed by the Government of Poland, UNHCR Poland aims to build the human capital of Ukrainian refugees by ensuring refugees’ effective access to asylum, legal status and the rights that follow, facilitating access to, and supporting, national social protection systems and through reinforcing economic inclusion and self-reliance.

UNHCR works closely with the Polish authorities to facilitate access to the national social protection system, including social welfare services, education, healthcare, mental health and psycho-social support, and special assistance for the most vulnerable refugees — for example, at-risk single women, children, persons with disabilities and older refugees. UNHCR also provides technical and policy advice to ensure systems are accessible to refugees, while promoting inclusive legislative via our legal work and senior-level advocacy. Access to national social protection systems is more than a safety net for the most vulnerable. When refugees can access healthcare, childcare, social benefits, and housing support in Poland, they are better equipped to rebuild their lives, and contribute to the local economy, and eventually to Ukraine when return is feasible.

Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer, the Protection Assistant will:

• Provide technical support on the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees in national social protection programmes, and on aligning UNHCR assistance with these programmes, working closely with Multi-Functional Teams to translate this into planning in line with UNHCR procedures.
• Support the social protection team in liaising with local authorities (e.g. voivodes, municipalities, social protection institutions) to advance the alignment and transition of assistance to government-led social protection programmes.
• Support the implementation of UNHCR social protection partnerships with local NGOs through monitoring activities and field visits.
• Update social protection roadmaps, fact sheets, guidance notes, and other relevant tools and documentation.
• Support engagement with academic institutions and research initiatives to strengthen the evidence base of UNHCR and external stakeholders regarding the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees in social protection programmes.
• Organize social protection–related knowledge management, learning, and capacity-building activities, including trainings and learning events.
• Support advocacy efforts for inclusive and sustainable social protection systems.
• Support the organization of donor visits (social protection related).
• Perform any other related duties as required or assigned by the supervisor.