Details
Mission and objectives
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons and other persons of concern, and to seek durable solutions to their displacement. UNHCR’s operations are guided by international refugee and human rights law and by a strong commitment to accountability to affected popu-lations, age, gender and diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, and community-based protection ap-proaches. In Rwanda, UNHCR works in close collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and refugee and host communities to ensure protec-tion and assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers, primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. The operation focuses on protection delivery, access to basic services, self-reliance, peaceful coexistence with host communities, and preparation for durable solu-tions.
Context
UNHCR Huye Field Office is in the Southern Province of Rwanda. As of 31st March 2026, Huye Field Office currently hosts 27,365 refugees spread across two camps (Kigeme 14,296 and Mugombwa 12,317) hosting refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Huye Urban that hosts 752 Burundian urban refugees. Refugees reside in refugee camps and in host communities within its area of responsibility. UNHCR Huye field office currently works through 7 implementing partners and more than 23 operational partners offering services in the 2 camps, and in the urban area. The Office plays a key role in implementing community-based protection strategies, prevention and response to protection risks, engagement with community structures, and coordination with implementing and operational partners at field level.
Within this context, UNHCR Huye collaborates closely with government counterparts, local authorities, police, social services, NGOs, and community-based organizations to address protection concerns, including child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), support to persons with specific needs, and the strengthening of community resilience and participation. A strong emphasis is placed on meaningful participation of refugees and host communities in decision-making processes that affect their lives. Through this assignment, the UN Volunteer will contribute to enhancing community engagement, strengthening protection networks, and ensuring that the voices and capacities of refugees and host communities meaningfully inform UNHCR programming and advocacy at field level.
Within this context, UNHCR Huye collaborates closely with government counterparts, local authorities, police, social services, NGOs, and community-based organizations to address protection concerns, including child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), support to persons with specific needs, and the strengthening of community resilience and participation. A strong emphasis is placed on meaningful participation of refugees and host communities in decision-making processes that affect their lives. Through this assignment, the UN Volunteer will contribute to enhancing community engagement, strengthening protection networks, and ensuring that the voices and capacities of refugees and host communities meaningfully inform UNHCR programming and advocacy at field level.
Task description
Under the supervision of the Head of Field Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Support the implementation of UNHCR’s Community-Based Protection (CBP) strategy at field level, ensuring meaningful participation of refugees and host communities in protection interventions.
• Support in conducting community outreach, protection monitoring and participatory assessments to identify and analyze protection risks, capacities, and priorities, with particular attention to age, gender and diversity (AGD).
• Support the establishment, strengthening and follow-up of community-based protection structures, including refugee committees, women and youth groups, and protection focal points.
• Assist in the identification, referral and follow-up of persons with specific needs, in coordination with partners and relevant service providers.
• Support prevention and response activities related to GBV, child protection and other protection risks, including awareness-raising and community sensitization.
• Contribute to protection mainstreaming across all sectors by working closely with UNHCR units and implementing partners.
• Participate in coordination meetings with government counterparts, NGOs, community leaders and other stakeholders at local level.
• Support the collection, documentation and analysis of protection data and contribute to situation reports, activity reports and protection updates.
• Support in promoting accountability to affected populations (AAP) by supporting feedback and complaint mechanisms and ensuring community concerns are reported and followed up.
• Support in monitoring protection activities implemented by partners in the field and provide feedback to supervisors.
• Perform any other protection-related duties as required by the supervisor.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.
• Support the implementation of UNHCR’s Community-Based Protection (CBP) strategy at field level, ensuring meaningful participation of refugees and host communities in protection interventions.
• Support in conducting community outreach, protection monitoring and participatory assessments to identify and analyze protection risks, capacities, and priorities, with particular attention to age, gender and diversity (AGD).
• Support the establishment, strengthening and follow-up of community-based protection structures, including refugee committees, women and youth groups, and protection focal points.
• Assist in the identification, referral and follow-up of persons with specific needs, in coordination with partners and relevant service providers.
• Support prevention and response activities related to GBV, child protection and other protection risks, including awareness-raising and community sensitization.
• Contribute to protection mainstreaming across all sectors by working closely with UNHCR units and implementing partners.
• Participate in coordination meetings with government counterparts, NGOs, community leaders and other stakeholders at local level.
• Support the collection, documentation and analysis of protection data and contribute to situation reports, activity reports and protection updates.
• Support in promoting accountability to affected populations (AAP) by supporting feedback and complaint mechanisms and ensuring community concerns are reported and followed up.
• Support in monitoring protection activities implemented by partners in the field and provide feedback to supervisors.
• Perform any other protection-related duties as required by the supervisor.
During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.
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