Protection Officer (SGBV)

Protection Officer (SGBV)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The incumbent of this post is expected to, in accordance with international and national laws, as well as with the Global Strategic priorities and the national protection and SGBV strategies, establish/design, direct and guide appropriate, culturally sensitive and locally adaptable initiatives to prevent and respond to SGBV within the Operation.  S/he is expected to work closely with international and national colleagues, all relevant stakeholders including protection partners, government and members of the surrounding communities. The incumbent will perform her/his functions in close consultation and coordination with other members of the Protection team under the overall supervision of the Senior Protection Officer. S/he will also be expected to not only lead the monitoring team to ensure that project implementation is in accordance with signed Project Partnership Agreements (PPA), but also support in building the capacities of national colleagues including partners in order to enhance their effective and efficient prevention and response to SGBV within the Operation.   S/he will be responsible for leading the SGBV sub-working groups in Kibondo and Kasulu.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- The protection needs, in particular SGBV, of populations of concern are met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles. 
- The operation has a clear and coherent comprehensive protection strategy which incorporates a thorough age, gender and diversity (AGD) analysis and reflects the Organization¿s global, regional and country level priorities.
- The participation of persons of concern is ensured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches.
- National protection capacities are improved through direct engagement and advocacy with all relevant internal and external interlocutors.
- Protection incidents, with emphasis on SGBV, are immediately identified and addressed through established mechanism at all refugee camps.

Responsibility
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment, in particular SGBV.
- Facilitate a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern in the implementation of the comprehensive protection strategy in order to addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS; Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
- Support senior management to ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
- Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct and ensure that all sectors fulfil their responsibilities mainstreaming protection.
- Implement and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
- Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues.
- Oversee and manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and ensure the establishment and effective functioning of referral pathway at all camps.
- Provide legal advice, guidance and close monitoring on protection issues, with emphasis on SGBV and related matters, in order to enhance the protection of persons of concerns.
- Promote and implement effective measures to identify, prevent and reduce SGBV and child protection incidents. Develop and implement a country-level SGBV and child protection plan as part of the protection strategy ensuring programmes use a SGBV and child protection systems approach.
- Monitor and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through good working relations with governments and other partners.   
- Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. 
- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial partners.
- Ensure that the Protection Sector has an effective information management component which: provides disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery. 
- Build the protection capacity of national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to enable them to assert their fundamental human rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and civil society to strengthen legislation and status regarding SGBV and related issues.

Authority
- Adapt the established national protection strategy in the implementation of all SGBV and related activities including protection mainstreaming.
- Chair protection coordination meetings on SGBV and related activities including 16 Days of Activism against violence against women/children.
- Intervene with authorities on SGBV and related issues including cases deserving resettlement on protection grounds.
- Take review decisions on individual cases.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Approve relevant expenditures under the UNHCR protection budget.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED=
- Advanced university degree in Law, International Law, Political Sciences or related field with good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law. 
- Minimum 6 years (8 years with university degree) relevant professional experience of which 2 years in the field and 3 years in an international capacity.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Diverse field experience.
- Very good knowledge and experience in prevention and response to SGBV and related issues.
- Good IT skills including database management for individual case management.
- Completion of the Protection Learning Programme, RSD - Resettlement Learning Programme.