Associate Protection Officer

This position is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of  the USA.

Applicants must have the US nationality. FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.  
The protection strategy 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 assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches.
Protection incidents are immediately identified and addressed.

Responsibility
Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct, and intervene with authorities in case of violations.
Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application through mainstreaming in all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations.
Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to persons of concern.  
Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
Liaise and lobby with police, immigration and other relevant actors to increase the protection of refugees against trafficking, smuggling and kidnapping
Manage and monitor the sub-agreement with UNHCR's legal implementing partner.
Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities, especially the new case management SOPs.
Oversee and manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
Ensure a safe protection environment for asylum seekers at reception facilities/border points.
Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
Oversee initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
Interact with local authorities, refugee leaders, other UN agencies as well as international and national NGOs;
Supervise local staff.

Authority
Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Managerial competencies
M003:  Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies
X001 Analytical Thinking
X004 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
X007 Political Awareness

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Education: Advanced University degree in International Law, International Relations, Political Science, Social Sciences or related fields of discipline.

Work Experience: Minimum 2 years with advanced University degree of professional work experience relevant to refugee protection work.
Skills: Good drafting, analytical and communication skills.
Languages: Essential: English and working knowledge of another UN language (French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian or Arabic).
Desirable: Arabic

Desirable qualifications
Completion of the Protection Learning Programme, RSD or Resettlement Learning Programme is desirable. The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the manager indicated under `Supervisor title and position number'.  The supervisor will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the JPO. The manager will also ensure that the JPO is provided a thorough induction and orientation briefing, followed by on-the-job training as well as continuous guidance for training/learning opportunities throughout the assignment. In support to the manager, the JPO Unit provides the Supervisory Guidelines upon recruitment/reassignment of the JPO. Mandatory Training Courses:

1. Basic Security in the Field (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
2. Advanced Security in the Field (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
3. Protection Induction Programme (PIP)
4. UN Course on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
5. Orientation to IPSAS

Learning Elements
Case management following SOPs on individual case management.
Formulation of protection policies and procedures.
Project management, including planning, reporting, budgeting and implementation.
Managerial skills. Organisational Context
Since the 1960s, Sudan has been hosting large numbers of refugees from neighbouring countries including Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad.  In February 1974, Sudan acceded to the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol and in November 1978, to the 1969 OAU Convention.  In April 1974, it adopted the Asylum Act which has now been superseded by the 2014 Asylum Act approved in the beginning of the year. The approval of the 2014 Asylum Act represented a landmark development with regard to the legal framework in Sudan. While the new Asylum Act includes a number of provisions which fall short of international standards, particularly with regard to freedom of movement and the procedures for RSD, there are positive developments in terms of specifying refugee¿s rights in the Sudan and the obligation to report all cases of detention and deportation to the attention of the Commissioner for Refugees COR.
Although the majority of refugees in Sudan are residing in camps and rural settlements, some stay in urban locations, primarily Khartoum, Gedaref, Kassala and Port Sudan. Sudan also receives a steady rate of newly arriving asylum seekers, mainly from Eritrea. The new arrivals enter Sudan at the rate of 1000 per month. Eastern Sudan continues to be a destination for some, but the majority of the new arrivals move further onwards, beyond Sudan. Such a movement is often illegal and puts them at a variety of protection risks, including trafficking and kidnappings.  
Based in Girba, the JPO will work mainly with camp-based Eritrean refugees who are the majority (though also with Ethiopian and other refugees). The JPO will be required to undertake regular missions to refugee camps and border reception centres in Eastern Sudan.
Girba is classified as a non-family duty station (E  in the UNHCR system), with a limited level of services, accommodation and facilities.  It is a relatively safe environment.  MORSS compliance is required.  The cost of living is reasonable. UNHCR provides staff accommodation for international staff in Girba. Health facilities are basic and rudimentary and crippled with severe reduction in the government investments in the health sector, however there is a UN designated physician in Kassala and two identified private health facilities that provide health care to UNHCR staff.
All internationally recruited staff benefit from a one week rest and recuperation period every eight weeks.

Living Conditions
Housing- Yes
Health care - No, Medical Referral to Khartoum when needed
Educational facilities - No
Security - Yes
Initially one year with the possibility to extend up to two (2) years.

Grade: P2 step I for the first year. Applications must be received not later than Friday 4 August 2017 (midnight Geneva time)