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Association Protection Officer

Islamabad

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Islamabad
  • Grade: Junior level - P-2, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Legal - Broad
    • Legal - International Law
    • Human Rights
    • Civil Society and Local governance
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
    • Animal Health and Veterinary
  • Closing Date: Closed

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 law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. Support the development of national law and policies that are in conformity with
        international law and standards.
- 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.
- Assist in carrying out voluntary repatriation & cross -border coordination activities to support voluntary repatriation  of persons of concern in safety and with dignity.
- Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Carry out advocacy activities on birth registration through developing birth registration leaflets and other mass information materials as well as strengthening partnerships on birth registration nation-wide.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Develop, implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and operational guidance notes for all protection/solutions activities.
- Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial partners.
- Contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.

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 and operational guidance notes.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Managerial Competencies
M003 Judgement and Decision Making
M006 Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies
X001 Analytical Thinking
X004 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
X005 Planning and Organizing

QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Education
Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Law, Public International Law, Political or Social Science, International Relations, or related discipline.

Work Experience
Minimum 2 years with advanced University degree of professional working experience in refugee protection or refugee related area.

Skills

Good drafting skills.
Good IT skills including database management skills.

Language
Essential: English and working knowledge of another UN Language (French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian or Arabic). 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

Recommended Training Courses
Participation in relevant standard or specialized courses and/or workshops organized by UNHCR or other agencies in country or region, as available.

Learning Elements
The incumbent will complete several obligatory induction courses on international protection, prevention of harassment in workplace, Basic and Advanced Security in the Field, in case he/she has not undertaken the courses before. A specific three-day course on Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE) is also mandatory upon arrival to Pakistan.

Under the guidance of the Senior Protection Officer, coaching and on-the-job training will be the basis for the majority of the learning. The incumbent will also be expected to diligently study policy and procedural documents (self-study) in order to further familiarize him- or herself with UNHCR's mandate and protection standards. Organisational Context
The Pakistan operation covers the full range of UNHCR's core mandate responsibilities in a complex, sensitive and multi-faceted environment. The Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) for the largest protracted refugee caseload globally (1.5 million registered Afghan refugees) serves as the main platform for the implementation of the three strategic priorities for the 2015-2017 UNHCR operation in Pakistan (Solutions; Protection and Assistance; Partnerships and Cooperation).
During the second half of 2016, UNHCR Pakistan facilitated the largest repatriation movement in recent years with over 380,000 Afghan refugees returning home.  This sudden movement required a quick upscaling of activities and skills to meet the demand and required the operation to switch direction somewhat and spend increased resources on different aspects of return, from scheduling to addressing extortion and fraud to ensuring births were registered and that mass information campaigns were correct and reaching the population.  It is anticipated that similar numbers of Afghans may return in 2017 and UNHCR needs to be ready to respond.  As such, work is underway to prepare for another large scale return and constant reporting and monitoring will be needed. 
In June 2016, the Pakistan operation decided to move away from individual case processing of Afghan refugees to increased urban outreach and community-based protection.  As such, the operation is undergoing a transformative shift in how we manage protection work, the means in which protection issues are identified and addressed and the network of partners and service providers who can help to meet the  identified needs.  Important foundational steps will form the basis of the work in 2017 with a focus on mapping of vulnerabilities and possible service providers or referral partners; enhancement of existing referral networks and building new partnerships in areas to meet needs and capacity development for both staff and partners.  
As well, in the absence of a national refugee law and a government driven RSD procedure, UNHCR Pakistan will continue to conduct RSD under its mandate for non-Afghan asylum-seekers. 

Living Conditions
Housing
Guest Houses: The Country Office will help arrange initial accommodation, at the expense of the post incumbent. For this purpose, the settling-in grant is foreseen. Most of the guest houses in Islamabad are aimed at internationals and offer a good level of comfort with air-conditioned rooms and en-suite bathrooms. Average cost is USD 50 to 80 per night.

Permanent Accommodation: International Staff are required to reside in a MORSS compliant residence. Secure and comfortable accommodation can be found in Islamabad, but cost will generally depend on distance from the city centre and number of rooms. Sharing an accommodation with another international colleague is also possible. Rent may start from US$ 800 onward. Power outages are frequent and installation of electricity generator is required as per MORSS. Generally there is no water shortage in Islamabad.

Health care
State of the art health facilities are available throughout the country and especially Islamabad. Dental care facilities are also available. Polio vaccine is mandatory to travel to Pakistan. Currently dengue fever is on the rise in Pakistan especially in Punjab. Mosquito repellents are recommended.

Educational facilities
Islamabad has good colleges and Universities offering different courses up to the PHD level.

Security
Pakistan is a non-family duty station and is currently under Security Phase 4 and 5. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas which should be applied at least 2 weeks in advance. Petty crimes and muggings are fairly common though less in Islamabad. Common sense is to be used. Registration with the embassy of the incumbent's home country is highly recommended

Other
Money/Banking: Current US dollar exchange rate is 1 USD = PKR 105. In order to receive payments locally, Finance unit will help you open a bank account with Standard Chartered Bank. This will be a paired account where you can use it both for US dollar as well as Pak Rupee. ATM machines can be found throughout the country.
Telecommunications: There is one major fixed line provider (PTCL) and 5 cellular companies (Mobilink, Ufone, Telenor, Warid and Zong). Call rates vary but are extremely cheap for some Western countries. All cellular operators in Pakistan use GSM platform. Internet services are easily available at reasonable rates wither through fixed lines or USB dongles.
Diet, Food and Water: Most staple foods can be found in the markets, including rice, meat, vegetables, cooking oil, salt and sugar. There are many local markets around Islamabad as well as various supermarkets that are stocked with imported goods. Islamabad has a large number of restaurants and cafes. There is a variety of food ranging from Western to South Asian fare. You can also find several local dhabas with less expensive meals. The price range for a meal can range from $3 to $20+. Tap water is not advisable and bottled water is available almost everywhere. Using alcoholic drinks in public is illegal in Pakistan.
Climate: The climate is generally characterized by hot summers and cool or cold winters. From June to September, most of the country is lashed by the South West Monsoon, which leads to heavy rainfall and high humidity. Islamabad has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers accompanied by a monsoon season followed by fairly cold winters. The hottest months are May and June, where average highs routinely exceed 38 °C (100.4 °F).

Security: Pakistan is a non-family duty station and is currently under Security Phase 4 and 5. A NOC is required to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas which should be applied at least 2 weeks in advance. Petty crimes and muggings are fairly common though less in Islamabad. Use common sense. Registration with home embassy is highly recommended.
Respect: Pakistan is a conservative country and it is advisable for women to wear long skirts or trousers in public (Pakistani women wear the traditional shalwar kameez, but in the big cities, women wearing jeans and khakis is not very uncommon sight, especially in casual settings, shopping malls and around picnic spots). Dress codes for men are more lax, though shorts are uncommon. Men should never shake hands with or touch a woman they don't know very well. As with most of South Asia, the right hand is used for eating, shaking hands and giving or receiving everything (including money), while the left hand is reserved for handling shoes and assisting in toilet duties. Discussion about religion and Islam should remain respectful and positive.
Transport: The International staff can drive purchased or rented vehicle if they have a valid International driving license. Pakistan has a right hand driving style.
Taxi's are also available for moving around. UAE based cab service Careem is working in Islamabad while UBER has started its operation in Lahore (another famous city of Pakistan) and they might soon start in Islamabad as well. 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 no later than Friday 4 August 2017 (midnight Geneva time).
This vacancy is now closed.
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