Assc Protection Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the IOM-FOM issued for this Compendium / Fast Track exercise, as well as the  Revised Policy and Procedures on Assignments (UNHCR/HCP/2015/2 refers). Associate Protection Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community services, registration, resettlement and education. He/she provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff; and supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. He/she contributes in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and in representing the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. He/she also ensures that persons of concern are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

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.
- 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.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for persons of concern in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles. 
- Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan.
- Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- 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.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern.
- 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 and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems. 
- 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.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Education: University degree in Law, International Law, political Sciences or related field.
- Job Experience: Minimum 4 years (2 years with Advanced University degree) relevant professional experience.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

***For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Diverse field experience desirable.
- Good IT skills including database management skills.
- Completion of the Protection Learning Programme, RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme. C001L2 - Accountability Level 2
C002L2 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 2
C003L2 - Communication Level 2
C004L2 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 2
C005L2 - Client & Result Orientation Level 2
C006L2 - Organizational Awareness Level 2
M003L2 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 2
X001L2 - Analytical Thinking Level 2
X004L2 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 2
X007L2 - Political Awareness Level 2 The Associate Protection Officer oversees a wide array of operational responsibilities, some of which would be covered by separate units in other operations. These include: Community services, resettlement, RSD screening, documentation, detention, SGBV, child protection, education, peaceful co-existence, and  capacity building. The unit also works in concert with the registration unit.

Given the considerable and diverse work load, it is important that the applicant be motivated, hard-working, organized and fluent in French (written and spoken), as all communications within the office and with external partners such as Government and humanitarian agencies are conducted in French. Working knowledge in English, especially written, is also required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English.

The incumbent directly supervises general service staff.

Given the considerable and diverse work load, it is important that the applicant be motivated, hard-working, organized and fluent in French (written and spoken), as all communications within the office and with external partners such as Government and humanitarian agencies are conducted in French. Working knowledge in English, especially written, is also required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English.

The incumbent directly supervises general service staff. Since the beginning of 2013, insecurity in Northern Nigeria and clashes between Nigerian forces and Boko Haram have caused the displacement and the arrival of refugees and returnees in Northwestern Chad.
In 2015 alone, over 14,000 Nigerian refugees have arrived in the Lake Chad areas such as in Ngouboua and Bagasola, located 450 kms north-west of the Chadian capital N¿djamena. Out of that figure, 7,783 refugees have been registered by UNHCR and the gouvernemental Commission Nationale d¿Accueil, et de Réinsertion des Réfugiés et des Rapatriés (CNARR).  Refugees continue to arrive in Chad even though at a much slower rate, a sharp decrease in comparison with an average of 1,085 persons daily during the week of 5-12 January.  In total, 17,567 have arrived in Chad since May 2013, among them, 93 unaccompanied children have been identified and placed in foster families while waiting to be reunited with their owns
The relocation of some 2,000 refugees who were stranded on the Lake Chad¿s islands of Koulfoua and Kangalam to the newly opened site of Dar Es Salam, near Bagasola, is continuing. The site, which presently hosts 1,594 persons and is located 70 kms away from the border with Nigeria. The remaining refugees are hosted in some communities, while others are scattered in various islands.
UNHCR Chad is reinforcing its field presence in Bagasola, in order to cover the entire Lake Region. Various colleagues assigned to the Chad Operation and covering protection, community services, registration, field and programme related functions have been temporarily deployed to Bagasola. Working and living conditions are difficult and challenging. Basic amenities and recreational outlets are extremely limited. Freedom of movement in town is restricted.  Average temperatures during the dry season routinely reach 40 C. Staff housing is comprised of small, self-contained, pre-fabricated units. For a period of six months, during the rainy season, accessibility becomes logistically suspended in many areas. And, due to a lack of adequate medical facilities, minor illnesses often require evacuation to the capitol city for treatment.
R&R cycle 6 weeks. Security briefing and mandatory training are essentials. Working knowledge in English, especially written, is also required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English.
Geographical and gender diversity is welcome

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add. 3 to March 2017 Compendium is Thursday, 3 August 2017 (midnight Geneva time).