Associate Protection Officer (Gender)

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of The Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to candidates from developing countries. Candidates MUST BE NATIONALS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES FOR THE DUTCH JPO PROGRAMME.
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http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20developing%20countries%20-%202015.pdf

For criteria see the website of Nedworc Foundation: http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl
Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying.

The incumbent will be requested to take on the position by mid-December 2017 the latest. General
In Bangladesh, UNHCR provides protection and essential services for around 30,000 registered refugees from Myanmar. They live in two refugee camps in Cox's Bazar region. The camps represent one of the most protracted refugee situations in the world, with around 60% of residents born in Bangladesh. One of the principal protection issues in the camp is the lack of safety for women, combined with low rates of participation by women in decision making and few opportunities for economic engagement.  An existing conservative culture among the refugee population coupled with years of frustration and hopelessness have contributed to a very high level of sexual and gender based violence in the camps.

UNHCR is dealing with an influx of refugees fleeing from violence in Myanmar including rape and psychological trauma. The incumbent is expected to ensure that systems are in place to address the urgent needs in the camps and also coordinate the response of other agencies outside the camps.

UNHCR has worked during the last 3 years on develop a comprehensive strategy to increase gender equality in the camps, to support better and more evidence based response, empowerment of women and capacity of staff and partners to analyse gender inequalities in camps, design gender responsive interventions, and mainstream gender equality.

Accountability (key results that will be achieved)
- The voice and representation of women in general and female community leaders in existing community management structures have been increased.
- Female refugees feel safer in the camps and are more likely to seek help through camp justice systems and national justice systems.
- Awareness of and support for women's rights, women's equality and women's empowerment have increased among both the male and female refugee population.
- Steps have been taken which are likely to increase mainstreamed gender equality.
- Determine best approaches for the achievement of gender equality in UNHCR's operations.
- Programs and activities in the operation are gender sensitive.

Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)
- Promote and support gender-responsive planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of programmes/projects in UNHCR.
- Perform regular analysis of gender equality and women empowerment issues in the refugee camps, and a comprehensive mapping of existing processes and activities intended to address these issues.
- Support to build on existing refugee women groups capacities.
- Ensure capacity building of all stakeholders to increase awareness about gender equality and women empowerment.
- Guide the development, implementation and monitoring of capacity building that will strengthen women's capacities to participate in improving their situation and having a voice in decision-making, including interventions aimed to create a more enabling environment as well as to build individual or group awareness, skills and knowledge.
- Implement designed activities and strategies to increase the economic empowerment of female refugees, and ensure that all activities include education on women's rights and life skills (such as reproductive health and rights).
- Provide practical guidance and tools on ways to systematically engage men and boys in the promotion of gender equality and in taking an active role in enhancing the protection environment for women and girls.
- Promote and implement activities designed to facilitate outreach to young females and males, to increase awareness of child marriage and adolescent pregnancies, with a strong focus on activities that target young women who face restrictions on their movement.
- Design and facilitate capacity building activities for staff and partners which should include gender equality concepts, engendering information and analysis, good practices for working with and supporting women refugees, and integrating gender equality issues in in strategic planning, design and programming.
- Ensure throughout all activities, a participatory process that involves the refugee community, and UNHCR staff and partners.
- Advocate for effective gender mainstreaming in all UNHCR initiatives and provide technical support at the office on gender issues.
- Promote the broader capacity strengthening of all stakeholders on gender equality and women's empowerment and in relation to their gender-responsive implementation and monitoring of related activities.

Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)

- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of gender mainstreaming in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES, which illustrate behaviours that are essential to achieving deliverables described above, and that are critical to successful performance. All jobs require the staff to abide to the Values and Core competencies of UNHCR.

Code Managerial Competencies              

M001: Empowering and Building Trust
M003: Judgement and Decision Making

Code Cross-Functional Competencies      
X001: Analytical Thinking
X002: Innovation and Creativity
X005: Planning and Organizing

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION:
Undergraduate (equivalent of a BA/BS) degree in Sociology, Anthropology, Gender and Women's Studies, Social Work, Community Development, Political Science, International Relations, International Law, Human Rights, International Development, or related fields.

Part of the candidates' academic training must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the following list of eligible countries of the Dutch JPO Programme.
http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20developing%20countries%20-%202015.pdf


WORK EXPERIENCE:
Minimum 2 and maximum 4 years of relevant professional experience, including internships and voluntary work, preferably in the area of gender equality and refugee protection.
For candidates with a Bachelor, the minimum requirement is 3 years of experience.


SKILLS:
- Knowledge of gender equality and mainstreaming and ability to apply relevant principles in refugee context.
- Strong gender analytical skills.
- Knowledge and skills of programme planning and teambuilding/development.
- Excellent English drafting and communication skills.

LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE
Essential: English, The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the Protection Officer.  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
Please indicate at least 1-2 training courses relevant to the particular JPO function, available through Learn &Connect platform.

The incumbent will have to occasionally design or facilitate the delivery of internal training/capacity building activities organized by UNHCR.  S/he will have access to apply to learning programmes organized by UNHCR¿s Global Learning Centre, including Age, Gender and Diversity approach.


LEARNING ELEMENTS

The incumbent will gain a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of gender equality and women empowerment issues in refugee camp context, including a thorough understanding of UNHCR's protection mandate, standards and procedures.  S/he will strengthen gender analytical skills, as well as will gain a solid understanding and experiences in gender-responsive planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNHCR projects. Background information on Agency.

UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency.
Further information can be found on website:
http://data.unhcr.org/horn-of-africa/country.php?id=65

Information on Living Conditions Cox's Bazaar.

Housing/accommodation: Staff is allowed to reside in only UNDSS cleared accomodations.  UNDSS cleared apartments in Kladoly road and the srounding.  Also staff can rent flats in buildings that have security guards system.  Generally, the housing condition in Cox's Bazar is reasonable. The furniture is simple. AC and heating system are available. The rent is reasonable as well compare with living in a hotel for long time..

Health care: Limited medical facilities are available, which are not up to the international standard.  

Educational facilities: Limited facilities are available, which are not up to the international standard.

Security: Cox's Bazar is a D duty station, and has three-month R&R cycles. As a result of the increasingly precarious security situation in Dhaka in the recent 18 months, as of August 2016, UNCT has agreed to temporarily change the R&R destination to Bangkok, pending the completion of the formal review process at UN HQs. Initially one year with the possibility to extend up to 3 years
P1 step 1 or P2 step 1 in the first year, depending on the level of education and relevant working experience Please note that the closing date for this JPO vacancy is Wednesday 1 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).


For applications, please submit a duly completed Personal History Form (with supplementary page if necessary) and a motivation letter in English.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.