Protection Officer (Community Based)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Protection Officer (Community-Based)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Protection Officer (Community-based) is a member of the protection team in a Country or Sub-Office and may, depending on the size and structure of the Office, be the Head of the Protection Unit. He/she may report to the Senior Protection Officer, Senior Protection Officer (Community-based), Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff who may include community-based protection, registration, resettlement and other protection staff, such as education, child protection or SGBV staff. He/she provides functional protection oversight to information management and programme staff. The incumbent works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. To fulfil this role the Protection Officer (Community-based) is required to spend a substantial percentage of her/his time working outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern. The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with persons of concern that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results forms the core of the work of the Protection Officer (Community-based). The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in designing a comprehensive community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with persons of concern. S/he provides timely analysis on the protection situation in the field, highlighting important political, social, military and economic developments affecting the protection of persons of concern and the identification of solutions, based upon information obtained through direct communication with persons of concern and a network of local partners. The incumbent plans and undertakes quality, timely and effective responses to the needs of all segments of populations of concern, in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Effective and timely support is provided to the formulation of a clear and coherent protection strategy, which incorporates a thorough age, gender and diversity analysis, identifies the needs and capacities of persons of concern and reflects the Organization¿s global, regional and country level priorities.
- AGD sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities provides the essential basis for all of UNHCR¿s work.
- The country operation has systems and programmes in place to promote and undertake community-based protection actions that address the protection and assistance needs of populations of concern, including community development and cohesion.
- The participation of persons of concern is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches, which inform protection and assistance programming and ensure that UNHCR meets its commitments to accountability to persons of concern.
- National protection capacities are improved through direct engagement, research and advocacy with all relevant external interlocutors.
- Protection incidents and needs are immediately identified and addressed through direct intervention, advocacy and public exposure.

Responsibility
- Be fully informed about community structures and the protection and security situation of the population of concern and develop strong links with a cross-section of members of refugee/IDP/stateless communities, using an AGD approach.
- Through relationships with persons of concern and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to senior management
- Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the persons of concerns are reflected in the protection strategy, planning processes and operations plan 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.
- Ensure through direct action and advocacy with senior management that the necessary resources are allocated to enable community work to identify and address protection and assistance gaps.
- Facilitate a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, child protection, education and SGBV.
- Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners and implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all community-based protection related issues.
- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners guaranteeing that community-owned activities are integrated. 
- Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures
- Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among populations of concern, authorities and host communities.
- Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with persons of concern, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in an AGD-compliant strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations. 
- 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.
- Contribute to ensuring that the Protection team 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 and provide technical advice if necessary. 
- Ensure participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches are included in, strategies and plans  in the country operation.
- Ensure community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
- Support persons of concern to develop structures that enhance their participation and protection.

Authority
- Intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues. Negotiate locally and as appropriate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Approve expenditures under the UNHCR protection budget.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights, International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology,  International Law or other clearly related disciplines
- Minimum 6 years (5 years with graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's)) 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.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of 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 operational experience.
- Good IT skills including database management skills.
- Proven communication skills, both oral and written.
- Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches
- Understanding of and demonstrated competencies in forced displacement and protection, particularly SGBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3

Before applying to this position, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific FAQs information leaflets which can be found  on the Intranet under Staff Resources > Duty of Care. The information leaflets are specifically designed to answer some of the key questions potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. 

The Community Services Officer is expected to provide overall guidance and support to Protection Community Based and Field Assistants. The incumbent of the post has to work closely with the refugee community and different coordination mechanism as well as the authorities and UNHCR¿s operational partners. It is therefore important that the incumbent possesses strong communication skills, written and verbal, strong analysis capacities and community approach. The incumbent should also be to maintain good relations working closely with other agencies and partners in charge of CBP in the camp. This must be complemented by the ability to work with authorities on sensitive issues. The incumbent should possess working experience in community services delivery and extensive knowledge of community services issues and case management such as SGBV/ Child Protection, persons with specific needs and of processes such as AGDM. S/he is expected to have a pro-active and mature attitude, adaptable and flexible, and be able to perform well under less than ideal conditions, both in terms of work and living conditions. Currently around 52,000 Malian refugees are hosted in the Mberra camp in the district of Fassala, in the Department of Bassikounou in Mauritania. UNHCR Sub Office in Bassikounou is located around 18 km from the Camp.
Bassikounou is an isolated village, 1400 KM distant from the capital Nouakchott. Travel between Nouakchott and Bassikounou is possible with UNHAS flights. When flights are not available, travel is done by road by 4X4 vehicles requiring a two to three day travel.
UNHCR staff members are required to travel within the AOR with military escorts.
With respect to profile, special efforts have been made to avoid sending staff of certain nationalities that have been targeted by AQIM and the armed Islamist groups for kidnapping.
. Due to security restrictions, office has established well organized guest house facilities where all international professional staff is required to reside. The guesthouse conditions are acceptable and improvements have been made in 2017. There are no leisure venues in Bassikounou. Bassikounou is classified in E category, non-family duty station.
Sensitive political context could put certain nationalities at risk.
Although there is no official curfew in place, staff is advised not to circulate after dark. The incumbent should also have previous experience in working in emergencies and/or hardship duty stations. Knowledge of French is essential for this post, Arabic is desirable. Good IT skills including protection database management skills including knowledge of progress, BIMS mechanisms or  General Distribution Tools to be able to conduct verification and adjudication on cases especially regarding family composition, secondary movement, vulnerability and assistance provided.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 6 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).