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 role is to act as a critical interface between UNHCR and communities of concern, providing an AGD sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities to all UNHCR work in a given country context.

Previous experience on and knowledge of refugee populations;
-Demonstrated drafting skills in English. Preferred knowledge of French and Arabic will be desirable;
-Previous experience serving as a Protection Officer (Community Based);
-Demonstrated ability to manage a team and coordinate with other partners;
-Sensitive political context requires ability to work collaboratively with Sahrawi Authority;
-Consensus team-building and cultural sensitivity needed;
-Ability to provide on-the-job coaching and mentoring of staff;
-Ability to come up with innovative and creative solutions to field challenges.
-Psychological maturity to deal with hardship conditions The operation context for UNHCR activities in Tindouf is characterized by the protracted situation of the Saharawi refugee community living in five camps near Tindouf.
-UNHCR continues to provide protection and undertake activities in care and maintenance to 90,000 most vulnerable Sahrawis living in five camps in the Tindouf region pending a durable solution to their plight. The Algerian Government and Sahrawi Authorities are responsible for area security and management both in camps and surrounding areas. Tindouf is a town located in the Tindouf Wilaya (sub administrative unit) in the south-west of Algeria with an approximate population of 50,000. It is 1,700 km away from Algiers.
-Tindouf town is ¿E¿ category, security level 3 (moderate), and non-family duty station;
-No recreational or leisure facility in Tindouf;
-Health facilities are limited in Tindouf;
-Local banking facilities available in Tindouf and you can open dollar account but there is no transfer services:
-Birth certificate required when opening bank account
-Credit card facilities not available:
-International Staff are renting houses/apartments for living;
-Weather is extreme hot and dry desert environment during summer and cold during winter
-Tindouf is connected to Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with nearly daily flights operated by Algerian Airlines. -Tindouf is security level 3 (moderate) duty station. There is an official curfew in place, starting from midnight until 0600 hrs. Tindouf is a military zone area. Daily escort is still applicable to go to the camps and airport movements With respect to competence and work experience, the Protection Officer (Community Based) is expected to provide overall guidance and support to the Protection Unit.
Capacities to conduct training's on protection guiding principles and other related materials/reporting issues are also essential. Teamwork and interpersonal skills are also necessary. .

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