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Deputy Regional Representative (Protection)

Pretoria

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Pretoria
  • Grade: Senior Executive level - D-1, Director - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
  • Closing Date: Closed

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.

Deputy Regional Representative (Protection)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Deputy Regional Representative (Protection) is the senior protection manager in a Country Office/Region and reports to the Representative at D2 level. A member of the senior management team, the incumbent has direct or reviewing supervisory responsibility for protection staff who may include community services, registration, resettlement, RSD, mixed migration and statelessness. The incumbent has country/regional-wide functional supervisory responsibility for all regional protection staff and provides protection oversight and guidance to regional protection staff, including Country Representatives and programme management functions.   

The Deputy Regional Representative (Protection) transposes UNHCR¿s Global Strategic Priorities into a comprehensive protection strategy adapted to the regional context. He/she is guardian of protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at country/regional level and represents UNHCR to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine.

The Deputy Regional Representative (Protection) is relied upon by the Office to plan, manage and guide regional and country-wide protection delivery to populations of concern and to promote and gain support for UNHCR¿s protection agenda internally and externally. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. He/she ensures that persons and communities of concern are involved with the office in making decisions that affect them and that their interests are effectively represented to authorities, protection and assistance partners and to the broad network of donors and stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

The Deputy Regional Representative (Protection) oversees UNHCR¿s Protection Mandate in the region and is at the forefront of strengthening relations with key stakeholders including donors and resettlement countries with the aim of furthering durable solutions initiatives in the region.  The incumbent participates in the annual programme planning for the region and contributes to the COP process.

The Deputy Regional Representative (Protection) is relied upon by the office, to advocate for accessions, removal of reservations to conventions and drafting of legal frameworks/domestication of Refugee Conventions in the region, including in the Indian Ocean countries.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- The protection framework in the country/region ensures availability and quality of asylum, operating systems and search for solutions for all categories of persons of concern.
- The protection needs of populations of concern are met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/HCR protection standards and IASC principles governing humanitarian coordination.
- The region has a clear and coherent comprehensive protection strategy which 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.
- Timely and effective protection needs and risk assessment inform planning, prioritization, implementation, reporting and evaluation of protection delivery.
- Specific challenges to persons of concern in the areas of child protection, the prevention and response to SGBV and access to and enjoyment of education are effectively addressed.
- Sufficient internal financial and human resources are allocated to meet prioritized protection needs.
- National protection capacities are improved through direct engagement, research and advocacy with all relevant external interlocutors.
- Instances of refoulement of refugees, forced return of IDPs, arbitrary deprivation of nationality resulting in statelessness and other protection incidents are immediately identified and addressed through direct intervention, advocacy and/or public exposure.
- UNHCR's policies and standards are applied consistently within the country/regional operation to meet/achieve quality protection for PoCs.
- Integrity in the delivery of protection services is assured by protection staff.

Responsibility
- Advocate for and support governments in the development and maintenance of an international Protection regime, that priority is given to preserving the asylum space through effective implementation of the 1951 convention and its 1967 protocol and related instruments, and regional standards.
- Provide legal protection advice and guidance on matters of doctrine and policy to Regional Representative, the Heads of Offices and protection staff in the sub-region.
- Advance durable solutions for refugees through monitoring the comprehensive solutions strategy for refugees and phase-down/out activities targeting protracted refugee populations and redoubling the search for durable solutions for all groups of refugees including volrep, local integration and resettlement.
- Assist country Offices in developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to resolve protracted situations.
- Support and lead efforts to provide protection solutions for PoCs.
- Engage in the decision making process for phasing down and realigning activities.
- Provide advice and support to national offices in the sub-region on specific issues/problems faced related to asylum, refugee protection and assistance, including access to territory, access to RSD and asylum procedures, non-refoulement adequate reception and the implementation of durable solutions, including developing a Protection Management Framework for each national office.
- Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance to national offices in the sub-region on developing and maintaining fair and effective asylum regimes in accordance with international standards and norms, especially with regard to national asylum/refugee legislation and the building of local protection capacity.
- Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance on matters relating to the issue of asylum,  mixed migration and statelessness to the Regional Representative and national offices in the sub-region with particular emphasis on the problems of trafficking and smuggling, working closely with regional forums and bodies, like the MIDSA and SADC.
- Work with Regional Representative and country offices in advocating for the lifting of reservations to the 1951 conventions and encourage accession to international instruments including statelessness conventions.
- Ensure that UNHCR contributes and/or assists government in drafting refugee bills.
- Advocate for receiving countries to consider group resettlement submissions from the Region following practices that are being employed in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and security developments that have an impact on the protection environment and protection delivery capacity and advise the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR¿s operations.
- Manage a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement a comprehensive protection strategy 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; and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
- In operations applying the Cluster Approach, ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.  
- Ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plans in the region, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and in respect of UNHCR¿s mandate, the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
- Advocate with the UN Agencies for inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in their national development programmes.
- Ensure that necessary resources are allocated to address protection gaps.
- 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 and ensure that all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities mainstreaming protection.
- Provide guidance and leadership related to the implementation of the Age, Gender Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) Participatory Assessments in sub-region and ensure the follow up on any identified gaps related to the reception and integration systems and structures in the region with relevant stakeholders.
- Oversee the provision of expert legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors and ensure that legal assistance and documentation is accessible to persons of concern.
- Facilitate the strengthening of host countries capacity to undertake RSD, provide quality asylum and offer durable solutions by ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Facilitate and guide capacity building activities for governments on RSD processes.
- Oversee the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection /solutions processes and systems. 
- Promote and supervise the delivery of effective measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness in the region.
- Establish effective partnerships and framework for actions to respond to the challenges of protection and finding solutions for PoCs, protect refuges in broader mixed migration movements including increased engagements in regional platforms for dialogue - such as MIDSA.
- Develop and implement country/regional-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Ensure that appropriate interventions are undertaken by the Offices in the region, or intervene directly, in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing, operational and legal partners.
- Oversee the development and implementation of a results-based advocacy programme in consultation with sectorial and/or cluster partners- UNCT, UNPWG, MIDSA.
- Advocate with authorities and stakeholders for access to and respect for the rights of persons of concern and their access to services.
- Build the protection capacity of national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for governments, communities and persons of concern to assert their rights.
- Ensure UNHCR¿s continuous involvement in detention monitoring,  lobbying for the removal of reservations and advocating for alternatives to detention. 
- Provide effective supervisory and managerial oversight, direction and guidance of the protection function.
- Design and establish effective protection staffing structures in all Offices ensuring staffing configurations, profiles and competencies are commensurate with protection challenges.
- Assist the Regional Representative in the promotion of UNHCR strategic goals and objectives in the sub-region, monitoring the overall progress towards achieving them and in managing the Regional Representation.
- Serve as OIC of the Regional Office when the Regional Representative is on mission or leave.
- Any other duties as may be required or assigned by the Regional Representative.

Authority
- Approve the comprehensive protection strategy for endorsement by the Regional Representative and Regional Office or Headquarters.
- Chair strategic or operational protection meetings, including Protection Cluster meetings in applicable operations and represent the protection sector/cluster in inter-agency mechanisms.
- Represent UNHCR in meetings and fora related to the functions.
- Issue advocacy statements on behalf of UNHCR or the Protection Cluster in applicable operations. Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Enforce local/regional compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
- Negotiate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
- Authorize payments as per the organization¿s Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Clear documents and reports prepared by the Protection Unit / Section.
- Take decisions on individual cases.
- Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and partners on protection funding priorities in inter-agency funding appeals.
- Approve regional expenditures under the UNHCR protection budget and direct transparent and accountable financial and other resource allocation within the Protection Cluster in applicable operations.
- Modify operational projects and reallocate funds, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Law, Political Science, and International Relations with specific focus on International Humanitarian/ Refugee law plus minimum 16 years of previous work experience relevant to the function in progressively responsible functions in an organisation or institution that administer/manage and assist a large number of asylum seekers, refugees and Displaced persons, preferably within the UN. Of the 16 years, minimum of 10 years should be in the same functional area directly relevant to the current position. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 17 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 15 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Thorough knowledge in International Refugee Law, its applications under different circumstances; ability to analyse and advocate the application of various regional refugee instruments for the benefits of the persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Field experience, preferably in the context of UNHCR, in repatriation and resettlement of refugees.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.
- UNHCR specific learning/training activities (i.e. Management Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme).
- Proficiency in local language(s) in the given region. C001L4 - Accountability Level 4
C002L4 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 4
C003L4 - Communication Level 4
C004L4 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 4
C005L4 - Client & Result Orientation Level 4
C006L4 - Organizational Awareness Level 4
M001L4 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 4
M002L4 - Managing Performance Level 4
M006L4 - Managing Resources Level 4
M005L4 - Leadership Level 4
M003L4 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 4
M004L4 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 4
X007L4 - Political Awareness Level 4
X001L4 - Analytical Thinking Level 4
X008L4 - Stakeholder Management Level 4 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

The Regional Representation for Southern Africa (ROSA) currently oversees UNHCR operations in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia Zimbabwe and South Africa. Furthermore, ROSA monitors and carries out direct implementation in Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and in the Indian Ocean Islands..

The general situation in Southern Africa remains stable despite growing tensions mainly in the Tete Province of Mozambique, which has caused the displacement of refugees into Malawi. This has been addressed through a multiyear multi partner protection solution strategy and the possible identification of settlements in Malawi for which the implementation is overseen by the Deputy Regional Representative (Protection).  Furthermore, the large numbers of persons moving from the East, the Horn and the Great Lakes Regions of Africa heading to South Africa continues to raise concerns in thee countries of the sub region, while governments adopt measures to address increasing hostility by host communities. In response to the increasing pressure on the asylum space with huge backlogs of applicants, which is also a result of migratory flows, UNHCR is heightening efforts to find comprehensive solutions that includes cessation, local integration, resettlement and voluntary repatriation, where optimal conditions for return have been met.

Against this background, the Deputy Regional Representative is expected to have a strong legal managerial protection background to provide strategic and legal support to mangers in the region and oversee implementation of strategies for protection and comprehensive solutions. National asylum systems in Southern Africa continue experiencing challenges as authorities face difficulties in the fair and efficient processing of asylum claims. The national asylum legislation are in many countries outdated and in the Indian Ocean Islands non-existent.Legislative reforms not in accord with the provisions of the 1951 Convention to deter persons in need of asylum from seeking refuge remain a key challenge in the region as regards access to asylum.

Given the above context ROSA prioritizes addressing procedural gaps in the asylum procedures through the promotion of legal reform processes. The promotion of legal reforms also includes high-level advocacy on the abolishment and or lifting of reservations to conventions, which inhibit freedom of movement and access to employment in most of the countries in the sub region. High-level advocacy is furthermore required throughout the sub region for the implementation of UNHCR¿s objectives and also, on statelessness linked to UNHCR's Statelessness Campaign and Global Action Plan to be achieved by 2024.

The scaling down and phasing out of operations in the sub region from 2015 to date has generated an increased workload for the Regional Representation as ROSA colleagues assume implementation, oversight and re-engagement  for operations such as Namibia, Botswana ad Angola as refugee situations resurface.In addition, the scaling down and phasing out of operations in the sub region from 2015 to date has generated an increased workload for the Regional Representation as ROSA colleagues assume implementation, oversight and re-engagement  for operations such as Namibia, Botswana ad Angola as refugee situations resurface. The living conditions in South Africa are generally very good.  Housing and basic commodities are readily available.  The country has an abundance of health providers of all sectors.  The country's infrastructure and communication facilities are of international standard and are amongst the best in the world. Currently the Security level is at 3.  Security clearance is mandatory.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).

This vacancy is now closed.