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Deputy Representative (Protection)

Ankara

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Ankara
  • Grade: Senior Executive level - D-1, Director - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
    • Managerial positions
  • 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 Representative (Protection)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Deputy Representative (Protection) is the senior protection manager in a Country Office 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 and education. He/she has country-wide functional supervisory responsibility for all protection staff and provides protection oversight and guidance to the information and programme management functions.   

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

The Deputy 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 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.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- The protection needs of populations of concern including refugees and asylum seekers, stateless persons, IDPs, returnees and other persons 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. Protection and solutions activities receive political and financial support from external partners.
- 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.
- Integrity in the delivery of protection services is assured by protection staff.

Responsibility
- 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.
- 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.
- Design, deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
- 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.
- Oversee Eligibility and Status Determination operations ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- 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.
- Develop and implement country/regional-level education plans as part of the protection strategy. Ensure the provision of quality and protective education with an emphasis on learning outcomes and lifelong learning opportunities forging partnerships with the Ministry for Education, UNICEF and other partners as appropriate.
- 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 and operational partners.
- Ensure with governments and partners that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration, and where appropriate, resettlement are sought and provided to the largest possible number of persons of concern.
- Oversee the development and implementation of a results-based advocacy programme in consultation with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Advocate with authorities and stakeholders for access to and respect for the rights of persons of concern and their access to services.
- Ensure the Protection Sector or Cluster strategy has an effective information management component to provide disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; and researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
- 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 communities and persons of concern to assert their rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.
- Contribute to a communications strategy to generate external support for UNHCR's operations and the Protection Sector/Cluster.
- 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.

Authority
- Approve the comprehensive protection strategy for endorsement by the 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.
- Issue advocacy statements on behalf of UNHCR or the Protection Cluster in applicable operations. Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
- 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.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce regional compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- 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. 

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 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. 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. 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.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

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).
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Deputy Representative (Protection) positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. 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. 

¿ As the Deputy Representative for a large and complex operation and context, the incumbent is expected to have a wide knowledge of UNHCR policies and protection positions, including in a European context as well as in protection operations. The incumbent requires proven political acumen as well as excellent communication and negotiation skills to represent the office and engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders and partners, including in particular government counterparts, the diplomatic community, UN sister-agencies, donors, civil society actors, academics and refugees.

¿ Given the scope of the operation, the incumbent will need to have a considerable experience, 
in providing guidance to and managing large functional teams and a demonstrated ability to understand and adapt to changing operational realities and to engage within inter-agency coordination platforms, in order to be able to provide leadership in UNHCR¿s protection response in the country. ¿ Protection staff representing the largest team, the Deputy Representation (Protection) will need to be able to provide timely advice and guidance, and work collaboratively, in a variety of functional areas of protection, including registration, refugee status determination, including capacity development and transition to the national authorities, resettlement, community-based protection, communication with communities, SGBV prevention and response, child protection as well as in ensuring systematic monitoring and advocacy in regard to law, policy and practice. In this respect, given Turkey¿s geographic location, knowledge in EU asylum law and policies are important.

¿ As the operational context in Turkey is very dynamic, the incumbent will need to possess strategic vision and the ability to seize opportunities to develop innovative and creative solutions to protection and operational challenges, flexibility and team spirit as well as strong interpersonal skills to be able to operate effectively in a diverse team. Given the managerial responsibilities, the incumbent should also possess prior planning and resource management skills. Since 2014, Turkey has hosted the largest refugee population in the world. As of 31 May 2018, the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) announced that 3.6 million Syrians were registered in Turkey, out of whom over 200,000 (6%) are hosted in temporary accommodation centres, and some 3.4 million (94%) are residing in urban and rural areas throughout Turkey. In addition, Turkey also hosts over 360,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from other countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Government of Turkey takes the lead in the refugee response, based on a solid asylum legal framework and policies to include people of concern in national services.  UNHCR is coordinating the refugee response by supporting national and local counterparts, co-leading the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), maintaining an operational footprint in order to better support the authorities in areas where it has a specific expertise and playing a catalytic role to ensure synergies among all actors engaged in the refugee response. Under its strategy for protection and solutions, the strategic directions of UNHCR Turkey include:
¿ Promoting access to and the provision of protection
¿ Strengthening access to quality services for refugees through public systems, national and local institutions
¿ Provision of humanitarian assistance and temporary services to meet unaddressed needs, including in camps
¿ Promoting and preparing for durable solutions for refugees.

The Representative and the two Deputy Representatives for Protection and Operations form the senior management team of UNHCR Turkey with each Deputy Representative heading a `pillar¿ of the functional teams. The Deputy Representative for Protection will provide the necessary strategic leadership and coordination in a wide range of protection and policy areas with the support by the Assistant Representative for Protection, and, in the absence of the Representative, will act as Officer-in-Charge.

As the state is responsible for the protection and assistance to refugees in line with the national legislation, the Deputy Representative (Protection) will work closely with local authorities at strategic level to ensure that adequate support is provided for the development of quality standards and systems.

The coverage of the filed presence is divided between the Deputy Representatives in light of their respective responsibilities, and may be subject to change in light of the evolving situation. Ankara is an A duty station. The access to accommodation, supply and transport facilities is at high level. The incumbent is expected to find an accommodation independently or as in most cases assisted by real estate agents.

Current operational circumstances require long working hours. Ankara enjoys a relatively clam context underscored by a low crime rate. The Turkish Security Apparatus is experienced, well-resourced and effective. Burglary, petty theft are the most common crimes in the city. However, compared with recent years, there has been a relative decrease in street crimes. There is no direct crime threat against the UN in the Region. The current security levels in all of Turkey were raised in early 2016, however, Ankara duty station is Level 2 (low). There are no known direct threats towards the United Nations and its staff in the area but it is a rapidly changing security environment There has been a significant increase in the number of Civil Unrest-related incidents in country du wide owed to socio-political issues and it is assessed to likely due to the recent developments that sees Turkey increased involvement in the Syrian crisis. UN staff in Ankara are advised to take the necessary precaution in line with established security measures in general.  Area Security plans and Security levels are being updated.  As a result good security awareness is needed by individual staff members. Aside from the standard requirements of a D1 position, and given the geographical position of Turkey, knowledge of asylum standards within the EU may be an asset.

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.
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