Snr Prot Officer

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.

Senior Protection Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Protection Officer (SPO) is Head of the Protection Unit in a Country or Sub-Office and reports to the Assistant or Deputy Representative for Protection, directly to the Representative or as appropriate, to the Head of Sub-Office. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff who may include community services, registration, resettlement and education. He/she provides functional protection oversight to information management and programme staff and supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at the country level. The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine.

The Senior Protection Officer is normally a member of the Office senior management team and is relied upon by the Office to plan, lead and coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. Another important element of the SPO's functions is to ensure that persons of concern are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- The protection needs of populations of concern are met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles governing humanitarian coordination.
- The operation 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.
- 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 and advocacy.

Responsibility
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- 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 that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan.
- Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct 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.
- Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues.
- Oversee the management of individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents to persons of concern (women and civil documentation in particular birth certificates).
- Oversee eligibility and status determination in the country ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and implement measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Develop and implement a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy and ensure partnerships are forged with the Ministry for Education, UNICEF and other partners.
- Develop and implement a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Ensure 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.
- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Develop and implement a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Ensure that the Protection Sector or Cluster 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.
- 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 individuals to assert their rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and civil society to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.

Authority
- Approve the protection strategy for endorsement by the Deputy / Representative and Regional Office or Headquarters.
- Chair protection coordination 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 in protection sectoral meetings and/or on behalf of the Protection Cluster in applicable operations.
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate locally and as appropriate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
- Take review decisions on individual cases.
- 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 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, International Law, political Sciences or related field with good knowledge of International Refugee, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law plus minimum 8 years of previous work experience relevant to the function of which 3 years in the field and 5 years in an international capacity. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 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
- Diverse field experience desirable.
- Good IT skills including database management skills.
- Completion of the Protection Learning Programme, RSD-Resettlement Learning Programme and Management Learning Programme desirable.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Senior Protection Officer 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. 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
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3 <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 them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country 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). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

The Senior Protection Officer should possess previous experience in a complex IDP operation with a multitude of actors, including a Peace Keeping Force, strong coordination and communication skills, as well as managerial, policy, legal and practical skills with solid/sound field/protection background. The incumbent will have to take the lead and work closely with Protection Working Groups (PWGs), articulating issues in support of persons of concern, while establishing and maintaining good relations with other agencies.  She/he should also have demonstrated competencies and skills in the effective management of resources at her/his disposal in such a continuously evolving situation.  Good drafting skills will be an added advantage. English is the language of the duty station, however, Arabic will be a desirable asset. This will facilitate direct communication with the concerned local authorities on contentious protection related issues; as well as with persons of concern rather than through interpreters, thus avoiding misunderstandings. The incumbent is expected to have a pro-active mature attitude and be able to perform well under stress, albeit in less than ideal living and working conditions. It requires stamina and commitment to make life comfortable and affordable in Darfur. Therefore, flexibility and the ability to live and operate in hardship conditions (including dust, heat, shared living quarters, and possibly minimal water supply) are essential. The Darfur region has been in a state of humanitarian emergency since 2003. Muslim communities populate the western part of Sudan, and, similar to the northern part of the country, Sharia law is in force. This environment requires a mature level of cultural awareness. In the Darfur context, UNHCR has significant operational responsibilities including
i. responding to IDP  new displacements mostly in Jabel Marra area  and other emergencies while supporting return of IDPs to their areas of habitual residence
ii. organizing voluntary repatriation of  Chadian refugees to Chad and reintegrating voluntarily repatriated Sudanese refugees from Chad to Sudan
iii. Strengthening protection and assistance for CAR and South Sudanese refugees in camps and settlements as well as in host communities until conditions that can facilitate durable solutions are found.
The protection challenges are enormous and would require a Senior Protection Officer who will dedicate sufficient time addressing refugees, IDP and returnees issues.  The incumbent will interact on a regular basis with a variety of partners including NGOs, other UN Agencies as well as authorities at different levels, which can be a highly sensitive matter.  The complex and challenging IDP operational environment with conflicting interests of the many parties and communities, with UNHCR being the protection lead and with much external pressure, does not allow the operation to be considered as a learning experience. UNHCR Darfur operation functions in a highly complex, politicized environment, in a volatile security situation. The protection context in North Darfur is complex, arising inter alia from ongoing displacement, spontaneous returns, occupation of villages and land, and inadequate and poorly performing institution.  The active presence of rebel groups, who control parts of the territory exacerbates the situation.  The relations with the authorities are delicate, with the authorities not necessarily appreciating UNHCR¿s protection role. The Senior Protection Officer position, based in El Fasher, is a crucial position in the Darfur operation. The incumbent will assist  and provide support to the UNHCR field offices and its operational partners in the design and delivery of humanitarian protection strategy within Darfur and will coordinate / lead the Darfur Protection Cluster (DPC) through close coordination with the UNAMID Protection of Civilians (PoC) and the Joint Protection Group (JPG). Sudan is Africa¿s largest country, the living conditions vary between duty stations. Darfur is in the western-most region and is divided into 5 federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, Central Darfur, East Darfur & North Darfur. The cost of living is relatively high.   All International staff live in UNHCR Guest Houses, having a separate bedroom, but shared bathroom, kitchen and living room. Living conditions are basic, all bedrooms and offices have an AC, the showers have hot water, with satellite TV in the living room, and some sports equipment is available.   Meat and a limited selection of fresh vegetables and fruits are usually available in the local market, though there are several months during the year when some of these are unavailable. Tap water is not potable hence the need to drink bottled or boiled drinking water as alternatives. UNAMID runs a health clinic in El Geneina, offering a limited range of medical services. Banking facilities exist but they do not operate in foreign currency.  Major banking facilities are only available in Khartoum.  No credit card is accepted in Sudan.  UNHAS provide air service to Khartoum and other field locations. 
The incumbent will be reporting to the Head of Operations, and will be supervising the Protection team. He/she will be required to cooperate, coordinate fully with other staff in the office.  The environment in Darfur demands staffs that are willing and able to assist in a wide variety of areas in order to achieve working objectives and enhance team spirit. The security situation within Darfur is unpredictable, though moderately calm in most areas. Risks to personnel are reduced by strict adherence to UN security guidelines, instructions and mitigating measures. Crime rate, though not alarming, gives some cause for concern. It is mandatory for all personnel to receive a security briefing upon arrival

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).