Associate Protection 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.

Associate Protection Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community services, registration, resettlement and education. He/she provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff; and supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. He/she contributes in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and in representing the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. He/she also ensures 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 of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.  
- The protection strategy 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.
- Protection incidents are immediately identified and addressed.

Responsibility
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- 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 through mainstreaming in all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to persons of concern.  
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for persons of concern in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles. 
- Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan.
- Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Oversee and manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems. 
- Contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.

Authority
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
- Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, International Law, political Sciences or related field plus minimum 3 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) plus 2 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 1 year 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.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Associate 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. C001L2 - Accountability Level 2
C002L2 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 2
C003L2 - Communication Level 2
C004L2 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 2
C005L2 - Client & Result Orientation Level 2
C006L2 - Organizational Awareness Level 2
M003L2 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 2
X001L2 - Analytical Thinking Level 2
X004L2 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 2
X007L2 - Political Awareness Level 2 <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 incumbent of the position will report directly to the Protection Officer in Sub Office Dohuk. She/he should demonstrate:

- Excellent knowledge of  English is essential.  Good working knowledge of Arabic or Kurdish will be an added advantage.
- Negotiation and mediation skills.
- Knowledge of international refugee and human rights laws. Knowledge of national law including access to asylum an advantage.
- Experience in protection monitoring techniques and very good interviewing and counselling skills.
- Analytical and reporting skills including data analyses and trends.
- Experience working with several stakeholders including implementing partners and border/local authorities.
- Management and capacity building skills.
- Independence and critical thinking.
- Ability to deal with stressful situations and demanding workload.
- Ability to work with the team in cooperative manner. Since 2013, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I) has received successive waves of displaced people resulting in a 30 per cent increase of the region¿s population. The KR-I now hosts more than one million displaced persons, including close to 240,000 Syrian refugees and up to 800,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). In line with its mandate, UNHCR in the KR-I provides support and assistance to vulnerable displaced persons through its offices in Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Governorates.

The situation in the region worsened after 2014, when large portions of territory in Iraq fell under dispute. Ongoing operations, continuous massive waves of displacement, and a severe economic crisis in Iraq, have strained both the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The capacity of the KRG to maintain effective services and respond to the needs of displaced populations has been particularly impacted. With active armed conflict subsiding in several areas of the country, it is expected that security will improve and IDP returns will accelerate in 2018. However, the effects of the economic crisis in KR-I will continue to be felt as will asymmetrical attacks impeding security in newly liberated and other areas close to the region. The lack of essential services, destruction of property, lack of income opportunities, and psychological trauma, will remain an obstacle for IDPs wanting to return to their areas of origin. Displaced communities will be increasingly vulnerable in light of scarce economic and employment opportunities, and protracted displacement will continue depleting families' resources.

Moreover, the Government of KR-I continues to host Syrian refugees who share resources and services with the hosting communities. Close to 97 per cent of the total refugee population in Iraq lives in KR-I. The length of the crisis in their country of origin and the economic situation in KR-I has further reduced livelihood opportunities for Syrian refugees who have limited job opportunities and continually struggle with the depletion of their savings. - Dohuk is Category E Duty Station.
- UNHCR staff in Dohuk accommodated in the residential apartments located inside the security cleared hotel complex. Apartments are available in complexes that meet UN Security rules, which staff rent privately.
- Basic food and other commodities are widely available in the local shops and markets. Banking facilities are rather underdeveloped; therefore cash is the main means of settlement of various bills.
- Both local currency (Iraqi Dinar) and USD are equally accepted for any payments.  No specific dress-code applies and casual European style clothes are worn.
- Six weeks R&R cycle applies for staff assigned in Dohuk.
- Several international airlines operate daily flights from Erbil International Airport to number of large international airports in Europe as well as Middle East. Travel between Erbil and Dohuk is organized by the Office in UNHCR vehicles.
- Holders of UNLP must obtain an Iraq visa to enter Iraq territory. - Security Clearance for travel to and within Iraq is covered under TRIP and all staff are responsible to obtain their own clearance.
- No travel should be undertaken without a copy of a fully approved TRIP.
- The SSAFE (Safety and Security Approaches in a Field Environment) course must be undertaken by all international staff members to allow them to travel on mission. If a staff has conducted a SSAFE (Safety and Security Approaches in a Field Environment) course before, there will be no need for attendance.
- Any movement of UN international staff within Kurdistan Region of Iraq is undertaken in UN vehicles and dependent upon the security level in the intended route.
- Although parts of Iraq and areas adjacent to KR-I recently seen a significant rise in hostilities, KR-I itself remains a permissive environment.
- Security incidents are nevertheless possible everywhere, including within KR-I, and the UN therefore maintains a robust security posture, including staff working and living in pre-approved venues, the tight monitoring of work related movements. Fluency in Arabic is considered as an asset for this position/function.

Please note that the closing date for vancancies in the Addendum 2 is Sunday 16 December 2018 (midnight Geneva time)