Associate Protection Officer

This vacancy is advertised in the frame of the US JPO Programme and is only open to candidates with US nationality. West Africa has experienced a succession of conflicts over the past decades, coupled with a rise more recently in terrorist activities and attacks which have a serious impact on the stability and security of the region. UNHCR continues to respond to the humanitarian crises in the Lake Chad Basin region and Mali, which have also caused the displacement of a significant number of IDPs, while making progress on resolving some of the long-standing refugee situations in the region. 

The conflict with non-state armed groups has caused the displacement of families around the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) region involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Some 2.5 million people are now uprooted throughout the region, of which over 1.9 million are internally displaced in Nigeria; over half a million are internally displaced in Cameroon, Chad and Niger; and 232,378 Nigerians are refugees in Cameroon, Chad and Niger since 2014 when insurgency intensified in north-east Nigeria. 
With the conflict in its tenth year, and despite the collective efforts of the concerned governments to stem terrorism in the LCB region, Boko Haram insurgents continue to kill, maim and displace civilians. During the last half of 2018, we witnessed an upsurge in the attacks by Boko Haram especially in Borno State of Nigeria. Furthermore, ongoing operations by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) have also led to an increase in the number of refugees and IDPs. Counter-terrorism operations by security forces of the four countries have resulted as well in numerous documented human rights violations.
Ensuring an appropriate protection environment in this context of ongoing insecurity and threats is particularly challenging. Among displaced communities, the risk of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) has increased with the breakdown of family and community structures, changes in social and gender roles or responsibilities, and increased socio-economic vulnerability  and inadequate conditions in overcrowded IDP camps/sites. In addition, non-state armed groups¿ (NSAG) tactics have included the abduction of women and girls primarily for sexual abuse, forced marriages and labour, and the kidnapping of boys that are forced to become child soldiers. Harmful traditional practices predating the crisis, such as early marriage, have been aggravated by the conflict.
Children and adolescents constitute the majority of the conflict-affected population. Violence and attacks against civilians in north-eastern Nigeria and the neighbouring countries have driven more than one million children out of school. There are also a high number of unaccompanied or separated children, which makes them very vulnerable to exploitation. 

As regards the Mali situation, a total of 136,032 Malian refugees (as per 31 Dec 2018) are hosted in neighboring Niger (55,540), Mauritania (55,782) and Burkina Faso (24,710); and 109,892 persons are internally displaced within Mali, as of 30 November 2018. As the crisis enters its seventh year since the outbreak of the conflict in northern Mali in late 2011, a resolution is not yet in sight. Despite initial successes in security operations over the course of 2013-2014, the security situation has deteriorated over the past two years, spreading also to Mali¿s central region. Implementation of the 2015 peace agreement has been slow and remains fragile. New displacement continues as well as refugee and IDP returns, and conditions remain unfavorable for the large scale repatriation of Malian refugees in security and dignity. A total of 69,390 refugees and 526 505 IDP have returned since 2012, according to Government estimates.  2017 and 2018 also saw a significant deterioration of security conditions in the border areas of neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, leading to an erosion of asylum space and posing new protection challenges, including risks to the civilian character of refugee hosting areas.

Around 230,000 refugees live in situations of protracted displacement in West Africa, including the Malian refugees, as well as a number of smaller caseloads, namely Mauritanians in Senegal and Mali, Ghanaians in Togo, Togolese in Ghana, Senegalese in Gambia and Guinea Bissau, the exempted Sierra Leoneans, Liberians and Rwandans, Ivoirians in Liberia, Ghana, Guinea and Togo, and protracted urban refugees of different nationalities.

The strategy of UNHCR RRWA in Dakar, consists in providing protection support for regional operations in emergencies. In the past two years, these operations were Nigeria and Mali and the surrounding countries, where the international intervention and political processes aimed at reunifying the divided nation are still incomplete. The Protection Unit is in an urgent need of protection staff and particularly a JPO, Associate Regional Protection officer to support the implementation of its strategy in Nigeria and Mali Situations.

The JPO Associate Regional Protection Officer will work under the supervision and closely with the Senior Regional Protection Officer on Nigeria and Mali Situations, identifying outstanding protection issues, providing strategic responses to these protection issues, and communicating with operations in the Lake Chad Basin region on these protection issues. Field missions will be carried out to various LCB countries to provide support to operations as they build up their capacities, as well as in the context of regional coordination meetings

The Regional Representation for West Africa (RRWA) covers all 15 ECOWAS Member States, and the Regional Representative is also the Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Nigeria Situation.

The JPO Associate Regional Protection Officer will be supervised by the Senior Regional Protection Officer. The activities for the incumbent will involve providing protection support for regional operations in emergencies. In the past two years, these operations were Nigeria and Mali and the surrounding countries, where the international intervention and political processes aimed at reunifying the divided nation are still incomplete.

The incumbent will work closely with the Senior Regional Protection Officer, identifying outstanding protection issues, providing strategic responses to these protection issues, and communicating with operations in the region on these protection issues. S/he will undertake missions to various countries to provide support for operations in emergencies as they build up their capacities, as well as in the context of regional coordination meetings.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT.

Accountability

Regular protection analysis reports
Regular feedback on protection reports
Coordinated protection strategies
Bi-annual organization of regional protection meetings
Drafting reports, minutes, position papers for the Regional Protection Working Group

Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)
With respect to the refugee and IDP crisis situations generated by conflicts in Nigeria and Mali, and under supervision of the Senior Regional Protection Officer, the JPO shall:

Coordination support

Assist in the overall coordination of protection responses in all countries affected by the respective crises.
Collect, consolidate, prepare analysis of, and provide feedback to, regular protection reports and situation reports from the affected countries.  
Assist in the organization of periodic coordination activities including teleconferences and regional protection meetings.
Support the development of protection policy guidance and other strategic document for specific priority protection issues with regional implication.
Support the provisions of operational support and advice and the sharing of good practice across the region. 
Support the provision of coordinated protection inputs into RRRP and HNO/HRS strategic planning processes.

Solutions support:

Support the integration of solutions related aspects into protection strategies with a particular emphasis on alternatives to camps, livelihood opportunities and peaceful co-existence between displaced and host communities.
Support the development of integrated solutions strategies considering all durable solutions in a coherent and coordinated manner.

Support for the regional protection working group:

Support the coordination of the Regional Protection Working Group (RPWG), enhancing consultations and info sharing among its members, joint development of protection policy and guidance, support to national protection sectors/clusters.
Maintain the Secretariat of the RPWG, including regular communication with members and maintenance of the Group¿s webpage, helping draft RPWG publications, and maintaining strong relationships with the Child Protection in Emergencies Sub-Working Group.

Authority
Limited decision making, but the JPO shall be encouraged to take initiative within the broad objectives of the terms of reference.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION:
Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) obtained in a recognised institution (listed under www.whed.net), plus minimum 2 years of relevant professional work experience. An undergradute degree (equivalent of a Bachelor's) plus 3 years or a Doctorate degree (equivalent to a PhD) plus 1 year may also be accepted.

Fields: International Law, Human Rights Law, and Refugee Law or other clearly related fields.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Professional working experience in international protection related activities.

SKILLS: Knowledge of international legal framework governing refugees and IDPs, excellent research and writing skills, willingness to work in West Africa, capacity to adapt to changing requirements and to work both independently and in a team, knowledge of UN policies, procedures and field experience is highly desirable.


DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES. 

Knowledge of international legal framework governing refugees and IDPs, excellent research and writing skills, willingness to work in West Africa, capacity to adapt to changing requirements and to work both independently and in a team, knowledge of UN policies, procedures and field experience is highly desirable. Managerial Competencies

M003: Judgement and Decision Making
M006: Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies      

X001: Analytical Thinking
X006: Policy Development and Research
X007: Political Awareness Essential: English,  French  (both written and oral)
Desirable: Working knowledge of any other UN language (Spanish, Chinese, Russian or Arabic) SUPERVISION: The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the manager indicated under `Supervisor title and position number¿.  The supervisor will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the JPO. The manager will also ensure that the JPO is provided a thorough induction and orientation briefing, followed by on-the-job training as well as continuous guidance for training/learning opportunities throughout the assignment. In support to the manager, the JPO Unit provides the Supervisory Guidelines upon recruitment/reassignment of the JPO. TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS

TRAINING COMPONENTS:
- Mandatory training courses:
1. Basic Security in the Field (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
2. Advanced Security in the Field  (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
3. Protection Induction Programme (PIP)
4. UN Course on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
5.    Orientation to IPSAS

- Recommended training courses
Please indicate at least 1-2 training courses relevant to the particular JPO function, available through Learn &Connect platform.

The incumbent will have access to the UNHCR learning programmes on protection and other relevant topics and skills managed by the agency¿s Global Learning Centre and partly implemented through the online Connect and Learn programme.

LEARNING ELEMENTS
Please indicate what the incumbent will learn during the assignment, defined in measurable results through applied skills or demonstrated competencies and specified per year.

¿ Application of UNHCR¿s mandate, principles, code of conduct and humanitarian goals.
¿ International and regional refugee protection standards and policies, with an emphasis on ensuring non-refoulement, non-discrimination, and voluntary repatriation.
¿ Analysis of large data sets and qualitative protection reports.
¿ Operational practices for communication and coordination between UNHCR Headquarters and regional offices, and between regional and country and field offices.
¿ Liaisons with regional representatives of countries in emergencies in the context of multi-year strategies and specific protection issues. LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DUTY STATION

Housing/accommodation: The assignment will take place in the nation¿s capital, Dakar, a family duty station (Hardship classification A) with eventual missions to the region. Dakar is a liveable city. The living conditions in Dakar are good and the social climate is calm. Senegal is an open country that enjoys social stability resulting from the smooth functioning of state institutions. Senegal is also provided with a good level of infrastructure (e.g. roads). Senegal is also a popular tourist destination. The reception and spontaneous hospitality of Senegalese are among the characteristic features of this West African country.

Health care: The access to health services in Dakar is good. The yellow fever vaccine is compulsory and vaccination cards should be presented at the entrance. Vaccinations against Meningococcal Meningitis and Hepatitis A and B are also recommended. The basic drugs are available in pharmacies but it is recommended to bring specific prescription drugs.

Educational facilities: All educational facilities are available in Senegal.

Security: The country is at the level of Security 2, which corresponds to "Low". All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment to Senegal.

Other (transports, banks, etc): Transportation in town can be easily arranged through local taxis.  To enter Senegal, a valid passport is required. ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) nationals are not required an entry visa. Nationals of other countries may be required an entry visa or long stay visa. They should contact the closest Senegalese representation. Senegalese Embassies and consulates in various West African countries and in other parts of the world issue visas prior to travel.  Many hotels, restaurants and large businesses in Senegal accept the main international credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc.). It is also possible to withdraw cash from automatic telling machines found in all the major cities.  The accommodation facilities are in general good and the choice is wide. It is possible to rent unfurnished and furnished accommodations. Please note that the closing date for applications for this position is Sunday 7 April (midnight Geneva time).