JPO  - Associate Protection Officer (Cluster Support)

Note: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to NATIONALS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR THE DUTCH JPO PROGRAMME: http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries%20%20November%202018.pdf

IMPORTANT NOTE: Nationals of Yemen, which is the country of assignment, are not eligible.
For criteria see the website of Nedworc Foundation:
http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/NL/JPO/General%20Information.htm
Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying

IMPORTANT: Part of the candidates' academic training must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the following list of eligible countries of the Dutch JPO Programme.  http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries%20%20November%202018.pdf Armed conflict, risk of famine and disease outbreaks in Yemen have resulted in the world¿s worst humanitarian crisis, with conflict and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) that result in civilian casualties, displacement, damage to vital infrastructure and disruption and loss of livelihoods. Yemen is currently declared a L-3 Emergency, where UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency and performs a coordination, strategy development, service delivery and advocacy function through the dedicated cluster coordinator. With increasing conflict and protection needs, the demands upon the Protection Cluster have increased exponentially. Protection cluster financial requirements and partnerships increased from 72.2 million and 22 partners in 2017 to 130.5 million and 100+ partners in 2018 and are expected to continue to increase in 2019. Together with increasing international attention on civilian impact and IHL and the support needs of sub-national coordination and emergency response mechanisms, the needs for coordination from the Protection Cluster require additional staff support.  The incumbent will be expected to provide support to the Senior Protection Cluster Coordinator, particularly with respect to the cluster functions of supporting service delivery by partners driven by the Humanitarian Response plan and strategic priorities, monitoring and evaluating performance in line with the cluster strategy and agreed results, and building national capacity in preparedness and contingency planning. 

In complex humanitarian emergencies where clusters have been formally activated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency and performs a coordination, strategy development, service delivery and advocacy function through the dedicated cluster coordinator.

The Associate Protection (Cluster Support) Officer reports to the Senior Protection Cluster Coordinator, providing support to an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability, facilitation, and negotiation, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential. He/she is expected to facilitate the work of the Protection Cluster through the provision of support in analysis, organization, capacity-building and reporting, including, as applicable, to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other agencies.

The Associate Protection (Cluster Support) Officer also supports the Senior Protection Cluster Coordinator in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms, for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age, gender and diversity in the humanitarian response and early recovery activities. He/she works closely with multi-functional Protection Cluster support staff in the areas of data and information management, monitoring, needs assessment, profiling, reporting and advocacy.

Accountability
- The protection needs of populations of concern are met through timely and coordinated action by all cluster members.
- Effective coordination mechanisms and tools, including information management, are facilitated and maintained with cluster members, government counterparts and donors, for timely and effective needs assessment, planning, prioritization, implementation, reporting and evaluation.

Responsibility
- Support the establishment and maintenance of effective protection information management mechanisms and tools, with, among others, the Cluster¿s Information Management Officer and the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project (CIMP), to provide quality analysis of protection trends and issues; Support proper reporting on the protection activities and functioning of information management system for the protection cluster for performance monitoring and evaluation.
- Support the Senior Protection Cluster Coordinator in implementation of the HCT Protection Strategy relating to access to protection and services for the most vulnerable specific needs groups, protection mainstreaming and integration.
- Manage day-to-day engagement in Humanitarian Programme Cycle processes, e.g. Humanitarian Needs Overview, Humanitarian Response Plan as well as contingency planning, Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund Allocations,  and other coordination mechanisms.
- Support with legal and technical support in drafting strategies, position and policies for the Protection Cluster and the humanitarian community.
- Secure commitments from humanitarian partners in responding to needs and filling gaps, ensuring an appropriate distribution of responsibilities within the protection cluster, with clearly defined focal points for specific issues and/or sites where necessary.
- Promote and support training of humanitarian partners and other cluster members to improve mainstreaming of protection into sectorial responses and help to ensure that protection and non-protection actors incorporate protection mainstreaming indicators to monitor partners¿ mainstreaming efforts at the cluster level.
- Provide inputs to the development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the Protection Cluster for inclusion in the Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.
- Assist in the delivery of protection training activities for Protection Cluster members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
- Coordinate initiatives to build the protection capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
- Support reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
- Ensure that the Protection Cluster produces regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population, response activities, challenges and recommendations.
- Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related IASC legal standards and protection policies.
- Perform other related tasks as required.

Authority

- Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster - for clearance by Senior management.
Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
Facilitate negotiation with cluster members on the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience:

Education/Qualification:

Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, International Law, Political
Sciences, Social Sciences or related field

Work experience:
Minimum 3 years relevant work experience.
Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 2 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus
1 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.

Skills:
- English drafting skills
- Good computer skills and familiarity with information management tools

Desirable Qualifications and competencies

- Experience in inter-agency humanitarian settings
- Experience in protection, either with a UN agency or NGO
- Coordination Learning Programme.
- Tri-Cluster Knowledge and Coordination Skills Training.
- Protection Learning Programme. Managerial Competencies:

- Empowering and Building Trust
- Judgement and Decision Making
- Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies"
- Analytical Thinking
- Planning and Organizing
- Stakeholder Management Essential: English
Desirable: Arabic The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the Senior Cluster(Protection) Coordinator. 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. Traning Components and Learning Elements:

Mandatory Traning courses:
1. Basic Security in the Field
2. Advanced Security in the Field
3. Protection Induction Programme
4. UN Course on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
5. Orientation to IPSAS

Learning Elements:
Experience in the full range of humanitarian assistance and protection issues, as referenced in the IASC Reference Module for Cluster Coordination at the Country Level Living conditions at the duty station

Housing/accomodation: UN Compound
Health care: Limited
Educational Facilities: Non-Family Duty Station
Security: High-Risk Duty Station (Security Level V)
Other (transport/banks, etc): Limited services Please note that the closing date for applications to this JPO advertisement is Sunday 19 May 2019 (midnight Geneva time).