Associate Protection Officer

This vacancy is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the USA and is addressed exclusively to candidates WITH THE US NATIONALITY.

The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Senior Protection Officer in the Country Office. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community services, registration 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 with a special focus on the most vulnerable beneficiaries 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.
- 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.
- Undertake other tasks as required.

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. 

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION: Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Law, International Law, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) may also be accepted. The degree must have been obtained in an accredited institution listed under www.whed.net

WORK EXPERIENCE: With a Master's degree, minimum 2 years of professionnal work experience relevant to the function (3 with a BA and 1 with a PhD)

SKILLS: Strong drafting skills, both for legal analysis and general report writing. Ability to strive in a diverse environment.


DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES. 

- Diverse field experience;
- Good IT skills including database management skills;
- Experience working with asylum seekers or refugees REQUIRED COMPETENCIES,

Code Managerial Competencies             

M001: Empowering and Building Trust
M002: Managing Performance
M003: Judgement and Decision Making
M006: Managing Resources

Code Cross-Functional Competencies      
X001: Analytical Thinking
X004: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
X005: Planning and Organizing
X006: Policy Development and Research
X008: Stakeholder Management
X009: Change Capability and Adaptability LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

- Essential: English,
Desirable: Another UN language; local languages in BiH (B/C/S) 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
- UNHCR Protection Learning Programme, AGDM, Field training;
- Operational Data Management training as far as available and accessible for JPOs
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.

- Write assessment reports;
- Assess project proposals;
- Draft policy documents and office strategies

Participation in all training dedicated to protection staff;

Upon completion of the assignment the JPO will have/ will be familiar with protection mechanisms. and will have knowledge of durable solutions.

¿ Application of UNHCR¿s mandate, principles, code of conduct and protection principles.
¿ 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. LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DUTY STATION

Housing/accommodation: Accommodation is available in private houses or apartments. Hotels facilities are adequate

Health care: In general, regular medical facilities are available, with two main hospitals (City Hospital and the Clinical Center) and a significant number of small private clinics.
General sanitary and hygiene conditions are adequate

Educational facilities: International schools, located within commuting distance, providing primary and secondary education, and that offers an International Baccalaureate program or equivalent are available in English and French language.

Security: Sarajevo is classified as A/Family duty-station. UN Security level for Bosnia and Herzegovina is 2 (Low) for the entire country;
The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally quiet. All international agencies consider threats to their staff to be low at this time. However, problems from pickpockets to traffic accidents exist so staff should exercise appropriate personal security awareness and common sense;
Bosnia and Herzegovina is still on of the most mine contaminated coutries in South Eastern Europe region.  It was defined 8,638 suspected micro-locations on which it is estimated that still remains around 80,000 mines/explosive remnants of war(ERW). Contaminated area estimated is 1.091 km2 OR 2,2% of the total territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Staff is advised to stay on well-travelled routes while in the country. 
Other potential risks: unpredictable behaviour of religious extremists; continuing political fragility in the country and the region, including nationalist rivalries and threats of secession; unstable weapons and explosives left over from the war; unrest arising from high risk sporting competitions or demonstrations/civil protests, moderate risk of earthquakes and landslides; pollution, fires or explosions due to unregulated industry, gas leaks or old ammunition dumps.

Other (transports, banks, etc) Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the largest urban center with an estimated population of 370.000;
Sarajevo's climate exhibits influences of oceanic (Cfb), humid continental (Dfa) and humid subtropical (Cfa) zones, with four seasons;
There are no administrative or other restrictions, apart from visa, on international staff members¿ travelling in/within/from the country;
Good local banking facilities are available (use of credit cards, ATMs);
Communication services (domestic and international) are available on a regular basis
Availability of food, furnishings and other necessities is adequate (various grocery stores and markets with fresh food products, shopping centers, etc)
Public transportation is available (tram, bus, trolleybus, taxi)
Public water/electricity supply and sewerage system are available on a regular basis
Various leisure, recreational and sports facilities are available. Please note that the closing date for this JPO advertisement is Sunday 8 December 2019 (midnight Geneva time).