Snr Social 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.

Senior Social Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) affirmed by the UN General Assembly in December 2018 has strengthened UNHCR¿s protection and solutions mandate. It calls for the inclusion of refugees in the societies that host them, pending solutions; and has provided an opportunity to assemble into a single framework decades of good practices pertaining to inclusion.
Social protection systems, figure prominently in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 1.3 calls for the implementation of ¿nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and vulnerable¿.
Inclusion of refugees in social safety nets and social protection programmes, with the support of the international community is highlighted in the Compact. This contrasts with realities in many parts of the world. Refugees are indeed often excluded from national social protection programmes/systems which normally help the most vulnerable families cover their basic needs and earn income. This is due to various reasons, including that these systems are meant to serve their own citizens, restrictive policies and legal frameworks, limited ability of refugees to pay into national social protection programmes, etc. This exclusion also applies to internally displaced- and stateless persons.  Moreover, in much of the world, these systems are nascent or non-existent.  Where they do exist, they are often unable to meet the needs of their own nationals.
At the same time, humanitarian and development actors, particularly in protracted displacement contexts, are increasingly working to transition refugees, where possible, from humanitarian assistance to national social safety nets, social welfare services and public labour / workplace programmes. This contributes to the SDG `Leave No-One Behind¿ principle and SDG-specific objectives working to increase the global coverage of social protection.  Innovative financing such as the World Bank¿s IDA 18 Refugee Sub-Window (RSW) are opening up refugee inclusion windows in national social safety net, health coverage and public labour programmes, with the upcoming IDA 19 Host Community and Refugee Window (HRW) investments continuing this trend. Humanitarian actors are also providing assistance to refugees and host communities through socio-economic services or delivering directly cash and goods similar to the functions of national social protection systems with opportunities for harmonization with national systems. 
As part of the implementation of the GCR, UNCHR is increasing its capacity to support initiatives aimed at including where possible its persons of concern (POC) in national social protection programmes. This requires capacities for operational analysis, policy, research, and partnerships.
Within this context, the Senior Social Protection Officer¿s role is to support UNHCR in understanding social protection/safety net schemes, and how to eventually include refugees, IDPs and stateless persons. The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach and establish strong working relationships with other technical sectors and divisions in UNHCR, including protection, programme, livelihoods, economic and financial inclusion, education, cash and partnerships with development actors.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Develop operational guidance, good practice notes and policy briefs for the Field and senior management, as necessary, drawing on relevant UNHCR-supported action research or other sources from authoritative partners;
- Represent UNHCR and engage in upstream policy, progamme and financing dialogues on social protection with key actors, including, inter-alia, the World Bank, EU, UNICEF, ILO and WFP, to ensure that refugees and other POC are included;
- Lead on promoting and supporting research to have the right data for advocating for the inclusion of refugees and other POC in social protection programmes, strategies and financing;
- Draft briefing papers, talking points and memorandum to support senior management in promoting inclusion of POCs in social protection policy, programmes and financing.
- Work with relevant UNHCR technical staff to identify and gather necessary socio-economic micro data of POC and host communities, as relevant, to support inclusion in social protection programmes;
- Provide direct technical support to Operations in transitioning from a humanitarian social assistance approach to a national social protection programme, as required
- Support the Regional Bureau or specific Operations, as needed, in developing actionable strategies for the inclusion of POC into protection/safety nets programmes from a regional or specific Operation¿s perspective;
- Build a strong knowledge base of existing (and potential) social protection/safety net schemes that do/could include POC;
- Identify and support RB and Operations to secure relevant technical expertise, including support to drafting ToRs, etc.
- Provide direct technical support to Operation(s) within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) in transitioning from a humanitarian social assistance approach (cash, food for work, etc.) to a national social protection programme
- Organize and facilitate capacity building and awareness raising activities within the AoR on social protection

In a Regional Bureaux (RB)
- Support the Field to identify and secure technical expertise, potential financing options and partnerships;
- Elevate key regional research and lessons learned to the HQ levelfor inclusion in guidance, policy and institutional-level engagements on social protection.

In Country Offices
- Identify most relevant partners and potential financing options;
- Where relevant, build strong engagement with World Bank social protection task team leaders;
- Build effective working relationships with relevant government departments and local government administrations associated with social protection programmes;
- Organize and facilitate capacity building and awareness raising activities related to social protection and inclusion for UNHCR staff and colleagues in relevant agencies and host governments entities; and,
- draft lessons learned and support knowledge sharing with regional bureau and HQ.

- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Socio-Economic Development, Social Sciences, Development studies,
Community Development, International Relations, Law,
Political Science, Disaster Risk Management, Emergency Management,
Environmental/Earth science
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum of 5 years relevant, demonstrated field experience working on social protection-related programme development, management, implementation and monitoring/evaluation.
Practical field experience transitioning humanitarian-type programming into national social protection programmes, e.g. cash transfers, public works, health services, etc.
Relevant field experience in related areas including around targeting, socio-economic household data preferably in both humanitarian and development and forced displacement contexts.
Ability to identify the most valuable partnerships and leverage them and to influence policy dialogue, taking into account the capacities and vulnerabilities of forcibly displaced persons.
Excellent analytical capacity and proven ability to work with socio-economic micro data.
Ability to translate complex concepts and programming opportunities for the use by UNHCR staff.
Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
Demonstrated maturity to engage with senior managers in host governments, bilateral donors, development banks and other UN agencies.
Ability to work in teams.
Excellent communications skills ¿ written and oral.
Nuanced understanding of the key partners that are engaged in social protection programmes, including, inter alia, the World Bank, EU, ILO and UNICEF.

Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR or other institutions working with forcibly displaced populations.
Experience in poverty reduction programmes.
Capacity to work with socio-economic data.

Functional Skills
*Integration/Social Inclusion
*Partnership Development
*CL- Strategy Development and Monitoring
*ER-Inter-Agency Leadership/Coordination
*SO-Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
*MS-Networking
*PO-Policy Advocacy in UNHCR
*Knowledge Management
*CM-Strategic Communication
*MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
SO-Negotiation Skills
PG-Results-Based Management
MG-Project Analysis/Development/Implementation/Management/Coordination
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. 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
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3

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.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Please note that the closing date for vacancies in this September 2020 Compendium is Tuesday 20 October 2020  (midnight Geneva time).