Senior Protection Assistant

This Job Opening is available to eligible UNHCR staff members and external applicants. Staff members must serve for a minimum of one year following assignment before being considered eligible to apply for another internally or externally advertised position within the same category. The minimum one year requirement is waived in respect of a staff member whose position is being discontinued/reclassified.

Candidates for vacancy announcements in the GS category are divided in Group 1, Group 2 and external candidates in accordance with sub-paragraphs (a)-(c) below. Group 1 and Group 2 candidates are eligible to apply to internally and externally advertised positions. External candidates are eligible to apply to externally advertised positions.
a. Group 1 comprises current GS staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above
b. Group 2 comprises of candidates who applied to the Group 2 open call, and whose successful vetting into Group 2 was confirmed by HR by e-mail. Should you have any inquiry about your Group 2 status, please contact HR Beirut. Senior Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Assistant reports to the Senior Protection Associate. He/ She supports in monitoring  protection standards, operational procedures, and practices in protection delivery in line with International standards and provides functional protection support to information management and program staff. The Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern, including through field monitoring visits, to ensure that they have access to rights and basic needs without discrimination. He/ She identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. He/she may liaise externally with local authorities and with partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Protection Assistant is expected to support in responding to any emerging protection issues, such as onward movement, collective evictions, and group returns when and as needed, and may possibly be required to assume additional responsibilities within the overall protection unit depending on the situation and the context. He/ She is expected to have a strong analytical approach and reporting skills. He/ She should also have a strong written and oral communication skill in both English and Arabic languages.

The Senior Protection Assistant 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, local authorities, and partners as well as internally with different UNHCR functional units.


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
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. 
- Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
- Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan for PoC as part of the protection strategy. 
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
- Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
- Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential: Not specified.
Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(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. Please also note that Arabic & English are essential for this Job Opening. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.  Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for written test and/or oral interview.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment. Successful candidates will be subject to mandatory UN Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment clearance check prior to receiving an offer. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees). All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. Interested qualified Group 1, Group 2 and external candidates meeting the requirements of the Job Descriptions posted online can apply as follows no later than 29 November 2020 Midnight Geneva Time.