Protection Associate - UNOPS

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer.  The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors.  S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate also ensures that PoC are involved 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 protection and assistance partners.

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
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
- 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 as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval. 
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified

Desirable:
Protection Learning Programme

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. Submission of Applications:

External vacancies are posted on the external UNHCR website. Instructions are provided on www.unhcr.org ¿ Careers.
Applicants are invited to fill in the letter of interest.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).

UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Distribution:

- All UNHCR staff members in Jordan.
- UN organizations in Jordan.
- Specialized Agencies.
- Diplomatic Missions.
- International NGOs.
- Non-government Organizations.
- Embassies


CONSENT
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.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator's working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Refugees ¿ who cares? We Do
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== Operational Context:

The ongoing conflict in Syria remains the largest displacement crisis in the world. The scale of the humanitarian emergency has worsened as the country has moved through eight years of war. Now, in its ninth year of instability, while conflict is limited to particular areas, overall the situation across Syria remains precarious. Host countries, like Jordan, are struggling to maintain social and economic stability; over 85% of Syrians live below the national poverty line. Despite the growing needs, many are instead facing potential cuts to services because of a lack of funding.

The UNHCR Jordan operation is complex, dynamic and innovative and often implements its programmes through original approaches, maximizing the use of advanced technology to make its response constantly more efficient. In the camps of Zaatari and Azraq, UNHCR is involved in a range of activities and services, including coordination, protection and outreach, community services, livelihoods, shelter and energy. In urban areas, support is mainly cash and protection assistance. The operation is large and still maintains a high degree of visibility, thus it still experiences an extremely high number of visitors including increasing interest from the Gulf and private sector.

The PSEA working Group, the Protection Working Group, and Gender Equality are essential ongoing activities within UNHCR to support the refugee operation in Amman and the field. There is a need for further support in mainstreaming Protection, Gender, and PSEA activities across all sectors and actors.

In addition to the standard duties listed in the Job description, the Protection Associate is also expected to:

- Participate in activities related to gender equality issues.
- Support the Protection Working Group and PSEA Network Plan and strategy.
- Contribute to drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for gender and PSEA activities.
- Support the Snr Protection Officer in the drafting of guidance documents for Gender and PSEA activities.
- Support the Snr Protection Officer in the preparation of PSEA, Gender and Protection Working group meetings.
- Draft substantive report and minutes of meetings of PSEA and gender as well as update notes and any standard or ad hoc documentation request.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen Gender and PSEA related activities and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor with PSEA, Gender related follow-ups and activities.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection, Gender and PSEA standard operating procedures.


Essential
- Strong command of English language in order to assist in drafting of minutes of meetings.
- Strong interpersonal skills to enable communication and follow-up with various key interlockers.
- Coordination skills to assist in setting up meetings and all related follow-up and attention to the meeting action points and recommendations.
- Ability to undertake missions to various locations within the country as part of protection monitoring activities

Desirable
- Experience in the field of refugee assistance and humanitarian assistance is desirable
- Coordination experience and interaction with government entities is required Closing date for this position is 24 January 2021