Protection Associate

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. Interested applicants should consult the Administrative Instruction on Recruitment and Assignment of Locally Recruited Staff (RALS). Protection Associate

UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) Belgium ensures the liaison with EU Institutions and the oversight of operations in Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and The Netherlands.¿It also supervises two liaison offices in Malta (EASO) and Poland (Frontex). 

UNHCR MCO Belgium includes a unit covering Belgium and Luxembourg. The Unit works in close coordination with the other units of MCO Belgium, UNHCR Regional Bureau for Europe and UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to ensure timely action in support of agreed policies. External contacts are developed and maintained with a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including inter alia, governmental institutions, embassies, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, lawyers and other national and international organizations, as well as general public on matters of relevance to the Organization.

The Protection Associate is part of the Unit for Belgium and Luxembourg. S/he works under the supervision of the Head of Unit for Belgium and Luxembourg. 

In line with the strategic priorities of UNHCR Bureau for Europe, the protection strategy developed in Belgium and Luxembourg includes quality asylum system, adequate reception conditions, strengthened SGBV and child protection, durable solutions (integration, RST and complementary legal pathways including family reunification), and statelessness. With a strong accent on community-based protection, age, gender and diversity are also mainstreamed through the activities of the unit covering Belgium and Luxembourg. 

Specifically, the Protection Associate undertakes activities in support of the implementation of operational priorities. Activities cover among others: Counselling, monitoring of protection policies and practices, analysis of legislation and policies, drafting of advocacy and legal comments, project monitoring, coordination with partners and training. Competencies as defined in Job Profile Knowledge of English and French are essential for this position. Working knowledge of Dutch. Applications will not be acknowledged. Not signed, incomplete and late applications will not be accepted.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and oral interview.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Candidates who are not nationals of Belgium must hold a valid residence/work permit in Belgium at the time of application;

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 to apply. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms gender, disability, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. The deadline for the receipt of applications is Sunday, June 20th, at 23:59 CET.