Senior Field Assistant (Temporary Appointment) - Istanbul

This position is open to applications from Group 1, Group 2 and all external candidates, provided that requirements regarding professional experience, academic qualifications, language, etc. are fulfilled.

TO THE ATTENTION OF EXTERNAL CANDIDATES:
External candidates must be legally present in Turkey at the time of application, recruitment and hire. Non-Turkish citizens are required to submit a valid Turkish residence permit to be considered.
Your application will NOT be considered if;
-      The application form is not duly filled.
-      The questionnaire at the end of the application form is not answered. (for external candidates)
-      A valid residence permit is not attached to the application. (for non-Turkish external candidates only). Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Field Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. 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 Senior Field Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Field Assistant 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
- 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 GBV 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

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
Political Science;

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Language Requirements
Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

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. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

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.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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

REMUNERATION

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The monthly net salary is between TRY 9,169 and TRY 11,513 depending on relevant experience, dependency status and language proficiency. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== Operational Context

Within the Durable Solutions Framework and in line with the Comprehensive Protection and Solutions Strategy: Protection Thresholds and Parameters for Refugee Return to Syria, UNHCR is engaging in a number of preparatory activities with regards to the return of the Syrian refugee form Turkey into Syria. These focus on strengthening refugee voices in the planning process, improving the humanitarian community's understanding of return, trends, dynamics and conditions, ensuring this information is available as a service that spontaneous returns are happening based on voluntary bases and, in addition, identifying and addressing return obstacles when feasible. UNHCR in Turkey operates through a branch office in Ankara, with field offices in Gaziantep, Istanbul and Van, as well as field presence in several provinces within Turkey.

The Law on Foreigners and International Protection and secondary legislation incorporate provisions regulating voluntary return procedures and support offered to Directorate General for Migration Management (DGMM) aims to strengthen the procedural safeguards to enable that returns take place on a voluntary basis through a well-informed decision. In preparation of return, DGMM and its partners could cooperate in addressing some of the obstacles identified, such as access to updated civil documentation prior to spontaneous return and ensuring that education and other professional skills are documented and that respective certificates are available in Arabic language, so that eventually they could be considered upon return.

In collaboration with DGMM at Ankara level and the respective Provincial Directorates of Migration Management (PDMM) offices at provincial levels, UNHCR is currently monitoring voluntary returns in several PDMM offices across Turkey. Voluntary returns monitoring activities are implemented directly by UNHCR staff and take place in PDMM offices.

The Senior Field Assistant placed in various locations report to the head of office Istanbul, in consultation with the Assistant Legal Officer and under the overall supervision of the Head of Office. The positions will be in the Istanbul and within the Field Unit with regular movement amongst the various regional PDMM offices, based on the volume of returns is expected. The incumbent will be based in Istanbul but will undertake missions in rotation to Bursa and Kocaeli.

The Senior Field Assistant is relied upon to contribute to the advancement of return monitoring activities and ensuring the voluntary return database is updated on timely fashion. The incumbent should implement the voluntary return programme, in compliance with requisite guidelines.

UNHCR Istanbul Field Unit is closely working with provincial directorates of line ministries, INGOs/NGOs, local governments and refugee populations in Marmara Region. The population of persons of concern in the area of responsibility is over 750,000 persons in 11 cities.

In this complex environment in a metropolitan city with 39 districts, Istanbul Field Unit  expanded its network and capacity building activities with diverse actors such as municipalities, social service centres, mukhtars, imams and other significant local actors that contributes in expansion of protection space for refugees.

Moreover, the Field Unit is enhancing its outreach activities through partners, increasing community based protection activities and involving refugees to its programs.
The Field Unit also conducts field missions including of Western Border cities frequently. Additionally, with the increase of partnerships and the involvement of field staff to multi-functional teams, protection monitoring and evaluation tools as well as thematic task forces have been established accordingly. The field unit is also monitoring the voluntary returns in Istanbul and other provinces in Marmara region.

In order to enhance protection monitoring, the Field Unit is frequently undertaking missions and delivering social cohesion and CBP activities in 11 cities under its area of responsibility. The Field Unit is also engaged in capacity development activities in addition to its supervisory role in terms of protection concerns both in detention and urban context.

The Field Unit is strengthening coordination mechanism in the Marmara region, in line with UNHCR's strategic priorities. Given the large cosmopolite nature of Istanbul in terms of financial, cultural and political prospects, the field unit is also hosting high level visits.

The incumbent is expected to contribute to the functionning of the Unit, including but not limited to the areas of practices explained above.

The incumbent will need to build and maintain effective communication with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners. The incumbent will also be in contact with governmental counterparts such as PDMM, PDFLSS and other relevant institutions. S/he will also be in communication with other functional units within country office in order to coordinate protection response.

Very good drafting and communication skills in Turkish and English are essential. The closing date of the job opening is 08 October 2021.

Please note that this is a Temporary Appointment until 31 December 2021 with possibility of extension.