TA Protection Associate (Maternity replacement)

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). 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.
- Assist 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.

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


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. Core Competencies

Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation


Managerial Competencies

Judgement and Decision Making


Cross-Functional Competencies

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management Fluency in English (UN working language of the duty station) and Italian (local language) is essential. This is a Temporary Appointment in replacement capacity.

Expected entry on duty around mid-November 2021.

TA duration of 24 weeks.


Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Assessment of short-listed candidates will comprise of both an oral interview and a written test.

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.

In case of any queries, please contact the UNHCR MCO Italy HR Team at itarovacancies@unhcr.org.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== Italy remains one of the major points of arrival for persons of concern who seek protection to Europe in view of the fragile protection and integration prospects in countries of first asylum and transit. In 2021 an increase in sea arrivals was recorded compared to 2020 with 47,750 arrivals registered up until 4 October  2021. Based upon current arrival trends, Italy will continue to receive nearly half of all asylum-seekers arriving in Europe by sea as well as an increasing number arriving by land and air.
The size of the movement across the Central Mediterranean will lies on various factors: Covid-related economic crisis, Italian policy and EU engagement with Libya. 

By the end of 2021 the reception system is expected to host more than 80,000 persons. In 2022, if the percentage of asylum seekers is alike 2021, the capacity of the system will increase. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of preventive and containment measures in both reception and detention facilities will represent the major challenge for the Government, particularly with regard to the management of quarantine procedures both offshore and onshore.
The Law 173/2020 which reformed the Italian reception system is expected to have a positive impact on reception standards in first-line facilities for asylum seekers, particularly on Persons with specific needs.

UNHCR has promoted for many years the establishment of a consolidated, coordinated and harmonized reception system. To this end, UNHCR has supported the Italian authorities in the establishment of a dedicated monitoring methodology and tools of reception standards based on a participatory approach aimed at increasing MoI's capacity at central level and local level and ensuring accountability and harmonization of reception standards. 

In 2022 UNHCR is expected to continue providing its technical support to the Ministry of Interior, in particular through: monitoring missions in both first-line and second-line reception and detention facilities, development and piloting of monitoring methodology/tools and capacity building/development addressed to Prefectures and to managing bodies of reception and pre-removal centres. UNHCR will continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 in the context of reception and detention system, through either field missions, if allowed, or through collection of information from managing bodies. UNHCR will enhance partnership with all relevant stakeholders, in particular the network of Ombudsmen on detention at both central and local level.

UNHCR is looking for qualified candidates to perform functions of Protection Associate with possibility of immediate deployment. Under the supervision of the Rome-based Protection Associate, the  Protection Associate will be tasked with conducting monitoring missions in reception and detention facilities as well as thematic training initiatives, in coordination with competent officials of the Ministry of Interior and other stakeholders. Moreover, the Protection Associate will represent UNHCR with a number of institutional counterparts, IGOs and NGOs, also in relevant training sessions with a focus on reception and detention.

UNHCR looks for suitable candidates with a sound knowledge of the Italian operational context, of issues pertaining to reception and detention conditions as well as monitoring. Expertise on specific needs, International background as well as UNHCR experience are an asset. Fluency in both Italian and English is essential. Please note that the application closing date for this vacancy is Thursday 21 October 2021 (23:59 Geneva time).