Senior Protection Associate

Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Protection Associate reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The position may entail supervisory responsibilities for protection staff including community services, registration, resettlement and education depending on the structure of the Office.

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 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.

The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

S/he 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 and guidance 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 in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.

– 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.

– Assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.

– Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection.

Monitor, and assist the supervisor with intervening 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.

– Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster 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 with intervening with authorities on protection issues. – Provide assistance to the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.

– Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of staff and 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.

– Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level

• For G7 – 4 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 relevant field. (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

• Not specified.

Desirable

• RSD-Resettlement
• LP and/or Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills

• IT-Computer Literacy
• 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. 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.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

The ethnic conflict between the Guji and Gedeo people in April and June 2018 displaced an estimated number of 800,000 people in Gedeo and Guji zones. Besides, the joint missions conducted at East Guji showed the existence of unaddressed protection needs whereby conflict induced displacement in Borena zone, Konso,Darashe, Ale, Segen and Amaro are  the emergency operations which need due attention and follow up of the Field Office.

Though majority of IDPs returned to their home in March 2019; access to assistance, inadequacy of assistance, and reported damage and losses have been reported as challenges by the returnees. From the onset of the emergency period till the current stage of early recovery and rehabilitation; UNHCR continued to support the Government effort by designing and funding various multi sectoral project activities to address the pressing needs of the IDP/returnee population in partnership with implementing partners; Action for the Needy in Ethiopia (ANE), Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), Arbaminch ,  Dilla and Bule Hora Universities.

The Snr. Protection Associate is supervised by the Head of Field Office in the field and performs a variety of functions related to the program in close consultation with Program Unit.

The incumbent receives guidance from relevant protection staff of Representation Office. He/she may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the functions. UNHCR Manual, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the Programme Associate. S/he is expected to stay abreast of the challenges posed to the region by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments.

The incumbent is expected to have contacts within the organization as well as with partners and other stakeholders to collect protection information, monitor protection responses and implement administrative requirements.

Living and Working Conditions:

The incumbent position will be based in Dilla which is the main town for the  Gedio zone. The Field Office is in charge of  the IDP returnee operations of west Guji and Gedeo zones whereby East Guji ,Borena and Konso IDP operations are often covered by the same Office.

The security situation of West Guji zone is recurrently unpredictable and volatile due to the ongoing military operations against unidentified armed groups by the Government particularly in some kebeles of the woredas hosting IDP returnees. Whereas the Gedeo zone is relatively calm though social tension remains prevalent on the kebeles bordering West Guji woredas.

Thus, movement restrictions to the field locations are often imposed by UNDSS based on the overall security circumstances, and curfew are in place especially on transportation services which is usually limited to 6:00 pm.

The service facilities available at  the location includes regular road transportation of asphalt grade from Bule hora town to Addis Ababa and vice versa whereas the air transport is available via Awasa airport, which is found on about 215 kilometre,   accommodations are available on rental basis through private arrangement.

The health service is accessible in the town  from Government general hospital , and other private medium clinics. Besides, the medical referrals are arranged to Dilla and Awasa which are located on the distance of 100 kilometre  and 198 kilometres  respectively.

Access to internet and phone services is available  but poor connectivity persists in the Operational area especially West Guji. Moreover, banking services including ATM are available at Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and various private banks such as Awash, Oromia International , Wegagen, Nib, Buna, Berhan, and Dashen etc.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

• IT-Computer Literacy,
• PR-Protection-related guidelines,
• standards and indicators,
• PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Certifications

• International Law – Other,
• Political Science – Other

Competencies

• Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

• An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by a competency-based interview.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.