Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeNOB
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2024-04-01
Job Posting End DateFebruary 19, 2024
Standard Job Description
Associate Protection Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.
The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that persons of concern are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of persons of concern. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.
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.
- Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application through mainstreaming in all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to persons of concern.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for persons of concern in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan.
- Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities which integrate AGD sensitive procedures.
- Oversee and manage individual protection cases, including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern.
- Participate in the organisation and implementation of participatory assessments and methodologies throughout the operations management cycle and promote AGD sensitive programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Promote and integrate community-based approaches to protection and contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Support activities in the area of risk management related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, fraud, case-processing, data protection, and human rights due diligence at country level.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
- Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law, International Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field
Certificates and/or Licenses
Protection Learning Programme
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
Desirable
Field experience, including in working directly with communities. Good IT skills including database management skills.
Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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.
Desired Candidate Profile Excellent knowledge of the advocacy, legal and policy aspects and legislation in Serbia. Ability to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection. Excellent reporting and writing skills. Knowledge of English and Serbian languages mandatory.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languagesSerbian
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
UNHCR Serbia is located in UN House in Bulevar Zorana Djindjica 64 St. in Novi Belgrade. The UN House adheres to all UN prescribed safety standards.
Furthermore, UNHCR Serbia puts all efforts to enable its staff and personnel to work in healthy and safe conditions. Supervisors and managers in UNHCR Serbia are accountable for developing standards to keep everyone safe based on timely analysis of relevant operational risks (what could cause injury or illness). They are responsible to put effective measures in place to manage the possible risks or occupational hazards.
The office strives that all its workforce receives training and support related to workplace safety, health and wellbeing. Workplace incidents, injuries and illnesses have not been reported so far.
Serbia is an easy place to stay healthy and no major health risks persist in the country. There are no specific vaccinations required for Serbia, however, one should make sure that routine vaccinations are up to date. Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member, engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration.
Serbia is currently subject to environmental issues in the form of pollution with the capital city of Belgrade being particularly susceptible to air pollution. Traffic in Serbia can be congested and there are strong traffic rules in place to maintain road safety.
See also:
Serbia - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC
Nature of Position:
UNHCR’s engagement in Serbia builds on 47 years of supporting refugee, displacement, and statelessness issues since 1976. Over one million refugees and migrants have arrived in Serbia since 2015 European Refugee Crisis, of whom the majority has continued their journey towards the European Union. While for many Serbia is a country of transit, it is also a country of asylum and international protection. UNHCR in the Republic of Serbia works with the relevant State authorities, donors and the civil sector towards achieving sustainable developmental, institutional protection and solutions-oriented interventions.
The UNHCR Representation in Serbia has currently 47 staff and affiliates in its workforce.
The position No. 33043251 Associate Protection Officer NOB has the main function to manage the protection/ legal aspects of the Office in UNHCR and reports directly to the Representative.
The incumbent of this position leads and supervises UNHCR Serbia Protection Legal Team of (in total) 4 team members (Protection Associate, Senior Legal Assistant, Child Protection Assistant and Associate Legal Officer/ IUNV).
The incumbent is responsible for designing the advocacy, legal and policy aspects of the office strategy in Serbia, liaising with government, international organizations, donors, and other stakeholders.
The Associate Protection Officer NOB works in close coordination with focal points in the Regional Bureau, other relevant sections in HQ and coordinates protection/legal inputs for reporting, designing projects, capacity development work, etc.
It is of utmost importance that the incumbent keeps abreast of manifold developments within UNHCR protection policies, as well as to have a good understanding of the political context, policy and legal developments in the region and beyond, as well as functioning of the state administration to be able to provide advice to the Representative, as well as to provide relevant guidance to colleagues and coordinate protection/ legal aspects of the work of the office.
The incumbent is also member of the UN Results group 3, is a focal point for implementation of the Regional IPA III project on protection sensitive migration management in Western Balkans, etc.
Living and Working Conditions:
The Republic of Serbia is located in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. The situation in Serbia is generally quiet; all international agencies consider threats to their staff to be low. Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is classified as \"A\" family duty station. It has good health, education, and transportation facilities. The city lies at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. With a population of around 1.667 million it is one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. Its name in Serbian translates to White City. Serbia has a continental climate with four seasons and uniformly spread precipitation. The official language is Serbian. Serbian is written in both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets. Belgrade is in the Central European Time (CET) zone (GMT+1 hour). Summer time (GMT+2 hours) lasts from the end of March until the end of October. The local currency is dinar (RSD). Health care system is available at all levels. No specific immunization is required from travelers entering the country. Visa to enter Serbia is not required for holders of UNLPs and citizens of all EU countries, USA, Canada and some other countries. The nationals of countries for which visa is required need to submit the application at the nearest embassy prior to travel. There is a variety of sport and cultural activities offered (e.g. sightseeing, theatres, cinemas, exhibitions), and restaurants that offer typical local as well as international cuisine. The local currency is dinar (RSD).
For more details, please visit:
http://www.serbia.com/
https://www.beograd.rs/en/living-in-belgrade/
Additional Qualifications
Skills
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science
CertificationsHCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Additional InformationFunctional clearance is not required.
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance