Protection Assistant- UNOPS LICA-4

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA4

Target Start Date2024-07-01

Job Posting End DateJune 19, 2024

Terms of ReferenceIMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• This position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Candidates must be legally present in México at the time of application, recruitment, and hire. Only Mexicans or candidates holding a permanent residency or valid work permit in México will be considered eligible.

• Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and 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. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

• Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might/could include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

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

• This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 31/12/2024 with possibility of extension.

• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations. UNHCR also offers comprehensive medical insurance and pension plans.

1. General Background

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.

Mexico is a country of destination, transit, and origin, thus UNHCR is supporting the Government and other actors to build a stronger asylum system that allows asylum seekers and refugees to fully exercise their human rights, from the moment of entry into Mexico, to when a durable solution is found. However, it is crucial to work on alternative migratory pathways and other forms of complementary protection to preserve the integrity of the asylum system in such a complex and dynamic context of human mobility. Such dynamics particularly affects refugees and asylum seekers with specific protection needs due to the interaction of different factors related to their profiles, their journey and the conditions in their country of origin.

Over recent years, Mexico has evolved from being a country predominantly of origin and transit for many refugees and asylum-seekers, to also being a country of destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking international protection from within the region and beyond. The exponential growth in the number of asylum applications in Mexico, which reached a historical record of over 130,000 in 2021 and 118,478 in 2022, has posed multiple challenges to its asylum system and to durable solutions, which has already been strained over the past years.

UNHCR Mexico has progressively strengthened its protection response, including registration procedures in proGres, robust case management and identity systems to provide the required protection services, cash-based assistance -when applicable- and other forms of humanitarian assistance, legal and psychosocial interventions, as well as the establishment of community protection networks. The increasing numbers of asylum seekers in Mexico and, therefore of UNHCR assistance, require a solid capacity to provide timely and effective registration procedures and referral pathways to appropriate services in all Field Offices, as well as together with key partners.
The Protection Assistant is a member of the protection team in Tuxtla Gutierrez and is supervised by the Senior Field Associate. The incumbent is responsible for supporting all protection activities within AoR that consist -but are not limited to-: (i) registration, which may also include functions related to reception, filing and data management; (ii) liaise with partners to ensure timely identification and referral of persons of concern for protection follow up; (iii) providing legal and basic material assistance and information to refugees and asylum-seekers, through local partners and ensuring access to a fair and efficient refugee status determination (RSD) procedure, including those in detention and (iv) promoting livelihoods and local integration.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Field Associate, the Protection Assistant will be required to:

• Conduct registration interviews in accordance with local SOPs and registration standards.
• Provide counselling and conduct protection interviews to persons with specific needs and ensure timely referral to protection follow-up as required.
• Observe and respect protection related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Provide functional and administrative support in all protection related activities with implementing and operational partners.
• Provide functional and administrative support in implementing participatory approaches, needs assessments, monitoring, reporting and case management.
• Support assessments on durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
• Facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents.
• Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
• Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
• Carry out AGD protection activities, especially Child protection and SGBV protection activities, under the determination on the part of the Senior Field Associate or the Protection Officer when the first one is not present.
• Perform other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions.
• 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.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

Essential:
• University degree (Bachelor’s) or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Relations, Law, Statistics, Information Technology or related fields with 1 year of relevant experience, or 2 years of relevant experience with High School Diploma in lieu of the Bachelor’s degree.

Desirable:
Certificates and/or Licenses: Protection

b. Work Experience

• At least 1 year of professional work experience in the relevant area/programmes is an asset, such as experience working in the UN or other international development organization;

c. Key Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in UNHCR’s mandate, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

d. Desirable qualifications/skills/job experience:

• Knowledge of UNHCR mandate, programmes and activities.
• Completion of UNHCR’s basic learning programmes
• Previous experience working with UNHCR registration ecosystem (PRIMES) is an asset.

e. Competencies and values:

• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Teamwork and respect for diversity
• Commitment to continuous learning
• Client and result orientation
• Planning and organizing
• Analytical Thinking
• Technological awareness
• Communication
• Flexibility

Standard Job Description

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

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Work Experience

Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-BasedNo