Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-07-01
Job Posting End DateJune 4, 2023
Standard Job DescriptionSenior Protection Assistant Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior Protection 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 Protection 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 Protection 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 Field(s) of Education Not applicable Certificates and/or Licenses International Law; Political Science; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential: Not specified. Desirable: Not specified. 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.
Desired Candidate Profile Title of Position: Senior Protection Assistant
Position Number: 10033988
Category & Level: General Service, G5
UNHCR Guayaquil, Ecuador
Effective date: 1 July 2023
Duration: Initially one year - Fixed Term Appointment
(upon medical clearance, references and vaccinations check)
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Since 2000, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has worked in Ecuador to protect and assist one of the largest population of recognized refugees in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2016, more than six million Venezuelans have left their country;
Ecuador is a destination and transit country for persons in need of international protection, with more than 70,000 recognized refugees (mainly Colombians) and an ongoing influx of refugees. The South American country has also become a main destination for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, ranking third after Colombia and Peru. More than 500,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants are estimated to be residing in Ecuador, with less than half of them holding a legal status.
Since 2022 the increasing security setting in Guayaquil had a significant impact on the economy, affecting refugees, migrants and locals alike and mining the socio-economic inclusion strategy. This downturn deepened human rights gaps which will adversely affect refugees and migrants, the vast majority of whom work in the informal sector, lack a social safety net and cannot cover their basic needs, such as rent and food and are prone to discriminatory attitudes.
UNHCR’s operation in Ecuador is fundamentally driven to deliver protection and solutions to a variety of people forced to flee and stateless people in partnership and close collaboration with national authorities as well as non-governmental organizations and communities. Particular attention and specific multi-faceted protection and assistance is often provided within short timeframes and at times little resources in demanding operational environment.
UNHCR seeks to recruit persons devoted to the purposes of the Sub-Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Guayaquil who is committed to humanitarian principles and holds functionally relevant work experience in the area of Protection. The Protection Unit covers four main areas: Legal Support, Community Based Protection, Resettlement and Registration and gives direct support in terms of capacity building as well as advisory service to Ecuadorian authorities currently functioning on the national territory: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, National Assembly, Human Mobility Board, Human Rights Secretariat, Judicial Council, Constitutional Court, Ombudsman, Public Defender and local authorities. Furthermore, the incumbent will co-lead the Refugees and Migrants Working group (GTRM) and supervise the coordination of the direct register implementation.
ELIGIBILITY
- External candidates must be legally present in Ecuador at the time of application, recruitment and hire.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
A) English language is desirable (B2 level).
B) A technical test may be administered to shortlisted candidates.
C) 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 recommended candidate(s) will be required to provide the proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): Spanish
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Desired languagesEnglish
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Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
Skills
EducationBA: Law, BA: Social Science
CertificationsInternational Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
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Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance