Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA5
Target Start Date2023-08-01
Job Posting End DateJuly 15, 2023
Terms of Reference1. General Background
The Senior Protection Assistant is a member of the Protection Unit and reports to the Protection Officer. The incumbent will be based in Bangkok to support the Office capacity to provide protection interventions and assist communication with Rohingya Persons of Concern to UNHCR, and in particular separated and unaccompanied minors. Subject to public health mandates and possible restrictions on travel, the incumbent is expected to spend a considerable amount of time travelling to Immigration Detention Centres (IDCs) or Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) facilities throughout the country where persons of concern are accommodated. The incumbent will also be involved, to a lesser extent, in protection activities with regards to urban refugees and asylum seekers in Thailand, mostly by providing protection counselling at the Bangkok Refugee Center (BRC).
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Relay general information on UNHCR role and possible solutions and/or awareness-raising sessions in Rohingya dialect/ language to individuals/groups concerned.
- Provide counselling to Rohingya persons of concern on main protection needs/risks and undertake follow-up interviews with Rohingya individuals/groups as may be needed. Register Rohingya POC, conducting registration interviews in line with UNHCR policy, collect and enter individual data into proGres Database.
- Assist in identifying protection intervention and durable solutions for Rohingya persons of concern.
- Provide accurate, timely and professional interpretation, from Rohingya dialect/language to English, to UNHCR staff and/or official Government counterparts, as needed, in the course of Protection-related interviews, group discussions, meetings, Protection follow-ups and other related activities.
- Conduct Best Interest Determination (BID) interviews and prepare BID assessments of Rohingya cases in IDCs and MSDHS facilities.
- Support participatory assessments, community focus group discussion and ongoing consultation with both Rohingya and urban persons of concern.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Provide Protection counselling to asylum seekers and refugees at the BRC or elsewhere. Refer cases to the supervisor/relevant entities should they require further action.
- Maintain Rohingya operational related financial transactions to prepare monthly petty cash account.
- Perform systematic data-entry in ProGres, related clerical functions and generate corresponding computer-based reports (e.g. EXCEL) on data gathered and uploaded accordingly.
- Perform other duties as may be needed and requested by the supervisor.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
- Missions to RTG’s facilities are undertaken. The incumber will receive queries from and provide counselling to Rohingya persons of concern. He/she will regularly provide the Protection Unit with mission reports on the activities and the situation in various facilities.
- Internal and external reporting processes, as well as statistical information, is completed and updated regularly.
4. Qualifications and Experience
Work Experience
- Experience (ideally in the Thai/South East Asia context) in working with refugees, in particular working with Rohingya refugees, and/or in related field would be an advantage.
- Experience working in detention centres or similar operating environments would be an asset.
- Excellent knowledge of UNHCR’s protection mandate is desired.
- Knowledge of ProGres and completion of UNHCR specific learning/training activities, including the Interview learning programmes (ILP) would be an asset.
- Candidates residing in Thailand are preferred
Required language Skills
- Excellent knowledge of Rohingya and English (written and oral) is essential
Standard Job Description Senior 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.
Required Languages Rohingya
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Desired Languages
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Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
CertificationsInternational Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance