GradeGS5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonTemporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment
Hardship LevelD
Family TypeNon Family<p></p><p></p>
Residential location (if applicable)
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2024-01-01
Target End Date2024-07-31
Job Posting End DateOctober 21, 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 ProfileOPERATIONAL CONTEXT
The area of responsibility of the UNHCR Sub-Office in Duhok includes Duhok Governorate and Zakho Independent Administration (ZIA), which together host over 90,000 refugees and asylum seekers in four refugee camps, 1 transit facility, and out-of-camp locations. Out of the total, more than 94 percent are of Syrian nationality as well as some Turkish and Iranian nationals. Nearly 60 per cent reside in refugee camps while 40 percent reside in urban and rural areas. There are also some estimated 330,000 internally displaced Iraqis (IDPs) who have settled in 15 camps and urban locations. While Iraq is not a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, the country is a signatory to most of the United Nations human rights Instruments (ICCPR, ICESR, CERD, CRC, CEDAW, CMW, etc.). UNHCR Duhok leads protection interventions for refugees and IDPs through a human rights and community-based approach and supports peaceful co-existence with host communities. The protection environment in the region is generally favorable and not expected to change significantly in the coming year. Local authorities and host communities remain welcoming and accommodating towards the refugee and IDP populations. However, the lack of an effective legal framework for refugee protection, the challenging economic situation facing displaced families, and security constraints in Iraq affect prospects for solutions for both refugees and IDPs. IDPs face specific protection concerns such as legal challenges in obtaining civil registration documents, accessing available public services, and seeking legal remedies and government support. Refugees are often expected to obtain security clearances prior to registration, and accessing identification documents, and are detained for irregular entry.
The Senior Protection Assistant works under the direct supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer in Sub-Office Duhok within the General Protection unit and will be covering asylum seeker and refugee populations in Duhok and Zakho. The staff member works to promote access to rights, as well as responding to rights violations, mainstreaming protection as a cross-cutting theme as part of the protection response. S/he supports protection monitoring through household visits, community meetings, and engagement with key informants and partners while mainstreaming human rights, community-based protection, age, gender and diversity approaches and ensuring accountability towards affected populations.
The incumbent is expected to understand the national refugee and IDP protection and solutions environment to support the implementation of the protection and legal response implemented by UNHCR and its partners. The candidate should have a solid understanding of standards related to refugee and internal displacement and is expected to keep abreast of political, socio-economic, and legal developments in the country that may affect the situation of refugees and IDPs. S/he will conduct assessments and contribute to documents such as thematic briefing notes/assessments, protection profiles, and mission/operational reports. As such, the candidate should have good analytical and drafting skills in English.
The incumbent will be participating in outreach missions, and helpdesks across Duhok and Zakho to support the identification of persons with specific needs through individual assessments as well as making referrals to UNHCR and partners. The staff member maintains a cordial working relationship with all the relevant stakeholders including local authorities and operational partners to maintain the protection space for the people we serve. The Senior Protection Assistant supports the planning and implementation of protection services for refugees implemented by UNHCR and partners, monitoring the impact, gaps and challenges. The candidate is expected to have good coordination, organizational, and multi-tasking skills. Experience in monitoring project implementation would be an asset.
The desired candidate should have experience working with asylum seekers, refugees, IDPs and an understanding of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law and protection principles. Experience in protection and individual case management would be an asset. They should have good partner management skills, communication skills, and an ability to manage multiple priorities and short deadlines. A good knowledge of written and spoken English, Kurdish, and Arabic languages is required. Knowledge of Badini is desirable, noting the use of the dialect in Duhok specifically.
Desirability Criteria:
โข Experience in working with refugees and IDPs
โข Individual Case Management
โโข โReporting experience ( (not a standalone reporting function but as part of protection experience)
Functional ClearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)
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Desired languages
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Additional Qualifications
SkillsIT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
Education
CertificationsInternational Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Work Experience
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