Deadline for ApplicationsSeptember 22, 2025
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)E (most hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family with Residential Location
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA5
Target Start Date2025-10-01
Terms of Reference1. General Background:
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 descriptions. 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 UNHCRโs core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment:
- 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.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions, and social needs assessment.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan for PoC as part of the protection strategy.
- Contribute to assessing child protection issues through multi-sectoral and protection-specific assessments.
- Contribute to the formulation of the child protection strategy and planning.
- Ensure compliance with UNHCRโs child protection policy, priorities and commitments, as well as other aligned policies on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), GBV, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment.
- Undertake consultation with children, youth, and communities and provide information on appropriate and meaningful approaches for their effective participation and programmatic responses on child protection issues.
- Provide input to the Protection Unit to inform advocacy to address key child protection concerns.
- 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.
- 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.
- Conduct Best Interest Procedures for individual children at heightened risks and prepare Best Interests Determination report, when required.
- Implement and monitor child protection SOPS and ensure up-to-date and effective referral to key services.
- Store and update the child's case file in UNHCR databases in accordance with UNHCR standards.
- Engage with children, youth, and community members in identifying community-based child protection activities.
- Monitor and support appropriate care arrangements for unaccompanied and separated children and referral of children to ICRC or other relevant partners for the establishment of family linkages.
- Regularly report on emerging protection issues and concerns voiced by children, youth, and communities, and assist in drafting reports, compiling, and preparing data for the protection unit/section.
- Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities
- Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls:
The incumbent will be required to report weekly/monthly and otherwise as needed on their performance in the following manner:
Reporting dates:
The incumbent will be required to report weekly/monthly to the head of the unit.
Final Evaluation: The final evaluation will be carried out by the Supervisor due 31 December 2025
1. Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
โCertificates and/or Licenses
International Law; Political Science;
โRelevant Job Experience is Essential
โFunctional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
โLanguage Requirements
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
โCompetency Requirements
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
Not specified.
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
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 speak up and seek guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
Desired Candidate Profile:
*Minimum of 1 year experience in Child Protection with experience in Best Interest Procedure is required.
*Relevant experience with UNHCR or partner on case management procedures is required.
*Relevant experience in psychological first aid and psychosocial support in child protection is desirable.
*Knowledge of UNHCR reporting and assistance systems including RAIS and V4 is an added value is desirable.
**In accordance with our dedication to promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply**
Standard Job Description
Required Languages English
,Arabic
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationA written assessment will be conducted as part of the selection processThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
RemoteNo