Community-based Protection Associate at UNHCR

The Community-Based Protection Associate is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Community-Based Protection Associate works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the Community-Based Protection Associate is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of PoC. The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.

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

Assist functional units, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection strategy and operational procedures.
Through relationships with PoC and network of partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
Work with host communities to identify opportunities for national civil society involvement in improving the protection of PoC.
Work with implementing and operational partners as well as with displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to SGBV.
Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
Support participatory assessments by multifunctional teams and ongoing consultation with PoC.
Assist in planning and monitoring of programmes and budgets, with an AGD perspective
Build office capacity for community-based protection through training and establishing systems for community mobilization and participation of PoC.
Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
Ensure community understanding of UNHCR’s commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
Contribute to the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR’s work.
Initiate AGD sensitive interventions at the appropriate level on community-based protection issues and to respond to protection concerns and incidents within the office, with external interlocutors, groups and individuals based on agreed parameters.
Identify and select which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
Intervene with authorities on protection.
Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
Recommend and prepare payments to individual
Perform other related duties as required.

Education & Professional Work Experience

3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma, or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
English language is essential for the work of the post.
Another UN language and good knowledge of the local language is an asset.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

Experience of working in humanitarian programmes in the role which required day-to-day engagement with multiple implementing partners.

Desirable:

UNHCR learning programmes (PLP). Knowledge of MSRP.

Functional Skills

*IT-MS Office Applications

*IT-Computer Literacy

IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

UN-UN/UNHCR Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures

PR-Community-based Protection

PR-Community-based Protection – Principles and methodologies

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community

PG-Experience with coordinating with Implementing Partners (Government/INGO/Corporate)

*TR-Capacity Building***

How to apply

Interested applicants should express their interest by completing the attached new Personal History Form and the Supplementary form if needed in full. Please note that submission of the Personal History Form which is not signed may render the application ineligible for consideration. Submission of the Personal History Form is MANDATORY and cannot be substituted by a Curriculum Vitae. Please quote the Vacancy Notice Number and Position title as the subject of your email.

The Expression of Interest for the position should be sent only by Email to: