Internal/External

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. 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 Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate 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

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
• Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
• Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
• Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
• 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 as part of the protection strategy.
• Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
• Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
• Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
• Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
• Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
• Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
• Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
• Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
• Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.
• Perform other related duties as required.

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.

Additional Information

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Nature of the position:

The Protection Associate reports to the Snr Emergency Coordinator and will support the Cluster functions in terms of practices, guidance, and tools in relation to management and coordination of displacement in camps/sites.

The UNHCR Field Office Samara is now consisting of two Field Units UNHCR Filed Unit Aysaita, and UNHCR Field Unit Barahle. The refugee camp of Berhale counts as of December 2021 20,639 refugees.  While Aysaita refugee camp counts 26,149 refugees as of December 2021. Aysaita is 70km far from Samara, Barahle is about 480km far from Samara.

Since July 2021, UNHCR has scaled up its interventions in Afar Region following the conflict in Tigray Region and subsequent internal displacements. With its partners, UNHCR is responding to the emergency caused by internal displacement by distributing core relief items, emergency shelter kits; enhanced its protection activities and actively participates to the coordination of the response together with the UN Sister Agencies, (I)NGOs as to support the regional authorities of Afar to respond to the multiple and urgent needs. As of January 2022, the estimated displacement in Afar Region according to governmental sources amounts to 413,000 IDPs. UNHCR is therefore increasing its staffing resources to respond to the additional needs, including provision of relief assistance, protection and coordination.

 The incumbent will be in regular contact with IDPs, services providers (shelter, wash, protection, health, nutrition, GBV, child protection) and local authorities (Camp management, Camp administration). He/ She will work with NGOs, government partners and UN Agencies to promote the use of a community-based approach to camp coordination and management. He/She should have strong report writing and analytical skills. She/ He should have experience in conducting assessments to understand IDP/returnee issues for support and guidance provided to partners. She/ He should have strong coordination skills and work well in a team of various actors including government counterparts. The incumbent will be working closely with the community to ensure timely provision of services rendered in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner and communicate any shortfalls and enhance monitoring of all UNHCR programs in operational area.

Living and working condition:

 Staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with limited resources in the Samara UNHCR Field Office and camps, Aysaita and Barhale.

 The Field Office deals primarily with several local camp environments with inherent risks to staff safety and health. Regardless of information campaigns, there are realistically few, or no COVID-19 protocols adhered to by the camp(s) population. Staff wear masks but will often work within large groups of refugees who do not. There are several clinics and pharmacies within a 5 km radius of Samara that offer basic services. The nearest hospital, run by the government, is located 10km away. It is recommended that staff with prescriptions should come with at least 3 months of prescription medication. There are, however, daily one -hour flights to the capital city, Addis Ababa, which could facilitate the replenishment of medical and other supplies. The region is extremely hot, especially from May to September. Consequently, the region is open for business from 7:00 am until 6:00 pm with most commercial and government entities closing between 12:00 noon to 03:00 pm.

 Presently, being a newly opened office, the Samara Field Office does not offer guest house services. Staff will have to rent in nearby hotels or subject to availability, seek accommodation in the WFP guest house. Banking services including ATM, Visa and Mastercard services are available in this town.

•  This Job is on a Temporary Appointment.
• Knowledge of Local Language (Afar and Amharic) is desirable.
• An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by competency-based interview.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

• Years of Experience / Degree Level
• For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Certificates and/or Licenses

• International Law, Political Science or other related field

Desirable

• Protection Learning Program

Functional Skills

• IT-Computer Literacy
• PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
• PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Communication
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

• Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• Political Awareness
• Stakeholder Management

Language Requirements

• For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can send their CV'S through

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