Community-Based Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

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 GBV.
• 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 cases.
• 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 Community-Based Protection Associate works under the supervision of the Snr Emergency Coordinator in Semera Office. The incumbent of the position supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures, and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.

The conflict in Tigray has impacted the Eritrean refugee operation in the camps, and while Aysaita and Barhale Eritrean refugee camps, which report to Samara Field Office, were less impacted, there are still important protection challenges and particularly for Barhale, an impact on delivery of basic services (financial and communication services). The overall registered Eritrean refugee population registered under level 3 standards stands at 148,889 individuals. Eritrean refugees in the Afar camps are comprised of around 50% female, and mostly young with children making up close to 60% of the population, and youth between 15-24 around 18%. The average family size stands at 4.6 individuals. The conflict in Tigray has resulted in an increase of IDP situation across the region and neighboring regions (Amhara and Afar), which UNHCR is scaling up its response towards. The exact number of affected IDPs populations in most locations is still unclear, including population breakdown, although some authorities have claimed over 2 million IDPs.

The conflict in Tigray has resulted in an increase of IDP situation across the region and neighboring regions (Amhara and Afar), which UNHCR is scaling up its response towards. The exact number of affected IDPs populations in most locations is still unclear, including population breakdown, although some authorities have claimed over 2 million IDPs.

The community based Associate will have daily contacts with POCs and staff in the various functional units at the Field Office. The community based Associate 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.

Location Semera, Eth-Fed D-R

Salary Grade Hardship Level

Family Location Type Non-Family

Job Requirements

 Minimum Qualifications

• 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

• Development, Human Rights, International Law
• International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,

 (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Desirable

• UNHCR learning programs (PLP).
• Knowledge of MSRP.

Functional Skills

• IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) IT-Computer Literacy
• UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
• PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies
• CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
• PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
• TR-Capacity Building
• (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Communication
• Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client & Result Orientation
• Managerial Competencies
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Managing Performance

Cross-Functional Competencies

• Stakeholder Management
• Planning and Organizing
• Political Awareness

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

CLICK HERE