Protection Associate (Community-Based) at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband. Today, over 65 years later, our organization is still hard at work, protecting and assisting refugees around the world.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Protection Associate (Community-Based)

Position Number: 10030863
Location: Ogoja - Cross River State
Category: Protection Operational Support
Grade: GS - 6
Duration of Contract: One Year
Contract Type:Fixed Term Appointment

Context, Duties and Responsibilities

• The Protection Associate reports to the Protection Officer (Community-Based). 
• He/she will monitor 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 incumbent will be expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors.
• He/she will contribute 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 will also ensure that persons of concern 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.

Job Responsibilities
The incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

• Assist functional units, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection delivery strategy and operational procedures.
• Through relationships with persons of concern 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 persons of concern 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 persons of concern.
• 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 persons of concern.
• 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 persons of concern.
• 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 interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
• Perform other relevant duties as required

Essential Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of the Secondary education; Training/certificate in International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights, International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology, International Law or other clearly related disciplines is required.
• Minimum of 6 years previous relevant job experience.
• Computer skills (MS Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).
• Fluency in English and working knowledge of another relevant UN language or local language.       
• Desirable Qualifications & Competencies
• Knowledge of Administrative/financial rules, procedures, processes in the context of UNHCR offices and Field operations.
• UNHCR learning programmes (PLP).
• Knowledge of MSRP.

Application Closing Date
Midnight; 28th January, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidate should:
Click here to apply online
Or
Email Application

• Kindly prepare an application/letter of motivation, Resume as well as fully completed and signed UNHCR Personal History Form (P11)
• Submit the application, resume and Personal history form (P11) via email to: niglahr@unhcr.org quoting in the subject line the vacancy number and title of the position (VERY IMPORTANT).
• Kindly make sure you use the "UNHCR Personal History Form".
• Kindly note that a written test will be conducted for this position which will be followed by a competency based interview.

Click Here to Download UNHCR Personal History Form (P11) (Doc)

Note

• "There is no need to send other CERTIFICATES with the application at this stage".
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
• Applications from female candidates are strongly encouraged.