Protection Associate

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

During times of displacement, we provide critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation and healthcare, as well as shelter, blankets, household goods and sometimes food. We also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home, and income-generating projects for those who resettle.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a UN agency dedicated to protecting and supporting refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. It was established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations General Assembly in the aftermath of World War II to address the refugee crisis that resulted from the war 12.

UNHCR’s mandate is to ensure protection and Assistance and lead international efforts to protect the rights and well-being of refugees. This includes providing life-saving assistance such as shelter, food, water, and medical care. Other services provided to the displaced under its mandate include, legal Support. The agency works to ensure that refugees can exercise their right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. It also supports the development and implementation of international refugee laws and policies as part of finding durable and lasting solutions to the people it works with and for.

The Protection associate roles will ensure deliver the task aligned to the mandate of protection assistance through the implementation of protection programming that will not be limited to direct implementation, coordination, capacity building and assistance of child protection, Gender based violence, border monitoring and general protection activities.

Supervision, induction and duty of care of UN Volunteers

UN Volunteers should be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel. Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to:

• Introductory briefings about the organisation and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, good cultural practice and orientation to the local environment.
• Support with arrival administration and official processes as required.
• Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear workplan and performance appraisal.
• Access to office space, equipment, IT support and any other systems and tools required to complete the objectives of the assignment including a host entity email address.
• Access to shared host entity corporate knowledge, training and learning.
• Ensure that UN Volunteers are provided all necessary security measures as per the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS);
• Leave management.
• DSA for official travel, when applicable.
• All changes in the Description of Assignment occurring between recruitment and arrival or during the assignment need to be formalized with the United Nations Volunteer Programme.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Assistant Protection Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Protection Associate will:

• 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 persons of concern.
• Provide advice on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
• Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for persons of concern.
• 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 persons of concern 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.
• Contribute to effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
• Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

13. Results/expected outputs:

• As an active [insert name Host Agency] team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR’s and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

o Protection of Populations of Concern: Ensuring the protection of refugees and other persons of concern through the application of international and national laws, UNHCR protection standards, and IASC
o Effective Protection Responses: Coordinating timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, and identifying opportunities to integrate protection safeguards in operational responses across all sectors.
o Community Engagement: Facilitating the participation of persons of concern in decision-making processes that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or identifying appropriate solutions to their problems.
o Monitoring and Reporting: Monitoring protection standards, operational procedures, and practices in protection delivery to ensure they align with international standards. This includes managing individual protection cases, such as those involving sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and child protection.
o Legal and Policy Support: Providing advice on protection issues, assisting in the issuance of personal documentation, and contributing to the development of protection strategies, including child protection and education plans.
o Building Relationships: Establishing and maintaining effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities, and protection and assistance partners

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed