Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer (N)

E (most hardship)Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential LocationDanger PayNairobi (CO), KenyaNOANational Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular AssignmentNo2025-01-01November 23, 2024

Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters where UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach, UNHCR performs a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function through the positions of P5/P4 Protection Cluster Coordination Officer and the supporting positions of P3 Protection Cluster Coordination Officer, P2 Associate Protection Cluster Coordination Officer and/or P1 Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer normally reports directly to a higher-grade Protection Cluster Coordination Officer. The UNHCR Representative has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer supports UNHCR to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The position reinforces UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency functions by providing support to the role of Cluster Coordinator in ensuring UNHCR's leadership within a diverse protection community.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer is expected to support the work of the Protection Cluster through the provision of support in analysis, organization and reporting. This includes the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the incumbent supports an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer supports the Protection Cluster Coordinator in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms, for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age, gender and diversity in the humanitarian response and early recovery activities.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer works closely with multi-functional Protection Cluster Support staff in the areas of data and information management, needs assessment, profiling, registration, reporting and advocacy.

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
- Support the Protection Cluster to ensure that protection informs and shapes the overall humanitarian response and that the protection response is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan.
- Participate in meetings in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster meetings are consultative and results oriented.
- Support coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities
- Support the coordination and conduct of Protection Cluster or Inter-Cluster level protection needs assessments, including participatory assessments of affected populations.
- Provide inputs to development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the Protection Cluster for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.
- Assist in the delivery of protection training activities for Protection Cluster members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
- Contribute to initiatives building the protection capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
- Through Cluster-wide consultative processes, provide input into the development of global protection policy and standards led by the Global Protection Cluster.
- Support reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
- Support and facilitate the Protection Cluster information management strategy and mechanisms.
- Contribute to Protection Cluster's regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population, response activities, challenges and recommendations.
- Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
- Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster - for clearance by Senior management.
- Facilitate cluster meetings, work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
- Facilitate negotiation with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members on the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law; International Law; Political Sciences;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Coordination Lrng Prog;

Tri-Cluster Knowl/Coord Skills;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law.

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
LE-Human Rights Law
LE-International Refugee Law
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

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.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The incumbent of this position reports to the Protection Officer based in Zalingei, and is expected to provide day-to-day leadership for matters related to the Protection Cluster in West and Central Darfur. This includes chairing meetings, remotely and in-person, and preparing meeting minutes that are timely and accurate. As a result of the ongoing conflict, Protection Cluster partners have modified their programming and, in some cases, changed the areas in which they are physically present. In addition, some humanitarian actors are attempting to establish presence in West and Central Darfur for the first time or to re-establish/expand their physical presence. The incumbent is expected to maintain ongoing outreach efforts to ensure that all relevant humanitarian actors are encouraged to join Protection Cluster meetings and participate in cluster-related initiatives and processes, including regular reporting and contributing to advocacy messages. In particular, outreach to national and local organizations is expected to be prioritized.

Well developed political sensitivity and maturity is required of the incumbent in order to navigate the complicated and volatile context, and manage relationships with diverse stakeholders. The incumbent is expected to be able to recommend and implement advocacy and negotiation strategies that successfully advance the interests of people we serve while also being inclusive and conflict sensitive. The incumbent is expected to be based in Zalengei and to undertake regular field missions to support Protection Cluster initiatives and partners in Central and West Darfur.

The incumbent is expected to join the duty station upon their appointment.

The incumbent should have experience working in a conflict-affected or volatile security context and a proven track record implementing protection activities in emergencies serving IDPs and affected host communities. The incumbent should have capacity to apply key protection and protection mainstreaming principles including Do No Harm, AGDM, PSEA, AAP, conflict sensitivity and community-based approaches in the implementation of routine tasks, as well as to apply those principles in novel and emergency situations. S/he must have knowledge of key protection standards related to internal displacement and international humanitarian law, and IASC coordination architecture.

S/he will be expected to have demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills and the capacity to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders and to motivate the engagement of protection actors in cluster coordination processes, as well as to coordinate effectively with key coordination stakeholders, including OCHA and A-ICCG members, and to provide leadership to the Protection AoRs. The incumbent should have demonstrated ability to collaboratively identify, analyze and respond to capacity gaps among Protection Cluster partners.

The incumbent should have experience initiating and following through on advocacy interventions on protection issues towards local authorities, armed forces/groups and other actors. S/he should have the ability to represent UNHCR effectively at the field level, advocating for rights and needs of forcibly displaced persons and ensuring compliance with international protection standards. S/he must also have the flexibility to take on different tasks, and to multi-task, in response to contextual changes and shifting organizational priorities. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic are required.

Additional Assets:
• Familiarity with UNHCR’s operations in Darfur.
• Knowledge of key stakeholders in Darfur.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science

Certifications

HCR Coordination Learning Program - UNHCR, Tri_Cluster Knowledge/Coord Skills - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance