JPO - Associate Protection Officer in Caracas, Venezuela

This vacancy is open to Norwegian nationals of maximum 32 years of age at the time of application. Former Norwegian JPOs are not eligible to apply. Venezuela is facing a critical political, social and economic crisis resulting in hyperinflation, shortages of food, medicine and basic supplies, and deterioration of health, education and basic infrastructure such as water, electricity, transport and urban services. Drastic reduction in production capacities in the agricultural, pharmaceutical and other sectors have further aggravated the supply situation.

In addition, the protection risks of the population are growing. The country faces high levels of insecurity with an increase in homicides and extortion. This is particularly sensitive in the main border areas with Colombia and Brazil where there is an increasing presence of armed groups. The security situation in the country has deteriorated in the last months.
 
The deterioration of the situation has triggered an accelerated movement of people from interior states towards border areas where there is much more economic activity and where thousands of people cross the border daily for economic and other reasons. Several Venezuelan nationals are undertaking pendular cross-border movements to, for example, buy staples and medicines, access medical attention or work, and return to Venezuela.

As a result, serious issues around the deterioration of national protection services, particularly for women and children, and the increase of human rights violations have emerged causing internal displacements as well as outflow to neighbouring countries. The most affected population are women and adolescent girls head of households, unaccompanied and separated children, indigenous populations, persons with serious medical conditions, undocumented persons, persons with disabilities in particular persons with HIV, older persons and LGBTI persons. Considering the above mentioned context, UNHCR is working in a mixed scenario where refugees, host population, persons in transit to other countries, persons at risk of statelessness, and IDPs live together in the same communities.

In January 2019, UNHCR started coordinating the protection cluster under the Humanitarian Country Team structure. As protection cluster lead, UNHCR engages the sector members in the protection risks analysis and protection responses in the country, promoting efficient interagency referral pathways and protection services.

UNHCR is also supporting a national protection network providing protection, counselling and assistance to persons in transit, IDPs, refugees, persons at risk of statelessness and returnees, as well as safe spaces for survivors of SGBV and children at risk.  In collaboration with various state actors and civil society organizations, UNHCR is supporting different community structures such as community outreach volunteers, community committees, safe spaces and community centres to improve the attention of persons with specific needs. UNHCR Office in Venezuela is also supporting communities and addressing their common needs through implementation of community projects, in particular along border areas. UNHCR also works with indigenous communities at risk of statelessness due to the lack of documentation.

The Representation in Caracas has one Field Unit and four Field Offices of which three are located on the border with Colombia (Guasdualito, San Cristobal and Maracaibo) and one in Ciudad Guyana (Bolivar state), which covers the border with Brazil, Guyana and the Caribbean.

The incumbent will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the community-based protection strategy and enhancing the capacity of UNHCR and partners on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Child Protection. In addition, this position will be responsible for strengthening coordination with the Areas of Responsibility on SGBV and CP within the Protection cluster.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT. 

Accountability (key results that will be achieved)

- Incorporate ADG focus in UNHCR operations.
- Ensure the implementation of the CBP strategy.
- Update SGBV and CP SOPs and follow up their implementation. 
- Coordinate a participatory assessments exercice in coordiantion with the Protection cluster.

Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)
This position will be part of the Protection Unit in Caracas and will be in charge of Community-Based Protection (CBP), Child Protection (CP) and Sexual and Gender-Based (SGBV) issues.

1) As part of its CBP responsabilities, the incumbent will:
- Coordinate the implementation of the CBP strategy by Field Offices and partners.
- Provide support and guidance to Field Offices and partners on issues related to community structures.
- Serve as focal point for all communication with communities, rolling out a community complaint and feedback mechanism (CFM) - including Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) - and the functioning of the information desks.
- Assist in building the capacity of UNHCR and partners¿ staff in SGBV, child protection ad Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, in particular on issues related to indigenous populations, older persons, LGBTI persons, persons living with HIV and persons with disabilities.
In the framework of the Protection Sector and in close coordination with the IM Officer, lead the organization of a participatory assessment.

2) As SGBV focal point, the incumbent will:
- Ensure that UNHCR is well represented in all relevant SGBV fora including the SGBV Area of Responsibility within the Protection cluster, led by UNFPA.
- Monitor the quality of services to SGBV survivors and ensure safe access to multi-sectoral assistance.
- Provide technical support to Field Offices and partners on SGBV prevention and response issues, monitoring closely SGBV programming and conducting capacity-building activities on SGBV.

3) As CP focal point, the incumbent will:
- Ensure that UNHCR is well represented in all relevant CP fora including the CP Area of Responsibility and Education sector led by UNICEF.
- In coordination with the CP Area of Responsibility, monitor the quality of services provided to children at risk and ensure that the child protection response is integrated in national child protection system.
- Provide technical support to Field Offices and partners on CP issues, monitoring CP programming and conducting capacity building activities on CP.

Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)

- Intervene with authorities and partners on protection issues.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION: Master's degree in Law, International Law, political Sciences or related field, obtained in an institution listed under whed.net.


WORK EXPERIENCE: Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience.


SKILLS:
- Excellent interpersonal and social skills.
- Proven analytical and communication capacities.
- Ability to provide precise technical and strategic advice and guidance to individuals and groups.
- Strong cultural sensitivity.
- Flexibility and adaptability in terms of frequent missions in border areas.
- Ability to work under pressure.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES.  Describe any experience or knowledge that would be an asset, such as: UNHCR Learning Programmes, other training, additional languages, Field/HQs experience, etc.

- Working knowledge of refugee law as well as relevant UNHCR policies and guidelines.
- Counseling refugees/asylum-seekers and individual case management.
- Understanding of UNHCR¿s operation in Venezuela.
- Ability and experience to deal with traumatized and vulnerable people, including women, children and persons with disabilities.
- Experience in planning and implementing training. Managerial Competencies:
M001: Empowering and Building Trust
M003: Judgement and Decision Making


Cross-Functional Competencies:
X001: Analytical Thinking
X002: Innovation and Creativity
X005: Planning and Organizing
X007: Political Awareness - Essential: English, Spanish
- Desirable: Any other UN language The supervisor will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the JPO. The manager will also ensure that the JPO is provided a thorough induction and orientation briefing, followed by on-the-job training as well as continuous guidance for training/learning opportunities throughout the assignment. In support to the manager, the JPO Unit  provides the Supervisory Guidelines upon recruitment/reassignment of the JPO. TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS

TRAINING COMPONENTS:
- Mandatory training courses:
1. Basic Security in the Field (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
2. Advanced Security in the Field  (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
3. Protection Induction Programme (PIP)
4. UN Course on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
5.    Orientation to IPSAS

Recommended training courses (available through Learn &Connect platform.)

- Age, Gender and Diversity Approach.
- Sexual and Gender-based Violence.
- Best Interests of the Child ¿ Basic Principles and Procedures.
- Community-Based Protection.

LEARNING ELEMENTS

- Write assessment reports pertaining to the protection situation in the operation.
- Analyze the protection situation in Venezuela and the local political, social and economic context. 
- Prepare guidance notes.
- Apply protection focus in operations and project proposals. Housing/accommodation: International UN staff must rent accommodation privately.
Health care: Health facilities are available in the public and private health sector. Private clinics that deliver reasonable services can be found in residential areas close to the UNHCR office.
Educational facilities: Public and private education is available at all levels, from pre-school to universities. Private education institutions (primary, middle and high school) offer programmes in English, French and German.
Security: Caracas is a C, Family duty-station. Security level is 3. Due to the security situation, and although there is no official curfew in place, staff are advised to seriously restrict their movements after dark (around 18:30 hours).
Other (transports, banks, etc) Infrastructure is generally good, with reasonable provision of public and basic services such as electricity, water, telephone and internet. However, these services has dramatically deteriorated due to the dire political and socio-economic situation.  The city is served by Simon Bolívar International Airport, about 60 minutes away from the capital, for daily national and international flights. There is a good number of banks that offer diverse financial services and allow ATM withdrawal as well as transactions online. The inflation is the highest in South America and probably in the world at about 700% per year.  Strict exchange rate control in place. Please note that the closing date for applications for this position is Sunday 28 July (midnight Geneva time).