Associate Protection Officer

This vacancy is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the USA and is addressed exclusively to candidates WITH THE US NATIONALITY. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub Office, the incumbent will assist the Head of Protection Section in dealing with core protection issues and assist in the overall coordination of protection key activities in all areas under SO responsibility (enhanced coordination and backlog management of RSD cases in the three camps and responding to protection concerns related to Burundian returnees). He/she will inform the head of section and the Head of Sub-Office on a regular basis on his/her work advancement and the main challenges to overcome. A weekly report is required from him/her. The incumbent will receive periodical feedback and orientations on the planning and continuity of his/her work.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT.

Accountability

¿ UNHCR RSD procedures are implemented in accordance with norms and practices of UNHCR, including policies relating to age, gender and diversity (AGDM). Individual cases are identified and processed within the timeframe according to SOPs.
¿ Child protection activities are reinforced through the implementation of the current strategy.
The database is regularly updated to ensure its efficient use.
Periodic protection analysis reports.
Regular feedback on protection reports mainly from the Senior Child Protection Assistants.

Responsibility

¿ Improve the quality of Refugee Status Determination through capacity-building of ONPRA staff on derivative status, case review and participation to the Joint Commissions (UNHCR-ONPRA);
¿ Contribute to the identification and follow-up of protection concerns for Burundian returnees. Participate to the elaboration, implementation and follow-up of a reintegration strategy of Burundian refugees into Burundi;
Supervise the preparation of BIAs and BIDs, review them and participate in child protection panels;
Conduct fraud investigation and participate in anti-fraud panels;
Participate in other protection related meetings;
¿ Receive and process requests for inter-camp transfers;
¿ Contribute to the implementation of SOPs for continuous registration by processing requests for bio data changes and changes of status (hold, inactivation, reactivation, closure of cases);

Authority

¿ Decision-making on biodata changes requests in the database to ensure continuous and accurate registration of beneficiaries
¿ Identification of strategies and policies relating to the continuous registration of refugees and accountability of the process;
¿ Participation in decision-making process during protection-related meetings (anti-fraud panels, etc).
Contribution to the definition of strategies relating to the protection section.
Although decision-making activities will be somewhat limited, the incumbent will be encouraged to take the initiative within the broad objectives of the terms of reference.


ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. 

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION: Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Law, International Law, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) may also be accepted. The degree must have been obtained in an accredited institution listed under www.whed.net

WORK EXPERIENCE: With a Master's degree, minimum 2 years of professionnal work experience relevant to the function (3 with a BA and 1 with a PhD) Eexperience preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law.

SKILLS:  Knowledge of international refugee law, international humanitarian law in general, human rights law and ability to apply relevant legal principles as well as identify potential gaps.
Basic knowledge in RSD, individual case management and child protection issues.
Knowledge of international legal framework governing refugees and returnees,  excellent research and writing skills, willingness to work throughout Burundi, capacity to adapt to changing requirements and to work both independently and in a team.


2.4 ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.  Define the educational background, the relevant job experience and the language(s) that are essential to perform the work of the position.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION: Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Law, International Law, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) may also be accepted. The degree must have been obtained in an accredited institution listed under www.whed.net
¿


WORK EXPERIENCE: With a Master's degree, minimum 2 years of professionnal work experience relevant to the function (3 with a BA and 1 with a PhD) Eexperience preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law.


SKILLS:  Knowledge of international refugee law, international humanitarian law in general, human rights law and ability to apply relevant legal principles as well as identify potential gaps.
Basic knowledge in RSD, individual case management and child protection issues.
Knowledge of international legal framework governing refugees and returnees,  excellent research and writing skills, willingness to work throughout Burundi, capacity to adapt to changing requirements and to work both independently and in a team.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES. 

Knowledge of UN policies, procedures
Field experience.
Individual interviews and case management; fraud investigation. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Code Managerial Competencies               

M001: Empowering and Building Trust
M002: Managing Performance
M003: Judgement and Decision Making

Code Cross-Functional Competencies      
X001: Analytical Thinking
X002: Innovation and Creativity
X007: Political Awareness
X009: Change Capability and Adaptability LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

- Essential: English, French
- Desirable: Any other UN language. SUPERVISION: The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the manager indicated under `Supervisor title and position number¿.  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
Please indicate at least 1-2 training courses relevant to the particular JPO function, available through Learn &Connect platform.

Child protection; DSR; conductiong an interview; resettlement.
The incumbent will have access to the UNHCR learning programmes on resettlement, protection and other relevant topics and skills managed by the agency¿s Global Learning Centre and partly implemented through the online Connect and Learn programme.


LEARNING ELEMENTS

Participation in all training dedicated to protection staff;

Upon completion of the assignment the JPO will have/ will be familiar with protection mechanisms, including protection interventions in case of emergency in the camps; camp management and monitoring of assistance offered to the beneficiaries; will learn to chair resettlement commissions and anti-fraud panels in the absence of the head of section; will have knowledge of durable solutions.

¿ Application of UNHCR¿s mandate, principles, code of conduct and protection principles.
¿ International and regional refugee protection standards and policies, with an emphasis on ensuring non-refoulement, non-discrimination, and voluntary repatriation.
¿ Analysis of large data sets and qualitative protection reports.
¿ Operational practices for communication and coordination within the Protection Section and between SO Ruyigi and others Field Protection Unit.
¿ Liaison with the Senior Protection Officer at the Branch Office for more complex and sensitive protection cases including fraud . LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DUTY STATION


Housing/accommodation: There is the possibility to find accommodation in the town with monthly rents around 400 USD to be accommodated in the UNHCR guesthouse which meets all security demands.    

Health care: Poor, in the event of need, staff are advised to seek medical assistance in Bujumbura

Educational facilities: Only local schools are available.

Security: The security situation is relatively calm but prone to some petty crime cases as elsewhere in the country.
Since April 2015, Burundi has been experiencing a volatile security situation due to the contestations of the outgoing President Pierre NKURUNZIZA's candidacy to the presidential election. Since then, unfortunate incidents occurred and human lives were lost. From the peaceful protests at the very beginning of the contestation, information relating to the creation of rebel movements was received. The region in which UNHCR SO Ruyigi operates has not been spared.
Field teams travel from Ruyigi to Kavumu camp (Cankuzo province) and from Ruyigi to Bwagiriza camp (Ruyigi province) with an escort on a daily basis to assist the beneficiaries. Besides work-related movements, private movements (tourism) are particularly limited in the current context. The region security level is at 3.
It should be noted that the police, in collaboration with the population, often seize light weapons in the context of population disarmament.

The situation has remained volatile following the Constitutional Referendum of 17 May 2018.     

Other (transports, banks, etc) The town of Ruyigi is located 168 km from Bujumbura with the possibility of private and public transportation (with 25 seat minibuses, taxis, etc). Please note that the closing date for this JPO advertisement is Saturday 23 December 2019 (midnight Geneva time).