Protection Associate (Community Based Protection, CBP & Gender Based Violence, GBV) - UNOPS, L-ICA 6

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. Protection Associate

General Background

The Protection Associate (Community Based Protection & GBV) reports to the Snr Community-Based Protection Officer. He/she monitors 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 is 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 contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

He/she also ensures that persons of concern are involved with the Office 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. 

The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.

Protection activities are guided by the protection strategy and respect UNHCR¿s policy on age, gender and diversity (AGD) and Gender Equality.

The participation of persons of concern is facilitated through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches, throughout the entire Programme Cycle.

Protection incidents are immediately identified and addressed.

Purpose and scope of Assignment

- Assist the Protection Unit, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and Senior Management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection strategy. In this connection, to contribute to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.

-  Support the National Focal point for PSEA in the operation with the compilation of various reports and follow up with colleagues.

- Support Sector Leads with the implmentation and monitoring of status of the National Action Plan for GBV Prevention, Mitigation and Response Mainstreaming in the Ethiopia Operation.

- Through relationships with persons of concern and network of partners, stay abreast of political, legal, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide timely advice to the protection team.

- Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the persons of concern and advice the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities and marginalized groups.

-Develop and maintain constructive relationships with persons of concern, ensuring regular communication (iE.: organze monthly meetings with efugee leaders/member of the community)

- Work with host communities national, national civil society and the available national structures to identify opportunities for improving the protection of persons of concern.

- Work in coordination with partners to rollout joint community mobilization outreach on various thematic areas.

- Monitor the implementation of programs implemented by Community based partners and assist the Protection Officer Community Based in training staff and enhancing capacity

- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.

- Assist in analysing and providing comments on existing and draft legislation relating to expansion of protection and solutions to persons of concern.

- Provide advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.

- Based on the Operational context, contribute to analytical and legal analysis on the measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.

- Manage individual protection cases including detention cases, GBV and child protection cases and to monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents¿ensuring proper reporting and files, as well as data management through proGres

-Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.

- Prepare quality reports in a timely manner, namely those required by the office throughout the Programme Cycle, as well as protection reporting needs including Protection Referral Forms (PRFs), Best Interest Determinations (BIDs) for Children, Meeting Minutes, Notes for Files and any others required.

- Undertake protection support missions to the field when needed


- Establish and strengthen mechanisms for the prevention, risk management and survivor-centred response to GBV that are safe, ethical, multi-sectorial and sustainable

- Facilitate a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement a comprehensive GBV protection strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities and other minority groups

- Implement and oversee GBV Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for protection/solutions activities.

- Establish and strengthen GBV service referral pathways consultation with relevant actors and refugees which enable refugees to seek appropriate assistance and response for GBV incidents.

- Ensure the participation of refugees in the identification of risks and other situational factors which increase GBV exposure, as well as in prevention and response efforts to enhance protective factors, including through regular consultations, mobilization and capacity building   with groups most at risk and the wider refugee community.

- Assist in the roll out of the GBVIMS among partners

- Ensure GBV Mainstreaming across activities and sectors

- Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR staff and partners on all protection-GBV related issues.

- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection-GBV related programming with implementing and operational partners.

- Assist in build the protection-GBV capacity of national and local government, partners and persons of concerns

- Design, in collaboration with relevant partners, specific projects to address GBV protection risks faced by refugee women and girls.

- Strengthen Protection-GBV coordination mechanisms in collaboration with relevant partners. Working closely with protection actors and all services providers in the referral systems and relevant sectors.

- Regulalry attend the CP/GBV sub-working group monthly  meeting
- Conduct Periodic monitoring of protection-GBV in all the camp; including monitoring GBV IPs, and general protection environment and provide recommendations to improve the protection of refugees from GBV

Monitoring and Progress Controls

- Compilation of the Quarterly PSEA reports
- Contribute to the Mid-year review reports
- Contribute to other regional updates expected from the Regional Bureau and HQ-
- Ensure mid-year review of the National Action Plan for GBV Prevention, Mitigation and Response Mainstreaming in the Ethiopia operation and draft the report.
- Support the discussions on the roll out of GBV module across the operation
- Effective liaison with relevant implementing partners and national athorities for GBV

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

International Law, Political Science or other related field

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management

Desirable:
Protection Learning Programme

Excellent legal analytical skills (including analytical writing)
- Excellent written and spoken English language skills
- Good computer skills (MS Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).
- Fluency in English and working knowledge of another relevant UN language or local language.
- Completion of Protection Learning Programme and RSD-Resettlement LP

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. Competencies as defined in Job Profile Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

This vacancy is in Replacement Capacity.

Applicants must be nationals of the country and be locally recruited within the country of their employment. The Closing Date for Submission of Applications is Thursday 20 May 2021 Mid Night Ethiopia Time.