Protection Associate (desk - Humanitarian Protection)

Organizational Context

IOM, a UN-related organization established in 1951, promotes humane and orderly migration. In Türkiye, it addresses protection risks faced by migrants and refugees, including exploitation and GBV. The Protection Associate role supports the implementation of humanitarian protection programming through Voluntary Return and Advisory Desks, serving as key access points for information, counselling, and referrals.

Job Purpose

The Protection Associate (Desk - Humanitarian Protection) supports the daily operations of IOM's Voluntary Return and Advisory Desks in Türkiye. This role is crucial for providing essential services to migrants and refugees facing protection risks. The Associate will conduct outreach, offer protection counselling, identify individuals with specific needs, and facilitate referrals to appropriate services. By ensuring adherence to Standard Operating Procedures and protection principles, the role contributes to strengthening the quality, consistency, and accessibility of protection services, ultimately safeguarding vulnerable populations on the move and supporting their access to assistance and specialized support.

Responsibilities

The Protection Associate is responsible for providing direct support to individuals accessing the Voluntary Return and Advisory Desks. This includes conducting outreach, offering protection counselling, and performing vulnerability screenings to identify those with specific needs. The role involves assessing protection needs, providing counselling, facilitating access to assistance (cash/in-kind), and referring complex cases to specialized services. Maintaining accurate case records, documentation, and adhering to data protection principles is essential. The Associate will also support project activities by reporting challenges and protection risks, preparing administrative documentation for assistance, and contributing to routine reporting and statistics. Coordination with partners, participation in meetings and training, and maintaining effective liaison with community centre staff and service providers are key duties.

Work Experience

Required experience includes providing protection counselling, vulnerability screening, referrals, and case management, preferably in humanitarian or migration contexts. Experience working with vulnerable migrants and refugees, including GBV survivors and trafficking victims, is essential. The role requires experience in liaising with authorities and service providers, maintaining case records using management systems, and preparing reports. Experience with international organizations is desirable.

Skills

Key skills include strong knowledge of protection principles, case management, and referral mechanisms. Proficiency in communication, interpersonal, and counselling is vital for working with vulnerable individuals. Strong organizational, coordination, and time management abilities are necessary. The role requires proven ability to build effective working relationships, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and excellent report writing and documentation capabilities. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required, with case management system experience being an advantage.

Explore related opportunities