Protection Associate

Organizational Context

The Protection Associate operates within UNHCR, reporting to the Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer. The role focuses on monitoring protection standards and providing functional support to information management and programme staff. The incumbent is expected to coordinate effective protection responses for populations of concern (PoC) and integrate protection safeguards across all operational sectors.

Job Purpose

The Protection Associate's primary purpose is to ensure timely and effective protection responses for populations of concern (PoC) by monitoring protection standards and operational procedures. This involves coordinating quality protection activities, identifying opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies, and integrating protection safeguards into all operational sectors. The role contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises with external authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy, as directed by the supervisor. A key aspect is ensuring PoC participation in decisions affecting them, fostering effective interfaces with communities, local authorities, and partners to uphold their rights and address their problems. The incumbent must also ensure compliance with international and national law, UN/UNHCR policies, and codes of conduct, while contributing to measures that prevent and reduce statelessness and support child protection and education plans.

Responsibilities

The Protection Associate is responsible for staying informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments impacting the protection environment and consistently applying International and National Law, along with applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct. They will assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC, and offer advice on protection issues, liaising with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of necessary documentation. The role involves assisting in eligibility and status determination for PoC, and contributing to measures aimed at identifying, preventing, and reducing statelessness. Furthermore, the Protection Associate will contribute to country-level child protection and education plans as part of the broader protection strategy, and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection and solutions activities. They will manage individual protection cases, including those related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and child protection, and monitor/intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion, and other protection incidents. The incumbent will assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC, such as voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement, and contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of AGD-based programming with partners. Facilitating effective information management through disaggregated data on PoC and their issues is also a key responsibility, alongside participating in initiatives to strengthen national protection legislation and procedures through capacity building of authorities, institutions, and NGOs. The role includes assisting the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interviews and counselling, proposing protection support for individual cases, and enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity. Ensuring compliance with and integrity of all protection SOPs is crucial. The Protection Associate will also submit individual payment requests for PoC for approval and support risk management by identifying and managing risks and opportunities impacting their area of responsibility, ensuring risk-based decision-making and reporting issues to supervisors.

Work Experience

3 years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma, or 2 years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Explore related opportunities