Protection Associate

Organizational Context

The Protection Associate reports to the Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer, monitoring protection standards and providing functional support. The role involves coordinating effective protection responses for populations of concern (PoC), integrating protection safeguards across sectors, and contributing to a comprehensive protection strategy. External liaison with authorities and partners on protection policy is also key.

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 in line with international norms. This involves identifying opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate safeguards into all operational sectors. The incumbent contributes to the development of a comprehensive protection strategy and engages with external stakeholders, including authorities and partners, on protection doctrine and policy, as directed by their supervisor. A crucial aspect of the role is ensuring PoC participation in decisions affecting them, whether related to accessing rights or finding solutions to their challenges. This requires building and maintaining effective relationships with communities of concern, local authorities, and other protection and assistance partners to foster an environment where PoC feel safe and empowered.

Responsibilities

The Protection Associate is responsible for staying informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments impacting the protection environment and consistently applying relevant international and national laws, UN/UNHCR policies, standards, and codes of conduct. They will assist in reviewing and commenting on existing and draft legislation affecting PoC, and provide direct advice on protection issues. A key duty is liaising with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of necessary documentation for PoC and assisting in eligibility and status determination processes. The role also involves contributing to efforts to identify, prevent, and reduce statelessness, and supporting country-level child protection and education plans as part of the broader protection strategy. Monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection and solutions activities is essential, as is managing individual protection cases, including those related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and child protection. The incumbent will monitor and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion, and other protection incidents. They will also assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC, such as voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement, and contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) based programming with partners. Facilitating effective information management through disaggregated data on PoC and their issues is also a responsibility, alongside participating in initiatives to strengthen national protection capacities of authorities 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 implementing partners with global protection policies and SOPs. Finally, the Protection Associate will assist with submitting payment requests for PoC and managing risks and opportunities impacting their area of responsibility.

Work Experience

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

Skills

International Law Political Science IT-Computer Literacy PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

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