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 is responsible for coordinating timely and effective protection responses to meet the needs of populations of concern (PoC). This involves identifying opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards into all operational sectors. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy, as guided by their supervisor. A crucial aspect of the role is ensuring PoC are involved in decisions affecting them, whether in accessing their rights or finding solutions to their problems. This requires building and maintaining effective relationships with communities of concern, local authorities, and protection and assistance partners to ensure their voices are heard and their rights are upheld.

Responsibilities

The Protection Associate is expected to stay informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments impacting the protection environment. They must consistently apply International and National Law, along with applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct. This includes assisting in providing comments on relevant legislation and advising PoC on protection issues, liaising with authorities to ensure documentation issuance. The role involves assisting in eligibility and status determination, contributing to efforts to prevent and reduce statelessness, and supporting country-level child protection and education plans. Monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection activities, managing individual protection cases (including GBV and child protection), and intervening in cases of refoulement or expulsion are critical. The associate will assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC, contributing to the design and implementation of AGD-based programming with partners, and facilitating information management through disaggregated data. They will also participate in initiatives to strengthen national protection capacities and assist the supervisor in prioritizing interviews, proposing protection support, and enforcing compliance with global protection policies and SOPs among implementing partners. Risk management and reporting are also part of the duties.

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

IT-Computer Literacy PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators Case management Data management Legal advice Policy development Community engagement Risk management Intervention in protection incidents

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