Associate Community Based Protection Officer
Organizational Context
The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer is part of UNHCR's Protection Team in a Regional Bureau or Country Office, reporting to senior protection staff. For regional roles, they may supervise staff and provide technical support. For country roles, they may supervise protection staff. They advise senior management on community-based protection, working with the Division of International Protection and Solutions.
Job Purpose
The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer supports the implementation of UNHCR's rights-based and community-based engagement with forcibly displaced and stateless persons. They ensure that the perspectives, capacities, and needs of these populations are integrated into protection strategies and operational plans, addressing specific needs of diverse groups. The role involves coordinating with government counterparts, partners, and affected persons to develop and implement integrated strategies for key protection priorities. They provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on community-based protection issues, ensuring community-owned activities are integrated into programming. The officer promotes confidence-building and conflict resolution, maintains protection presence through field missions, and contributes to the integration of protection strategies into broader country and UN frameworks.
Responsibilities
The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer is responsible for staying informed about community structures and the protection/security situation of concern populations, building strong links with community members using an Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) approach. They monitor developments impacting the protection environment and advise senior management. A key responsibility is ensuring the needs and capacities of forcibly displaced and stateless persons are reflected in protection strategies and operational plans, with specific attention to vulnerable groups. The officer advocates for necessary resources for community work and supports consultative processes with governments, partners, and affected persons to develop integrated strategies addressing protection priorities like child protection, education, and GBV. They provide technical guidance and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for community-based protection, support the design and evaluation of protection-oriented programming with partners, and assist communities in establishing representation and coordination structures. Promoting confidence-building and conflict resolution among different groups is crucial. The role involves maintaining protection presence through field missions, reporting, and direct contact with stakeholders. They contribute to the information management component of the Protection team, providing disaggregated data and disseminating protection information. The officer supports the inclusion of participatory, community-based, and AGD approaches in strategies and plans, and helps communities develop structures for enhanced participation and protection. They also intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues, negotiate with local counterparts, and manage risks impacting their area of responsibility.
Work Experience
3 years of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree, or 2 years with a graduate degree, or 1 year with a doctorate. Experience should include community-based protection, community services, social work, and human rights.
Skills
Community-based protection Community services Social work Human rights Communication skills (oral and written) Community communication and engagement Forced displacement and protection GBV prevention and response Child protection Education Gender equality Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) Policy application