Protection Assistant - Solutions
Organizational Context
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of refugees globally, ensuring they can seek asylum and find safe refuge. In Tunisia, UNHCR collaborates with authorities and partners to address protection needs, provide information and counselling, and facilitate solutions for refugees and stateless persons. This assignment, supported by the Embassy of Switzerland, aims to strengthen youth inclusion, particularly for young persons with disabilities.
Job Purpose
This assignment supports UNHCR's Solutions team and community communication efforts in Tunisia. The UN Volunteer will play a crucial role in interviewing refugees, preparing assessment forms for solutions, and providing individual counselling. The role involves facilitating focus group discussions, intention surveys, and other participatory activities to gather insights. The UN Volunteer will also assist in analyzing findings and following up on recommendations and referrals. This position is part of an initiative to enhance youth inclusion, with a specific focus on young persons with disabilities, contributing to UNHCR's mandate of protecting those forced to flee and stateless individuals.
Responsibilities
The UNV Protection Assistant - Solutions will support the organization and follow-up of interviews with beneficiaries, assisting in the completion of forms and documentation for resettlement submissions. Responsibilities include assisting with return counselling activities, preparing and following up on Kobo forms, and ensuring voluntary decision-making. The role involves providing basic information on available solutions and services, referring complex cases, and supporting communication with communities through focus groups and participatory assessments. The assistant will also aid in protection interviews and vulnerability assessments, identifying protection concerns, and supporting referral follow-up. Duties include preparing interview notes, counselling records, and statistical updates, ensuring accurate data entry and filing. Coordination with various UNHCR teams and partners is essential for case follow-up, adhering to confidentiality and data protection. The role requires applying age, gender, and diversity principles, accountability to affected people, and adhering to UNHCR standards on PSEA and fraud prevention.
Work Experience
A minimum of one month and a maximum of one year of relevant professional, internship, or volunteer experience is required. This experience should be in areas such as research, data collection, community engagement, communication, protection, legal/social services, or humanitarian programming. Experience with qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including surveys and focus groups, is beneficial. Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and active listening skills are necessary, along with basic knowledge of protection principles and data protection.
Skills
Key competencies include Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Accountability, Responsibility, Planning and Organizing, Communication, Teamwork, Adaptability, Flexibility, Creativity, and Self-Management. Specific skills required are in communication, advocacy, public information, community development, and legal affairs. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is essential, with familiarity in digital survey tools being an asset.