Assistant Community Based Protection Officer

Support community-based protection and enhance participation.

UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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Overview

Support community-based protection and enhance participation.

You have:

1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Essential: Some professional working experience in community services or social work, gender programs, work with refugees, or human rights tasks.
Desirable: Proven communication skills, both oral and written.
Understanding of forced displacement and protection, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy.

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Details

Deadline for Applications

July 10, 2026Grade

NOAStaff Member / Affiliate Type

National Professional OfficerReason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ AppointmentHardship Level

A (least hardship)Family Type

Family<p></p><p></p>Residential location (if applicable)

Target Start Date

2026-07-01Target End Date

2026-12-31Standard Job Description

Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is a member of the Protection Unit in a Country Operation and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role the Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (PoC). The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties - Be fully informed about community structures and the protection and security situation of the PoC and develop strong links with a cross-section of members of refugee/IDP/stateless communities, using an AGD approach. - Through relationships with PoC and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to senior management. - Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC are reflected in the protection strategy, planning processes and operations plan addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups. - Support a consultative process with government counterparts at local levels, partners and PoC to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, child protection, education and GBV, and solutions approaches. - Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners and implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all community-based protection related issues. - Support the design, implementation and evaluation of protection centred and solutions oriented programming with implementing and operational partners guaranteeing that community-owned activities are integrated. - Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures - Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among PoC, authorities and host communities. - Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with PoC, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, contribute the development of an AGD-compliant strategy on which the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded and covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations. - Support the Operation's work to fully integrate the protection strategy into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan where applicable. - Contribute to the Protection team's information management component which: provides disaggregated data on PoC and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary. - Support the inclusion of participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches in strategies and plans in the Country Operation. - Support community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response. - Support PoC to develop structures that enhance their participation and protection. - Contribute to the design of project submissions and the budget for endorsement by the supervisor. - Intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues. - Negotiate with local counterparts, partners and PoC.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s). - Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights, International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology, International Law

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified

Relevant Job Experience Essential Some professional working experience.in the areas of community services, social work (e.g., gender, GBV programs, women's empowerment and protection, work with refugees) or/and human rights or related tasks in government, NGO or international organisation.

Desirable Proven communication skills, both oral and written. Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches. Understanding of and demonstrated competencies in forced displacement and protection, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy.

Functional Skills PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework IT-Computer Literacy DM-Database Management PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming PR-Gender Equality PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

Essential Some professional working experience.in the areas of community services, social work (e.g., gender, GBV programs, women’s empowerment and protection, work with refugees) or/and human rights or related tasks in government, NGO or international organisation.

Operational context The Assistant CBP Officer will report to the Senior Protection Officer (SPO) in the Protection Service in UNHCR, RB MENA. The MENA region’s protection strategy is geared towards strengthening refugee protection by maintaining dialogue and engagement with government counterparts in ensuring protection space for displaced people. Ensuring access to safety, maintaining a favourable protection environment and implementing the routes-based approach are corporate priorities within the region. Under the overall director of the SPO, the incumbent will support the bureau’ efforts to fulfil UNHCR’s mandate and associated obligations on community-based protection based on policy and guidance. S/he assists operations with the development of protection strategies that include quality, timely and effective community-based protection responses that are in line with UNHCR policy and guidance and ensures that they are implemented in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner. S/he also works with operations to ensure corporate approaches, such as the routes-based approach, and the inclusion agenda are incorporated in the strategy as well as all related approaches and plans.

The Assistant CBP Officer ensures that forcibly displaced and stateless people of all ages, gender and diversity groups are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying and implementing appropriate solutions to their problems.

To undertake this role effectively, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the Bureau (including programme; PI and external relations; IM) and with Division of International Protection and Solutions DIPS, communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions.Functional Clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearanceRequired languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)

Desired languages

Arabic,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Database Management, IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming, PR-Community-based Protection - Community engagement and capacity building, PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies, PR-Community Empowerment Projects, PR-Community Mobilisation, PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming, PR-Gender Equality, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and FrameworkEducation

Bachelor of Arts: Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts: Cultural Studies, Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts: International Development, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Social Work, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social ScienceCertifications

Work Experience

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Potential interview questions

Describe a situation where you had to work with a diverse community to address their protection needs?	This assesses your experience working with diverse communities.	Provide a specific example showing your engagement and impact.
How do you maintain effective communication with community members and stakeholders?	This seeks to understand your communication skills.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you employ to identify the protection needs of vulnerable groups?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you explain your understanding of gender-based violence prevention strategies?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you build trust and rapport with communities in crisis?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What role does community participation play in your protection strategy?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you stay updated on the changing needs of communities you serve?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Discuss a successful experience in coordinating with local authorities on community needs.	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.