Associate Protection Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Through relationships with persons of concern, authorities 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 persons of concerns 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, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS;

Utilize the IDPs footprint during the planning process;

Coordinate the promotion of international refugee law principles and standards and also IDP legislation or policies ensuring that all sectors and clusters fulfill their responsibilities mainstreaming protection;

Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of programmes ensuring that identified protection needs, including an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach, are adequately addressed;

Provide policy guidance and operational support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues;

Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents to persons of concern (civil documentation, in particular birth certificates);

Monitor, and assist with the intervention in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners;

Assist in the coordinated implementation and oversight of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities;

Ensure that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement are sought and provided to the largest possible number of persons of concern;

Ensure through direct action and advocacy with more senior protection staff that the necessary resources are allocated to enable protection activities to identify and address protection and assistance gaps;

Support a consultative process with government counterparts at local levels, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, child protection, education and SGBV, and solutions approaches;

Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among populations of concern, authorities and host communities;

Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with persons of concern, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, contribute to ensuring that the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in an AGD-compliant strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations;

Contribute to the Protection team's information management component which: provide disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary;

Ensure participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches are included in, strategies and plans in the country operation;

Support persons of concern to develop structures that enhance their participation and protection.

Integrity and professionalism

Accountability

Commitment to continuous learning

Planning and organizing:

Teamwork and respect for diversity

Communication: proven interpersonal skills

Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently.

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement.

Minimum 3 years of experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity required.

Field experience;

Commitment to help persons of concern and willingness to cooperate with counterparts.

Knowledge of UN policies and procedures;

Good analytical skills;

Strong interpersonal and communication skills in a multi-cultural setting;

Ability to live and work in the difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential.

The duty station is Mogadishu, Somalia. Somalia is a semi-arid area. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast as well as south central parts of the country. The average annual temperature for the coastal towns of Bossaso, Berbera, Kisimayo and Mogadishu is about 35 Celsius maximum and 22 Celsius minimum. The overall security situation in Somalia remains volatile and unpredictable. The incumbent should therefore have experience in working in hardship and stressful conditions, have sound security awareness, and be sensitive to social, cultural and religious norms.

UNHCR has its own accommodation in the Office Compound located within the AMISOM protected area and fully operational since April 2021. All rooms in the com-pound are equipped with air conditioners, hot water, and satellite TV. A gym is also available in the compound. In addition to the dining facility in the compound, there are other restaurants and shops within the protected area where staff can find local food varieties and non-food items, however, UNSOS broadcasts should be regularly monitored when there are temporary restrictions. It is worth mentioning that international staff members are not allowed to visit the local market outside the protected area as per the UNDSS security advisory. There are few ATM machines within the protected area where staff can with-draw up to US$ 500 at a time. US dollars is also commonly used in local shops. There is a PX shop within AAIA AMISOM protected area, where basic food and clothes can be bought.

While UNHCR provides water free-of-charge, through a water dispenser across common areas and bottled water in rooms, food is arranged and paid by residents themselves. The caterer that is operating in the compound provides meals in a buffet style, and meal delivery to individual containers is available for staff during quarantine and on an ad hoc basis. Effective April 2021, the price is fixed at US$5 breakfast, US$10 lunch, and US$10 dinner. All rooms in the compound are also equipped with microwave, fridge, and electric kettle, so staff may also prepare basic meals in their rooms if they do not wish to purchase from the caterer.

UNSOS has level II hospital in the compound accessible to UN staff on a cost recovery basis through the Office. Also, international staff can walk around certain unrestricted perimeter of the UN compound such the seaside etc. Mogadishu airport (Adan Abdulla International Airport) and the UN flights terminal are located within the AMISOM protected area within few minutes’ drive away from the accommodation through which staff can travel to international and domestic destinations. There is reliable telephone and internet service in the UNHCR compound.

Staff members are provided with radio equipment, mobile sim card, laptop and PPE kit (flak jacket and helmet) on arrival. Mogadishu is a high risk and non-family duty station categorized as E- duty station with 4 weeks R&R cycle. Field missions by international staff requires security escort.

Somalia is a unique country and UNHCR Somalia is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and lit-tle comfort, are essential.