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.

Colombia is the country most impacted by the outflow of over 5.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, hosting over 1.84 million Venezuelans, the majority of whom in an irregular situation or in the process of regularization. In addition, and despite the 2016 Peace Agreement, conflict and armed violence continue to uproot Colombians (an estimated 650,000 people newly displaced by the internal conflict since November 2016) and, in a growing and worrying trend, also Venezuelans and other nationalities. In February 2021, the Government of Colombia issued a Temporary Protection Status (TPS) that is likely to benefit the 1.84 million Venezuelans already in Colombia as well as those who arrive through official border points over the next two years. The TPS provides a 10-year protection status and access to a full range of rights including healthcare, education, formal employment, and financial inclusion. However, xenophobia against Venezuelans has considerably increased in the last year, and it is projected to worsen with the introduction of the TPS. Misinformation and the perceptions that Venezuelans will take away job opportunities from Colombians, fuel general discontent and makes it even more difficult for refugees and migrants to secure a job. Nonetheless, UNHCR believes that TPS is a very promising pathway for addressing the vulnerable situation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants who are in an irregular situation. This situation continues to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a devastating impact in Colombia, especially on refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.

Under the direct supervision of the Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• 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 specially the GIFMM Protection Sector fulfil 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 ade-quately addressed; • Lead the GIFMM Protection Sector, in coordination with NRC and DRC in La Guajira. • Provide policy guidance and operational support to UNHCR and partners on all protec-tion related issues; • Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocu-tors; 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 Proce-dures (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 per-sons of concern; • Ensure through direct action and advocacy with more senior protection staff that the nec-essary resources are allocated to enable protection activities to identify and address pro-tection 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, au-thorities 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 op-erations applying the humanitarian GIFMM Protection Sector, contribute to ensuring that the response of the Protection Sector del GIFMM is grounded in an AGD-compliant strat-egy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected popula-tions;
• 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 protec-tion 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.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. • Please add any other information as necessary

Results/Expected Outputs:

• Protection strategies are developed covering all different persons of concern; • Specific protection needs are identified and addressed; • International refugee law standards and principles are enacted and respected; • Legal advice and guidance on protection issues are provided; • Durable solutions are provided to the largest number of refugees and IDPs • Countries in the region maintain regular contacts; • The participation of persons of concern is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches, which inform pro-tection and assistance programming; • National protection capacities are improved through direct engagement, research and ad-vocacy with all relevant external interlocutors; • Protection incidents and needs are immediately identified and addressed through direct intervention, advocacy and public exposure; • Coordination with partners and other humanitarian actors is effectively maintained; • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the as-signment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

•Integrity and professionalism •Accountability •Commitment to continuous learning •Planning and organizing •Teamwork and respect for diversity •Communication •Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary; •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

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.

Riohacha, is located alongside a desert and at the gateway to the Caribbean Sea, it is the port of entry to La Guajira peninsula, in the northernmost department of Colombia. This city, situated on the Ranchería River, was founded on August 6, 1545. Those who visit are also witness to the legacy of the indigenous Wayúu people, evident in their colorful blankets and knapsacks, among other handcrafted items.). Riohacha, la Guajira is a B, family-duty station. The security level is 3, moderate. In Riohacha one can find most items and foods, if not locally many online shops are available to have things delivered from elsewhere. The city has a small city center, on the sea front, the location where most of UNHCR staff live, and where the UNHCR office is located. In the center everything is at walking distance, though due to high temperatures during the day, and security in the evening, few people walk a lot. There are stand alone houses, as well as in gated communities. There are variety of restaurants, with great seafood options available. Schools and essential services are widely available, though limited in options. For specialised medical experts and procedures, local and international colleagues tend to go to Barranquilla or Valledupar.