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 7.2 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, hosting over 2.9 million Venezuelans, the majority of whom are in the process of regularization. In addition and despite the 2016 Peace Agreement, conflict and armed violence continue to uproot Colombians (an estimated 955,000 people newly displaced by the internal conflict since November 2016) and, in a growing and worrying trend, also Venezuelans and other nationalities. Afro-Colombians and indigenous people continue to be disproportionally affected by large-group displacement events and confinements, particularly in the Pacific Coast. UNHCR and partners work to strengthen preventive actions as well as to respond to emergencies, providing protection and solutions for the people with and for whom UNHCR works.

Over 2.9 million Venezuelans who live in Colombia have registered to benefit from the Temporary Protection Status (TPS), issued by the Government of Colombia in February 2021. The TPS provides a 10-year protection status and access to a full range of rights including healthcare, education, formal employment, and financial inclusion. More than 1.6 million permits have been delivered, however, challenges remain in terms of access to rights and services. Xenophobia against Venezuelans persists, as misinformation and the perceptions that Venezuelans will take away job opportunities from Colombians, fuel general discontent. UNHCR supports the TPS roll-out and believes it is a promising pathway for addressing the vulnerable situation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, and continues to work towards durable solutions.

Mixed movements of refugees and migrants continue to increase in the region, including more than 240,000 transiting through the Darien in 2022 and up to 400,000 persons estimated for 2023. UNHCR continues to advocate for the expansion of lawful pathways, including resettlement, that avoid the risk of irregular, dangerous journeys, while, at the same time, preserving the fundamental human right to seek asylum.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Apply and contribute to the design of comprehensive national and regional strategies for durable solutions based on a community-based approach to protection.
• Stay abreast of political, social, economic, and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Implement activities following the comprehensive solutions strategy, to find durable solutions to the maximum number of persons of Concern (PoCs).
• Provide functional and administrative support in all protection-related AGD (Age, Gender and Diversity) -based programming with implementing and operational partners, and provide advice for improvements.
• Engage in productive dialogues with key actors around solutions, promoting a whole-of-society approach, including the academy, the private sector, and development entities. Participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks.
• Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners, to promote voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement.
• Meet PoC, assess their durable solutions needs, and identify the most appropriate solutions for them.
• Analyze statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
• Liaise with relevant UNHCR units to guarantee the “solutions from the start” approach in the MFT (Multi Functional Teams).
• Conduct protection/resettlement interviews as required, in line with applicable SOPs.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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 instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute with articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, e
• 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.

Results/expected outputs

As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • The protection needs of populations of concern are met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards; • Effective and timely support is provided for the development of a clear and coherent community-based protection strategy that incorporates a comprehensive age, gender and diversity analysis, and reflects the Organization's global, regional and national priorities; • The participation of persons of concern is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches, ensuring that UNHCR is accountable to persons of concern; • Protection incidents and gaps in assistance are immediately identified and addressed; • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, 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 peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • 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.

working with refugees and IDPs.

• Good knowledge of Human Rights

Desirable Qualifications and Skills:

• Knowledge of UN policies and procedures • Experience working with communities, including ethnic communities. • Good analytical skills; • Knowledge of coordination and interagency efforts; • 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. • Interest and/or working experience of international protection and statelessness is a plus

Living conditions in any of the UNHCR Colombia destinations, including Pasto, are generally good. There is a wide variety of activities in these cities, from tourism, cultural and sports activities, and restaurants offering typical local and regional food.

Medical services in the main cities (clinics and private hospitals) are available. Visitors are advised that some clinics request an initial payment before admitting a patient, even in emergency situations. Visitors should take medical precautions and should seek medical advice before traveling. Travelers to the areas of Urabá, Chocó, Córdoba, Putumayo, Vichada, Guainía, Guaviare, Meta, Amazonas, Casanare, Vaupés, Norte de Santander, and Caquetá should carry certificates of vaccination against yellow fever, malaria, measles, and chickenpox, as some airlines require passengers to carry such documents.

• Conditions of Service

The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate US$ 2.148. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - http://icsc.un.org.

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.