Associate Protection Officer
Support UNHCR Malaysia's efforts to strengthen national asylum systems and enhance protection space.
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Overview
Support UNHCR Malaysia's efforts to strengthen national asylum systems and enhance protection space.
You have:
- Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law.
- Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
- Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting.
- RSD experience, as well as exposure to national asylum systems and broader advocacy.
- Diverse field experience is desirable.
- Good IT skills including database management skills.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English is required.
Deadline for Applications
January 12, 2026Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
A (least hardship)Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
FamilyStaff Member / Affiliate Type
UNOPS IICA1Target Start Date
2026-01-01Terms of Reference
TERMS OF REFERENCE (Individual Contractor Agreement)
Functional Title: Associate Protection Officer Duty station: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Section/Unit: Policy and Advocacy Unit ICA Level: IICA-1 ICA Type: Regular Corresponding level: P2
General Background: The UNHCR Office in Malaysia prioritize its work to continues to collaborate with the Government to build a national asylum system that meets international protection standards and a more inclusive refugee policy, while enhancing capacity sharing activities. This is in line with the Government’s aspirations to envision a Government-owned Registration and Refugee Status Determination (hereafter RSD) process. In this relation, the incumbent of this position’s key role is to lead a Capacity Sharing Programme with government authorities, as part of comprehensive efforts to develop a government-led national asylum system and facilitate the authorities’ increased involvement in refugee processing. This role will encompass planning and implementation of INTPA-funded activities, including initiatives related to the development of the national asylum framework and addressing statelessness, as well as policy and operational-level engagement with a broad range of interlocutors, and oversight of progress monitoring
Purpose and Scope of Assignment: The Associate Protection Officer will play a key role in supporting UNHCR Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen national asylum systems and enhance protection space. The incumbent will provide technical expertise and strategic guidance to government counterparts within the framework of the Capacity Sharing Programme, technical working groups, and bilateral engagements. This includes advising authorities on Registration and RSD processes, planning and coordinating activities to achieve key milestones, and fostering constructive dialogue on sensitive asylum issues. In addition, the Protection Officer will ensure strategic engagement across INTPA-funded initiatives, including advocacy and coordination with government, civil society, donors and other stakeholders. The role includes oversight of progress monitoring and reporting on key deliverables.
The assignment encompasses the following core responsibilities:
• Capacity Development and Technical Support: - Lead and contribute to initiatives aimed at developing or strengthening national institutional capacities and asylum system. - Design and deliver training for government officials on Registration and RSD, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, cancellation/revocation procedures, international humanitarian and human rights law, interviewing techniques, credibility assessment, and legal drafting. - Provide expert input in technical working groups and bilateral discussions to advance national asylum frameworks.
• Strategic Engagement and Coordination: - Engage relevant national authorities, institutional structures and key stakeholders to identify, develop and expand opportunities for collaboration that strengthen refugee protection, promote inclusion, and support the prevention and reduction of statelessness. - Apply strong coordination and diplomatic skills to, build consensus and foster constructive relationships with various stakeholders and navigate complex political and operational environments. - Coordinate policy dialogue and advocacy initiates with national and regional actors to advance refugee protection, prevent and reduce statelessness and promote sustainable inclusion. - Adopt a strategic, incremental approach to developing national asylum systems, ensuring alignment with international standards while addressing sensitive protection issues in a pragmatic and solution-oriented manner.
• Strategic Planning, Implementation, Monitoring, and Reporting: - Lead the strategic planning and execution of INTPA-funded initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor requirements. - Oversee effective implementation and monitoring frameworks to track performance, outcomes, and impact. - Ensure timely, accurate, and results-oriented reporting to stakeholders, providing actionable insights for decision-making and continuous improvement.
The incumbent is expected to demonstrate leadership, technical expertise, and strong presentation, coordination and communication skills to advance UNHCR’s objectives of enhancing protection and asylum space in Malaysia.
The incumbent is expected to perform other related duties as required.
- Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education) • Law; • International Law; • International Refugee Law; • International Human Rights Law; • International Humanitarian Law; • Refugee and Forced Migration Studies; • Political Sciences or other relevant field.
b. Work Experience For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Relevant Job Experience
Essential Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law, including experience in working directly with Field Offices. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting. RSD experience, as well as exposure to national asylum systems and broader advocacy, including legislative reform and stakeholder engagement, is a critical asset.
Desirable Diverse field experience. Good IT skills including database management skills.
c. Key Competencies
Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators *LE-International Refugee Law *PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination MG-Projects management PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards PR-International Humanitarian Law PR-Protection and mixed-movements PR-Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operations & IDPs Status/Rights/Obligation PR-Climate change and disaster-related displacement PR-Community-based Protection MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
(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.
Core Competencies Accountability Communication Organizational Awareness Teamwork & Collaboration Commitment to Continuous Learning Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies Judgement and Decision Making Empowering and Building Trust
Cross-Functional Competencies Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Analytical Thinking
Political AwarenessStandard Job Description
Required Languages
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Desired Languages
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Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other information
This position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote
No
Potential interview questions
| Describe your experience in developing asylum systems. | This question assesses your direct involvement in relevant policy development. | Highlight specific projects you've worked on and the outcomes. |
| How have you engaged with stakeholders in previous roles? | The interviewer wants to understand your ability to manage relationships. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies would you use to promote inclusion within refugee policies? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you provide an example of a challenge you faced in refugee protection and how you addressed it? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What is your approach to training government officials on refugee processes? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you measure the success of a capacity building initiative? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What are the key international laws relevant to refugee protection? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a situation where you had to advocate for a change in policy. What was your approach? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
Added 6 months ago
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Updated 6 months ago
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Source:
unhcr.org
