Associate Protection Officer (Cluster)

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.

Nion-Family Duty Station

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

• Assist the Protection Cluster Coordinator (PC) with a particular emphasis on information management and communication among Cluster members and other relevant partners, as well as training and capacity–building for members and partners; • Interact with PC members and maintain close contact with OCHA for the collection and transmission of periodic reports and documents required; elaborate routines for the timely production of these reports; • Ensure liaison with thematic working groups (Area of Responsibility - AoRs) under the PC (SGBV, Child Protection, House Land and Property Issues), as well as Protection working groups /focal points at the territorial Level and national protection cluster to ensure follow-up of recommendations and alerts, input into joint analysis and advocacy initiatives, and into protection strategies; • Compile and review thematic information/data from PC members with a view to drafting a consolidated Protection Cluster periodic newsletters on a monthly basis; • Assist in the collection of information and analysis of protection data, in the form of reports and/or maps, in particular in view of advocacy with the UN Peace-Keeping Mission on priority protection areas; • Alert and consult with nuclear PC members in case of emergency and assist in organizing joint evaluation protection missions; • Assist in the research of data and analysis in support to the Protection Cluster advocacy initiatives, organize advocacy for with relevant target groups as deemed appropriate; • 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; • Refer PC recommendations to members and UN Agencies/NGOs concerned and en-sure/follow-up their implementation; • Coordinate the development of Protection strategies in the context of Pooled Fund process, ensure timely information of PC members of applicable rules and procedures, ensure that submissions are timely received and ensure review of submission as per Pooled Fund procedure; • 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; • 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); • Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with persons of concern, host communities, local authorities and partners. 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; • Support the follow-up of all matters linked to resource mobilization, including the Humanitarian Action Plan; • Design, plan and deliver training in coordination with order actors for target audience as per PC recommendations, in particular with regard to protection mainstreaming, age & gender issues, Protection Monitoring and advocacy, follow-up the impact of training in accordance with indicators; • Elaborate essential documents for the Cluster, as well as preparatory documents, draft agenda and convene Protection Cluster meetings, and draft meeting minutes.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in the 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 the area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in the 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

• Communication:

• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

• Minimum 3 years of experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity required. • Experience in information management and communication in Humanitarian and Protection affairs, in particular in the framework of Protection Clusters. Experience with relevant information management tools and software is desirable; • Field experience in particular of working with persons of concern desirable; • Commitment to help persons of concern and willingness to cooperate with counterparts and partners; • Good analytical skills; • Strong interpersonal and communication skills in a multi-cultural setting; • Ability to design, organize, deliver and evaluate training/capacity-building activities; • Ability to live and work in the difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential. • Knowledge of UN policies and procedures; • Knowledge of the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, as well as of relevant UNHCR and inter-agency policies and guidelines on Protection; • Experience on protection (human rights) analysis • Skills/ experience on investigation and drafting

In Myanmar (Sitwee) UNHCR works with different populations of concerns including state-lessness, displaced population. Following the events of 1 February, the political and security situation throughout Myanmar became all the more volatile. Following this, protests were staged across the country, with the police and military arresting, detaining, and using excessive force against protesters, reportedly resulting in over 900 deaths to date. This has abated; however, conflict and war-like situations are prevalent in the East and Northeast regions of the country. In addition to causing displacement in several areas throughout the country, the situation is impacting supply chains and markets. Commodity prices (food, petrol, construction materials) have risen across the country, with significant increases for some basic commodities in Kachin and Rakhine states as well as the Southeast. Other negative impacts include disruptions to the banking system (bank closures, unpredictable business hours, and lack of cash). This again has had an impact on the ability of UNHCR’s partners to implement humanitarian activities and they report critically low cash reserves. Communication and access to information are increasingly hampered with widely used social media platforms being blocked and monitored, and frequent Internet disruptions following the ongoing ban on both mobile data and Broadband Wi-Fi services. Fiber broadband service remains the only way to access the internet and even this has at times been unreliable country had rapidly developed after several decades of being largely closed to international modern influences but since 1 February 2021, everything has come to standstill. The situation in Rakhine State is one of a ‘tense state of calm’ characterized by a pre-existing heavy military presence and influence. The large-scale demonstrations, corresponding crackdowns, and participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) which has engulfed much of Myanmar after 1 February events have not taken place in Rakhine where the response has generally been more muted. Nonetheless, the situation in Rakhine remains volatile.