International UN Youth Volunteer in Protection

Contract

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

Central Asia hosts ‘Convention' and 'Mandate' refugees. Mandate refugees had been recognised by UNHCR pursuant to its mandate before States introduced national asylum systems, but do not have legal status in Central Asian countries. While their stay is tolerated, they do not have access to rights (except education) or basic services, and are therefore especially vulnerable. Convention refugees are recognised by the State and can access some rights as accorded by the 1951 Convention, however they are still excluded from rights such as social support and naturalization, and therefore cannot meaningfully integrate into host communities. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many thousands of residents did not manage to confirm or acquire the nationality of a successor independent State and are without the protection of any country. Through community outreach, legal counselling, and assistance to confirm or acquire nationality, Central Asian States, supported by UNHCR, are making significant progress in reducing and preventing statelessness on their territories. UNHCR supports government and humanitarian partners across the four countries to prepare and respond to forced displacement emergencies. Under the overall leadership of UNHCR, the 2022 Afghanistan Situation Regional Refugee Response Plan supports host governments to meet the needs of Afghans of varying statuses, including refugees and asylum-seekers, as well as host communities, and potential new arrivals in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Partnerships are fundamental to UNHCR’s operations in Central Asia. Government partners include Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Labour, Internal Affairs, Emergency Situations, and Justice; Migration and Registration Services; Border Guards; Human Rights Centres and Ombudspersons. UNHCR also partners with civil society organizations, academia and the judiciary, building technical capacity of those involved in the asylum system, ensuring refugees and stateless people can exercise their rights.

In order to carry out this work, the UN Volunteer will be properly trained both formally, through available workshops, seminars, e-Learning platforms; and informally through on-the-job training, intensive coaching/mentoring, shadowing other colleagues to familiarize his/herself with the relevant global and local policy and procedures related to Protection activities. The UN Volunteer will be closely supervised by both senior and middle level management within the unit and it is expected that within a few months s/he will have the necessary skills to carry out many of the daily tasks with limited guidance.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will support implementation and monitoring of protection programmes, reflecting UNHCR’s regional and country level protection priorities, and ensuring systematic application of participatory, rights and community-based, disability and gender responsive approaches in protection and solutions planning, programming and strategies, across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Tasks will include:

• Support multi-functional teams in assessing and analysing the needs of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons in a participatory manner • Assist in implementation and monitoring of a community-based protection reflecting the organization’s regional and country level protection priorities, and ensuring systematic application of participatory, rights, community-based, disability and gender responsive approaches in protection and solutions planning, programming and strategies. • Assist in maintaining direct and sustained engagement with refugee communities, through transparent and continuous two-way communication, and assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights • Support implementation of Gender-Based Violence prevention and response, and community-based child protection programmes • Help ensure UNHCR Age, Gender and Diversity Policy inclusive programming, advocating for gender equality and accountability to affected populations (AAP) • Support implementation of feedback and response mechanism (including on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) and participate in the analysis of formal and informal feedback gathered • Support implementation and monitoring of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection and solutions activities • Assist the development and dissemination of informational materials concerning UNHCR’s protection guidelines and through sharing of information in briefing sessions, meetings and consultations • Contribute to research on issues relating to refugee protection and statelessness, and review and analysis of protection reports • Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their challenges • Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures. • Assist with providing comments to legislative documents • Assist with counselling activities, respond to queries received on hotline and UNHCR mailbox • Assist with drafting Note Verbale and other official communication • Assist with drafting talking points for missions and meetings • Assist with preparing presentations on different protection related topics for Almaty Process meetings
• Assist with translation of letters and documents • Draft minutes of meetings • Perform other related duties as required.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Judgement and Decision-making ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

and/or demonstrated interest in: • International protection, refugee law, citizenship law. • Ability to plan and organise work assignments, often under close deadlines. • Ability to deal with multiple tasks with speed, in a courteous and service oriented manner. • Attention to detail, effective time management • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint essential). • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; • Ability to work well in a team environment as well as independently, and manage own work related to multiple tasks and activities.

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and is a category ‘A’ duty station. The city is well connected by air with international destinations. There is a good choice of apartments and houses for rent. There are several international schools, and many supermarkets and shopping centres with local and imported products. Medical services are largely available and are provided in acceptable to high quality infrastructure, many working 24/7. Many specialized medical services (like dental care) are provided at international standards. There are both private and state clinics and hospitals. Kazakh and Russian are equally spoken and are the official languages of Kazakhstan.