Protection Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV Refugee contract. More about UNV Refugee contracts.

This UNV assignment is part of UNHCR’s Protection activities within the context of Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine situation. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization working to save lives, protect rights and build a better future for refugees, internally displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR works to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find refuge from violence or persecution. Assessment of needs, capacities and perspectives of refugees is an important aspect of UNHCR’s work to form a basis for programming its activities and to support Government programming.

Slovakia’s status as both a transit and a destination country requires an approach that is focused on immediate service provision for those on the move and first arriving in Slovakia, and second area of supporting the longer term stay for those fleeing Ukraine. Both branches of work require the timely delivery of accurate, verified and relevant information on legal status, services available and how to receive urgent protection and assistance. Refugees also need information on how to stay safe and avoid the many risks they are encountering, such as trafficking and GBV. For those staying in Slovakia, they will need easy access to information on integration, services in the locations where they are and support on integration into Slovak communities. Accommodation, health care, education and employment are key to refugee protection. Community engagement and community-based and led approaches to facilitate this will be essential to reach individuals of diverse ages, genders and backgrounds in the appropriate formats that they prefer. Supporting initiatives directly led by refugees and Slovak communities will be a key part of this strategy to further promote self-reliance and ensure active roles for communities in the response. Engagement of Slovak communities is also essential to promote social cohesion.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Senior Protection Associate or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Protection Assistant will:

• Assist UNHCR in developing a strategy to promote awareness, prevention and response to gender-based violence • Establish partnerships or good working relationships with key Ukrainian and Slovak actors working on protection and community engagement, inclusion especially in education. • Assist with creating content to share through UNHCR’s communication channels in collaboration with UNHCR teams to share information on available services and their providers, on the rights and duties of refugees and asylum-seekers in Slovakia. • Digital analysis of information and provide regular updates on the situational developments in Ukraine. • Monitor and assess refugee related content on Telegram, Instagram, Facebook and other social media sources to identify risks to refugees and Slovak communities or potential rumors and misinformation that UNHCR can help clarify. • Contribute to the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of UNHCR’s engagement with partners and refugees and Slovak communities through different approaches • Promote and support community mobilization for organizing social, cultural and recreational events among refugee and host communities; • Assist UNHCR in organizing participatory activities and awareness-raising sessions with persons of different age groups, gender and background; • Assist in exploring opportunities for mainstreaming persons of concern into available national services and contribute to developing communication strategies with persons of concern to access such services; • In coordination with the supervisor, assist in monitoring visits to Community Based Organizations/Refugee-led NGOs/Initiatives and other partners to oversee programme implementation and provide inputs for further planning; • Contribute to the planning, monitoring and evaluation of any assessments or community outreach activities. • Contribute age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in all of UNHCR Slovakia’s activities; • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

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 articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote and utilize the UNV Online Volunteering service providing themselves and their organizations with flexible, free of charge, Online Volunteer capacity to support their efforts. Information and promotional material can be found in the onsite kit.

The selected candidate may be assigned tasks focusing on one of the following areas of UNHCR’s work:

Prevention and mitigation of, and response to Gender-based violence:

Gender-Based violence refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious violation of human rights and a life-threatening health and protection issue. It is estimated that one in three women will experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime. During displacement and times of crisis, the threat of GBV significantly increases for women and girls. Gender-based violence is preventable and UNHCR is committed to promoting gender equality and human rights and to protecting refugees and other persons of concern from GBV.

Education:

The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants pinpoints education as a critical element of the international refugee response. Furthermore, Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to deliver “inclusive and quality education for all and to promote lifelong learning”.

UNHCR partners with governments and international organisations to ensure quality protective education for refugee children and young people everywhere. Together with your help, they can learn how to rebuild their lives.

Education is a basic human right, enshrined in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 1951 Refugee Convention. Education protects refugee children and youth from forced recruitment into armed groups, child labour, sexual exploitation and child marriage. Education also strengthens community resilience. Education empowers by giving refugees the knowledge and skills to live productive, fulfilling and independent lives.

Competencies and values:

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • 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; • 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; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Application to these assignments is exclusively open to individuals residing in the country of assignment (Slovakia), with stateless, refugee or similar protective status, including Temporary Protection. Refugee UN Volunteers have to be at least 27 years of age.

Education, qualifications, skills:

• Completed secondary education is a must. Completed Bachelor’s degree is an advantage. • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area, e.g. Public Information, Communication or areas related to Social Work; • From the 3 years of mandatory work experience at least 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in areas related to displacement, social work or public information, or other relevant programmes; experience with refugee protection or community engagement / communication with communities or social psychology is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge: working knowledge of means of communication • Lived refugee experience; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian work, volunteerism

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/their functions, including: • Ensure that relationship and communication of UNHCR with refugee communities and acting partners are smooth, and refugee needs are adequately identified and reflected in UNHCR protection programming • Ensure that communication strategies with persons of concern are in place in a manner to enhance their access to such services such as education and health; • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

As this is a Refugee UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Entitlements at this position (figures may slightly change due to exchange rate fluctuations, always check https://app.unv.org/calculator for recent figures).

• Monthly Living Allowance: USD 1398 • Montly Wellbeing Differential: USD 419 • Exit lump sum (monthly value to be multiplied by numbers of served months): USD 116.6 • Entry lump sum: 400 USD (single payment)

• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum. Leave entitlements:

• Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment. • Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos