Protection Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Venezuela is facing a critical political, social, and economic crisis resulting in hyperinflation, shortages of food, medicines and basic supplies, deterioration of health, education, and basic infrastructure such as water, electricity, transportation, and urban services, severely affecting most of the the country's population. The drastic reduction of production capacity in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and other sectors has further aggravated the supply situation. In addition, the risks to the protection of the population are increasing. The country is facing high levels of insecurity with an increase in homicides and extortions. Since mid-2018, the Government has expressed interest in increasing cooperation with the UN to mitigate the effects of the crisis. In Venezuela, UNHCR works with refugee and asylum-seeking women, girls, boys, and men. Following the establishment of the Humanitarian Response Plan in mid-2019, UNHCR has also included the affected Venezuelan population. This second group includes people on the move, spontaneous returnees, and their host communities. The "people on the move" category includes those who move in search of better economic opportunities/access to rights and services, those who engage in pendular movements, those at risk of displacement, and those who have been forced to leave their homes - temporarily or permanently - due to disasters or armed clashes. In 2022, the UNHCR Field Office in Ciudad Guayana is expanding its presence in Santa Elena de Uairen, Gran Sabana Municipality, due to the different missions that have been carried out, which refer to increased protection risks, forced mobility, social control, sexual slavery or sex for survival, child labor and forced recruitment by trade unions operating in mining areas. In this regard, UNHCR together with its partners and UN Agencies will coordinate activities to support local authorities in responding to the protection needs and solutions to the most vulnerable groups.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection) , the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

•The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles. •Protection activities are guided by the UNHCR country protection strategy. •The participation of persons of concern is facilitated through supporting participatory, rights and community-based approaches. •Support is provided to identify and report protection incidents. •Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
•Provide counselling on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. •Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. •Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment. •Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. •Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy. •Contribute to a country-level education plan for persons of concern as part of the protection strategy.
•Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. •Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents. •Assist in identifying durable solutions for persons of concern in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement. •Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. •Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics for the protection unit / section. •Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities. •Establish a protection referral system to support effective case management. •Enhance coordination and synergies among protection cluster’s partners, facilitate dialogue and flow of information at local level. •Prepare Protection Cluster information products. •Regularly update the Protection Custer strategy and workplans. •Ensure centrality of protection by ensuring that that leadership, coordination, and engagement in all sectors is more strategic, aligned and directed toward a stronger response.

Results/Expected Outputs:

•Coordinate the establishment of a protection referral system to support effective case management and attention in Santa Elena de Uairen. •Coordinate the implementation of the tripartite work plan between IOM, HIAS and UNHCR in Santa Elena de Uairen regarding indigenous communities. •Strengthen legal information and aid capacities to address barriers to access to late birth registration and documentation linked to nationality for persons born in Venezuela, including children born to refugees/asylum-seekers in the country. •Facilitate outreach brigades for late birth registration and other civil registration related activities for Venezuelan nationals who live in rural and remote areas, including indigenous populations. •Advocate for regional cooperation to facilitate confirmation of nationality procedures. •Strengthen community networks to address security threats and promote peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms. •Timely identify individual and community needs and make referrals, accordingly, including submissions to the Office of the Ombudsperson and other relevant authorities in Santa Elena de Uairen; •Enhance community spaces’ capacities to develop recreational and educational activities on peaceful coexistence; •Promote different communication channels and early warning mechanisms among community members. •Ensure centrality of protection by ensuring that that leadership, coordination, and engagement in all sectors is more strategic, aligned and directed toward a stronger response. •Facilitate, in coordination with the Office of the Ombudsperson, multi-service outreach brigades, including promoting the inclusion of the Judiciary, or where applicable, promoting resuming Judiciary outreach brigades to facilitate access to justice in remote areas including indigenous communities in Santa Elena de Uairen. •Strengthen safe spaces for women; promote sorority among women at community level to address GBV incidents; and to establish WhatsApp groups or other communication channels for early warnings •Promote the establishment/strengthening of youth networks and the development of child protection related community-based initiatives. •Support Safe Spaces, including emergency shelters and vocational training for teenage girls and boys to discourage survival sex practice, criminal activity and eventual dropouts. •Advocate at community level for specialised health services for elderly people and people living with disabilities. •Promote integration of people living with disabilities in community activities; • Raise awareness and solidarity campaigns on the rights of the elderly people and persons living with disabilities; and •Develop community gardens and communal soup kitchens to complement elderly and people living with disabilities’ food intake •Strengthen capacity building and support local authorities to assist them meet communities’ energy needs, including provision of solar panels and street lighting. •Strengthen NGOs’ capacities to address housing rehabilitation needs, installation/rehabilitation of way stations and provision of NFI, as well as land/housing legal related matters; and •Promote the safe use of alternative heating/cooking sources; •Liaise with local institutions to address public services related matters.

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Client Orientation Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Empowering Others Managing Performance Respect for Diversity Working in Teams

• Relevant professional experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity • required. • Field experience. • Commitment to help persons of concern and willingness to cooperate with counterparts. • Knowledge of UN policies and procedures. • Good analytical skills. • 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. • Excellent writing skills in Spanish. • Office Package (excellent knowledge of Word, good knowledge of Excel and Power Point) and Internet browsing.

BENEFITS:

• A standardized lump sum entry fee at the start of the assignment of USD 400 to cover installation expenses on assignment.
• A monthly allowance of USD 1299.58 to cover normal living expenses during your assignment. This allowance is not considered a salary.
• 2.5 vacation days per month.
• Medical insurance (with coverage for 1 month after the end of the assignment). Includes dental insurance for UNV and spouse and up to 2 dependents under 21 years of age and life, disability, and dismemberment insurance.
• Exit allowance, upon satisfactory completion of service and respect of notice periods (in case of resignation), to relocate to another job, either within or outside the UN.
• Training and learning opportunities during assignment.