Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for 40 years. During 2006-2007, the Government and UNHCR conducted the largest biometric registration exercise in UNHCR’s history of that time, documenting over 2.1 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan and providing them with a Proof of Registration (PoR) card.

In 2021, the Documentation Renewal and Information Verification Exercise (DRIVE) was undertaken by the Government - the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), the Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees (CCAR), and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) – with the support from UNHCR to respond to an urgent need to update population data and records and to address challenges faced by refugees by issuing new, recognized and secure physical documentation. Upon completion of DRIVE exercise, some 1.3 million Afghan Refugees in Pakistan are holding a new Government PoR card.

Following the completion of the DRIVE exercise, PoR Card Modification Centers (PCMs) are to open in 11 locations across the country to achieve continuous updating of the data of currently registered Afghan refugees (PoR cardholders), to complete and conclude all processes associated with DRIVE, to record and document vital events of PoR holders, to manage and reissue PoR cards as necessary, and to identify specific protection and assistance needs of PoR cardholders and facilitate referrals as required.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment (Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)

The Protection Assistant is a member of the UNHCR team that will support continuous registration of PoR cardholders at the 11 dedicated PoR Card Modification Centers across the country. S/he will be supervised by a UNHCR staff member in the office of assignment (Islamabad, Peshawar or Quetta).

The Protection Assistant is responsible for supporting UNHCR protection oversight and specific activities within the PCM centers, working closely with Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) and NADRA in assisting refugees through the documentation verification.

This will include functions to help ensure and maintain a protective reception where refugees are welcomed, and that the verification process is undertaken in a calm and friendly environment.

The Protection Assistant will be a first responder to queries from the refugees regarding the PCM procedures at the same time providing special attention to those refugee individuals and families that require guidance and assurance. Special care is to be provided to the elderly, persons with disabilities, very large families and/or families with many young children, unaccompanied children and other Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs).

The Protection Assistant will actively look out for and help to identify any PSNs or individuals that appear to require greater care and attention; and in doing so provide them all reassurances and explain the purpose of the PCM centers. As necessary the Protection Assistant may also assist a vulnerable individual through the process, assuring them of the confidential nature of the information that they provide in response to the questions that will be asked by NADRA and/or CAR. The Protection Assistant may encourage the concerned refugee family and/or individual family members to provide fullest possible information in response to the questions that are of a sensitive nature.

The Protection Assistant will liaise closely with CAR staff to ensure the timely identification of PSNs for any immediate support that they require. This may include ensuring that such persons are prioritized by NADRA and that the any additional on-site care and attention is provided.

The Protection Assistant may also conduct initial urgent protection interviews of needy individuals - in accordance with the UNHCR Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will be provided.

The Protection Assistant will respond to refugees' questions regarding the PCM procedures in the centres and the follow-up process for collecting their Smartcards, and impressing upon them the importance of ensuring they visit the PCMs (after the DRIVE is concluded) whenever they have a change in circumstances that will require their information / profile to be updated in the NADRA database.

The Protection Assistant will assist UNHCR in monitoring the PCM activities and recording overall progress at the registration centre(s) where they are assigned. They will also prepare and submit a daily situation report to their UNHCR supervisor and debrief on any issues and aspects of the process that require corrective action and/or further attention. The daily reports will focus on protection issues including individual cases that may require an immediate follow-up action by the concerned UNHCR office in Peshawar, Quetta or Islamabad.

The Protection Assistant may provide interpretation and/or translation assistance as needed and in cases for which s/he has the required language competency.

The Protection Assistant will also perform other PCM-related duties as requested by their supervisor.

Monitoring and Progress Controls (Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)

The Protection Assistant will work closely with the Registration/Protection Officer Officer and with UNHCR Protection colleagues and in doing so will assist UNHCR in monitoring PCM activities and recording overall progress at the registration centre(s) where they are assigned.

The Protection Assistant will prepare and submit a daily situation report to their UNHCR supervisor and debrief on any issues and aspects of the process that require corrective action and/or further attention. The daily reports will focus on protection issues including individual cases that may require immediate follow-up action by the concerned UNHCR office in Peshawar, Quetta or Islamabad.

Qualifications and Experience (List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

Completion of High School Diploma with relevant experience in Humanitarian and related fields.

b. Work Experience (List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)

Essential: Minimum one year of relevant work experience in similar humanitarian or related field.

Desirable: Experience in working with UNHCR Registration procedures.

c. Key Competencies (Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies) Core Competencies: Accountability Communication Organizational Awareness Teamwork & Collaboration Commitment to Continuous Learning Client & Result Orientation

Cross-Functional Competencies: Analytical Thinking Technological Awareness Planning and Organizing

Language requirements: