Protection Assistant

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response Security

Overview

Provide operational support on protection issues for asylum-seekers and refugees.

You have:

• Experience working in the UN or other international development organizations is an asset.
• Familiarity with refugee law and international human rights law.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work inclusively with partners and community members.
• Ability to conduct protection interviews with forcibly displaced people.
• Knowledge of legal principles and ability to apply them in practice.

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.

UNHCR Izmir Field Unit is working closely with provincial directorates of line ministries and of the Presidency of Migration Management as well as with Law enforcement authorities, provincial governorates, INGOs/NGOs, and refugee populations in the Aegean and Mediterranean region. UNHCR's Izmir Field Unit promotes and supports access to and provision of protection and quality services for asylum-seekers and refugees in the Aegean and Mediterranean region. The area of responsibility hosts a considerable urban refugee with more than 260,000 persons of concern. UNHCR Izmir Field Unit covers 10 provinces including Izmir, Aydin, Muğla, Manisa, Denizli, Uşak, Kütahya, Isparta, Burdur and Antalya.

Izmir Field Unit has expanded its network and capacity development activities with diverse actors such as municipalities, social service centers, and other significant local actors that contribute to the expansion of protection space for refugees. Moreover, the Field Unit is enhancing its outreach activities through partners, increasing community-based protection activities, and involving refugees in its programs.

The coastal provinces along the Aegean are also relevant border regions for often irregular movements by sea. To support protection-sensitive border management and delivery of immediate humanitarian assistance to intercepted, apprehended, and rescued persons, UNHCR Izmir Field Unit works in cooperation with relevant border authorities and national institutions in charge of managing Türkiye's borders, including the Turkish Coast Guard, the Gendarmerie General Command, and the National Police.

The Protection Assistant is expected to maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with persons of concern, host communities, local authorities, and partners; provide operational support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues; through relationships with persons of concern (PoC), authorities and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic, and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to her/his colleagues and Supervisor.

Under the direct supervision of Associate Field Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Responsible from individual case follow ups and referrals: provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation and access to services. Manage individual protection cases including those on gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents. For profile analysis and reporting purposes, assistance may be required on compiling lists of PwSNs and keep up the records of their case status. Liase with partner and other NGOs in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) to respond to protection needs of POC. • Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards, and codes of conduct. • Assist Protection team’s field mission preparations, arrange appointments from Bar Associations, NGOs, Partners. • Regularly attend UNHCR field visits in urban and rural areas within the AoR: Izmir, Aydin, Muğla, Manisa, Denizli, Uşak, Kütahya, Isparta, Burdur and Antalya. • Support organization of PWG and other coordination meetings by inviting relevant local actors and note-taking during the meetings. • Participating in coordination meetings [Inter-Sectoral Working Group Meeting, Protection Working Group Meeting, Child Protection and GBV Sub-Working Group Meeting] and drafting meeting minutes and keep the participants list updated. • Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures. • Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and cases within the AoR. • 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 or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Creativity, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Judgement and Decision-making, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

protection. • Familiarity with and knowledge of the basics of refugee law and international human rights law. • Legal Knowledge and the ability to apply legal principles. • Experience in/at the national and/or international level, working in the UN or other inter-national development organizations is an asset. • Excellent oral, writing, formulation, reporting skills. • Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities. • Ability to conduct protection interviews with the forcibly displaced people.

The UN Volunteer will live and work in Izmir, Türkiye. The national UN Volunteer may also be required to go on missions.

The UN Volunteers are responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. The full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service: https://explore.unv.org/cos

The Summary of National UN Volunteer (Specialist) Entitlement (paid in local currency):

• Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 1,360 (paid in local currency) • Private insurance: Health, dental, life and dismemberment (100%) coverage by CIGNA As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be only initiated on private basis. • Entry allowance: USD 400 • Exit allowance: USD 113 per month and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Free access to different learning platforms and UN & UNV network

Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. 2) It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment.

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations of the monthly post adjustment.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org