Protection Assistant

Overview

Support community-based protection for refugees and asylum seekers.

You have:

• A minimum of two years of direct work experience with refugees and asylum seekers at UNHCR or its partners in the context of community-based protection is required.
• Strong understanding of UNHCR's protection principles and Community-Based approaches is required.
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills are desired.
• Proven record in the usage of proGres database and Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel are required.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines and strong organizational and time management skills are required.
• Degree in Social Work, Political Science, International Relations or any other relevant studies is essential.

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

BFamily Type (not applicable for home-based)

FamilyStaff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA4Target Start Date

2025-07-15Deadline for Applications

July 7, 2025Terms of Reference

Operational context

India currently hosts more than 261,000 refugees and asylum seekers. These include some 91,000 Sri Lankan refugees and 73,400 Tibetans directly assisted by the Government of India. There are 47,881 individuals registered under UNHCR’s mandate primarily from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other countries. In addition, around 49,000 Myanmar nationals have sought refuge in the Northeast of India and live in a refugee-like situation. UNHCR works with the Government of India to offer protection and find solutions for refugees and asylum seekers.

As a result of reprioritization, UNHCR India is refocusing its efforts on three core objectives: mandate-critical protection and solutions work; lifesaving and emergency activities with a focus on the most vulnerable; and essential resource mobilization and advocacy for protection and inclusion.

With refugees and asylum seekers spread across 13 different locations across the country, UNHCR relies on its 8 NGO partners for support. It funds activities that complement or facilitate access to essential services and assist the most vulnerable people with humanitarian assistance. UNHCR also works with various partners and key stakeholders to advocate for greater inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). The office is engaged in advocacy with the government to support the development of a national framework for refugee protection, and advocates on issues related to the use of alternatives to detention, access to documentation amongst other key areas. UNHCR’s office is in New Delhi and has a field presence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Desired Candidate Profile:

The Protection Assistant is part of the Protection Unit and reports to the Senior Protection Associate. S/he is expected to work closely with his/her team, other units in the office, partners and refugee communities. The candidate will strengthen two-way communication with refugee and asylum-seekers. S/he will play a vital role in building and maintaining strong linkages with refugee community and their community-based structures, ensuring timely and effective communication through regular community engagements, protection monitoring visits and field missions. Through dealing both in person, via phone and other communication channels with individual refugees and asylum seekers, conducting outreach activities and community engagement, the Protection Assistant will help adopt a robust community-based protection approach to address the protection and assistance needs of the communities.

S/he will stay abreast of the community structures of the population of concern and develop strong links with a cross-section of members of refugee communities, using an AGD approach. Additionally, s/he will be responsible for preparing letters for refugees, managing emails and responding to queries from refugees and asylum seekers via email, letters, and in-person / telephonic meetings. Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics.

S/he will maintain and update individual case information in UNHCR's proGres v4 database, update Specific Needs Codes (SNC), identify Persons with Specific Needs (PWSN), and make referrals to partners and service providers for appropriate interventions. S/he will co-ordinate with the security focal point for any security related incidents.

A minimum of two years of direct work experience with refugees and asylum seekers, at UNHCR or its partners in the context of community-based protection is required. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals and strong cross-cultural communication skills are desired. Strong understanding of UNHCR's protection principles and Community-Based approaches is required. Data analysis and writing skills are required.

Proven record in the usage of proGres database, and Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel are required. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines and strong organizational and time management skills are required. A demonstrated ability to work with communities is desirable.

This is a UNOPS LICA position and is open only to Indian nationals. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted, and they may be required to undergo a written test and/or an interview.

The selected candidate will work either from the UNHCR Registration center Office or other UNHCR /partner locations in New Delhi, India.

Education & Professional Work Experience Essential: - Degree in Social Work, Political science, International Relations or any other relevant studies

- 2 years of work experience relevant to the Job profileStandard Job Description

Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent provides functional and administrative support to the protection unit on protection related liaison, correspondence, monitoring, case management and reporting activities.

The Protection Assistant also supports the protection unit in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to persons of concern (PoC). S/he may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on correspondence and/or protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Assistant also facilitates the involvement of PoC in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties - Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. - Observe and respect protection related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). - Provide functional and administrative support in all protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. - Provide functional and administrative support in implementing participatory approaches, needs assessments, monitoring, reporting and case management. - Support assessments on durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement. - Facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents. - Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). - Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share. - Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s). - Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses Protection (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience Essential: Not specified. Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework IT-Computer Literacy (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and FrameworkEducation

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCRWork Experience

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote

No

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Potential interview questions

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