Refugee Protection Assistant

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response

Overview

Support refugee protection and community engagement with vulnerable populations.

You have:

• At least 2 years of professional work experience working with refugees or vulnerable populations.
• Fluency in spoken and written Ukrainian and/or Russian and working knowledge of English is required; knowledge of Romanian is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written); ability to tailor communications to different audiences.
• Strong knowledge of social media platforms popular among Ukrainian communities including Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok.
• Ability to engage community members in participatory processes and consultations.
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimum supervision; capable of handling tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of UNHCR policies and procedures is an asset.

Contract

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

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband.

Today, over 70 years later, our organization is still hard at work, protecting and assisting refugees around the world.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has precipitated one of the fastest-growing displacement and humanitarian crises in recent history. Over 6.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine, seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Moldova, and Romania, with many moving onward shortly after arrival. Following the declaration of a Level 3 emergency for Ukraine and its neighboring countries during 2022, the Regional Bureau for Europe and respective country operations have significantly scaled up their capacities to deliver protection, urgent assistance, and coordination in response to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation. UNHCR’s Multi-Year Strategy 2024 – 2026 will mainly focus on providing assistance and protection services to the most vulnerable forcibly displaced populations while seeking for medium and long-term solutions for the inclusion of refugees in the country, in support of the Government of Romania’s primary response.

As of 13 June 2024, more than 5.9 M refugees were recorded in Europe. As of 31 March 2024, 77.9 K refugees are living in Romania. The Government of Romania and UNHCR have been actively responding since the onset of the emergency, both at the borders and in areas where refugees are settling. Close collaboration and policy coordination with the government are maintained at national and local levels. Through the Inter-Agency Refugee Coordination Model and the Refugee Response Plan, UNHCR, in partnership with UN agencies and NGOs, supports the government's refugee response, ensuring full harmonization and complementarity both at the central and local levels. UNHCR Romania has its Country Office in Bucharest, Field Offices in Timisoara (where the Emergency Transit Center is established), Suceava, and Galati, and a Field Unit in Constanta, covering key border crossing points.

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Community-Based Protection Officer in Bucharest, the UNV Refugee Protection Assistant will:

• Establish regular and stable communication mechanisms with refugees and asylum seekers of different ages, gender and backgrounds in order to gain a better understanding of the refugee population, their concerns and priorities; • Assist UNHCR in disseminating information and raise awareness among refugees and asylum-seekers on available services and their providers, and on the rights and duties of refugees and asylum-seekers in Romania; • Inform, consult, and engage with refugees and asylum-seekers on a regular basis through face-to-face and remote feedback channels, including supporting participatory processes and consultations; • Support monitoring exercises in field locations, including by collecting feedback and protection interviews with the persons with and for whom UNHCR works; • Monitor at the local level news and trends on social media to identify where UNHCR can add value to the conversations and contribute to the information refugees have about their rights, services, and opportunities, in close coordination with the Digital Community Management Assistant. • Monitor conversations at the local level on social media to identify protection risks refugees are facing, or potential rumors and misinformation that UNHCR can help to clarify, in close cooperation with the Digital Community Manager. • Support the establishment of an effective two-way communication mechanism at the national and local level between UNHCR and Ukrainian refugees by using the hotline and social media channels to share useful information with the refugee communities and ensure that proper feedback is provided to the persons with and for whom UNHCR works. Refer refugees with protection or assistance needs in a timely manner to relevant services. • Promote and support community engagement, resilience, and active participation of refugees in the Romanian social, economic, and cultural life by contributing to the organization of social, cultural, and recreational events among refugee and host communities, thriving to promote engagement of minorities and persons with specific needs and diverse backgrounds; • Conduct field monitoring visits to assess the protection situation of the persons with and for whom UNHCR works in the Bucharest Area of Responsibility, including overnight if necessary; • Assist in exploring opportunities for ensuring that the persons with and for whom UNHCR works have access to available national and local services and contribute to developing communication strategies with persons of concern on how to access such services; • In coordination with the supervisor, assist in conducting monitoring visits to Community-Based Organizations/refugee-led organisations and NGOs/ initiatives and other partners to oversee programme implementation and provide inputs for further planning; • Support identification of community structures and representatives, including mapping out locations and scope of action of community representatives across Romania; • Regularly update and share information related to areas of work, utilizing agreed data collection methods to identify gaps, assess trends and developments; • Contribute to the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of any further community outreach activities. • Contribute to age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in all of UNHCR Romania’s activities; • Complete 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 an 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.; • 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.

Results/expected 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 functions, including:

o A network of groups and resource persons in the refugee community is developed and maintained, both digitally and in person, where the volunteer acts as a liaison between these groups and persons and UNHCR. o Awareness is increased among refugees around their rights and opportunities in Romania and the services they may access. o The quality of UNHCR’s information to Ukrainian refugees about available services improves. o A timely follow up on and tracking of all feedback received from the persons with and for whom UNHCR works is ensured.

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

Competencies and values:

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to; 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.

the relevant field. •At least 2 years of professional work experience, or demonstrated ad hoc experience at the national and/or international level in working with vulnerable people, refugees or IDPs, or other relevant programmes; experience with humanitarian work is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; •Excellent communication skills (oral and written); excellent drafting, formulation, presentation and reporting skills, as well as efficiency in tailoring communication and messages to different target audiences; •Fluency in spoken and written Ukrainian and/or Russian and working knowledge of English is required; fluency in Romanian is an advantage; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills, being able to engage persons from different age, gender and diverse background in consultations, awareness and information sessions; 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, promoting team spirit and mutual support among team members; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Strong knowledge of social media platforms used by Ukrainian communities, including Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok is an asset; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in enabling access to services to vulnerable refugees with constant aim to assist in providing durable solutions, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System. • Willingness to work in remote field locations and to conduct field based work much of the time.

Application to this assignment is exclusively open to individuals residing in Romania, registered as asylum seekers for at least 3 months or as refugees or with similar protective status, including Temporary Protection.

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

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Volunteer Living Allowance (monthly payment): RON 7004.08 Entry lump sum (one-time payment) USD 400 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): RON 583.67 Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in exchange rates.

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.

Medical and life insurance: • 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.

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. • 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 7 days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. • Maternity Leave: 16 weeks • Paternity Leave: 10 days

In an effort to ensure consistency and fair treatment of UN Volunteers in the country in terms of benefits, candidates will be required to self-declare the humanitarian assistance they are in receipt of, which, upon selection will then be assessed, and adjusted as needed.

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine in accordance with UNHCR’s Administrative Instruction on Covid-19 Vaccination and related Safety Measures. Exceptions may be granted on medical grounds. In exceptional circumstances, the recruitment may be completed on the condition that vaccination is obtained within a specified time.

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Potential interview questions

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