Assistant Protection Officer – UNHCR
Job Description
| Organization | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
| Job Title | Assistant Protection Officer – UNOPS – LICA 8 |
| Location | Nyala, Sudan |
| Hardship Level | E |
| Job ID | 35813 |
| Salary Grade | |
| Family Location Type | Non-Family |
| Closing Date | 01 May 2022. |
Eligible Applicants
This Job Opening is available to eligible UNHCR staff members and external applicants.
Duties and Qualifications
Assistant Protection Officer
- General Background/ Context.
The Operation in Sudan has refugees, asylum seekers, refugee returnees as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs). For South Darfur, there are refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs and IDP returnees.
South Darfur State in Sudan has been experiencing (and continue to experience) intercommunal violence which leads to displacement of many individuals mostly recorded in hot spot areas of Gereida, East Jebel Marra, Kass and Mershing localities in South Darfur state.
Currently, the state leads in IDP statistics in the country ranging to 1,006,690 individuals living in 14 recognized IDP camps/settlements and gatherings
However, at the same time, the State has noticeable pockets of safety manifesting minimum conditions of return, which could be prioritized to enable for sustainable return of IDPs addressing along the congestion of IDP camps/ settlements.
With IDP updated policy on UNHCR’s IDP engagement (2019), in 2020, 2021, and onward, the operation in Sudan, FO Nyala inclusive, the operation has been putting more focus on the protection and assistance provision to IDPs, implementing projects with a durable solutions component.
In addition, in 2022, guided by UNHCR strategic directions 2023-2026, the Sudan operation is finalizing the planning of its multiyear year strategy 2023-2026 with specific impact, outcome and outputs areas. Under one of its 5 strategic orientations and/or impact area, SOLVE, the operation is endeavoring to continue putting more emphasis on durable solutions provision to IDPs and IDP returnees.
The incumbent therefore primarily supports durable solution efforts in South Darfur state at the same time providing support to the overall IDP protection.
As per the position job description, s/he also ensures that persons of concern are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support program design and adaptations that are influenced by their concerns, priorities and capacities.¿
The Assistant Protection Officer will directly work in IDP Unit in South Darfur State, in coordination with other Units focused on durable solutions including UNHCR staff, other UN agencies, government institutions, NGO partners and other stakeholders.
S/he will work directly with communities of concern to assess risks they face and sustainable solutions related actions they propose to enjoy and/or exercise their rights.
- Duties and responsibility
- Access to civil documents is an essential element to durable solutions as it allows the exercise of individual and communities¿ rights and plays a key role in preventing the risk of statelessness. The incumbent is expected to work with the civil registry and other relevant stakeholders to work on practical mechanisms, including mobile civil registry to the field, to issue civil documents to IDP and IDP returns in return areas.
- The incumbent will join efforts to advocate for judicial and police facilities, personnel and mechanisms in IDP areas of return. The efforts will include, in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders who include the academics, UN agencies and other development partners, capacity building to and closely working with existing conflict resolution and other human right committees operating in return areas.
- The incumbent will oversee the ongoing protection of civilians¿ efforts by closely working with State organs in charge of PoC, CBPNs and protection monitors on the ground under the coordination of a community-based protection partner. The main task of the incumbent will be to improve existing mechanisms to systematically/timely report early warnings on incidents or situations likely to constitute obstacles to sustainable peace and initiatives for solutions in return areas.
- In addition, the incumbent will equally participate in efforts to build the capacity of CBPNs and s/he will take active role in documenting any issues that would be an obstacle to lasting peace in return area, including HLP, security, lack of minimum service provision and the like¿
- The incumbent will take active part in joint assessments, intention surveys at locality levels and in IDP camps to capture rights holders¿ perspectives on their durable solutions. The incumbent will take the lead in Durable solutions fora, including State-level DS WG, in which he will take the role of the secretariate.
- S/he will equally work with other stakeholders to organise joint field verification missions to potential areas of return and IDP go-and-see, come tell visits in areas of return and will producing related descriptive and analytical reports.
- At the same time, the incumbent will oversee UNHCR community support projects (CSP) and other projects under UNHCR direct implementation (DI) UNHCR partners as well as other actors in IDP camp and IDP return areas.
- At the same time, the incumbent will closely work with other stakeholders on projects meant to materialise IDP socioeconomic integration in areas of displacement, peaceful coexistence among different IDP and IDP returnee communities.
- S/he will work with government counterparts and other relevant authorities in all initiatives meant to deliver durable solutions to IDPs, IDP returnees and host communities, including IDP camp relocations, camp urbanisation and in any other sustainable undertakings.
- She will coordinate all initiatives meant to build protection capacity of the national and local
government, partners and civil society. - Support reporting and information sharing within the IDP Unit and will produces regular updates on
the protection and durable solutions concerns of the affected populations, suggesting related practical activities for adequate response. - The incumbent will perform the above duties while equally supporting the coordination of IDP Protection at the same time performing other assigned duties by the FO as required.
Other duties include:
- Implement and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights, among others.
Minimum Qualifications
Education, Professional Work Experience, skills and competences:
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For LICA 8 – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law, International Law, Political Science or other relevant fields.
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles
Prior experience within humanitarian and development areas is an added value to the post
Desirable
Completion of the Protection Learning Program; any other Protection and/or Durable solutions to persons of concern, including IDPs and IDP returnees.
Functional skills
Skills are desired in the following areas:
Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
International Refugee Law
Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) updated policy (March 2018)
Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
Knowledge on Projects management
Human Rights Standards
International Humanitarian Law
Protection and mixed movements
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operations & IDPs Status/Rights/Obligation
Climate change and disaster related displacements as well as relevant approaches to respond to them
Community-based Protection
Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
Language Requirements
Knowledge of English and Arabic are required.
Competency Requirements
Core Competencies:
Accountability
Effective Communication in both writing, oral
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies:
Judgement and Decision Making
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Stakeholder Management
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
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.
Duration of Appointment
This Appointment is valid through 31 December 2022, subject to renewal in line with budget approval and availability.
Closing Date
The Closing date for this UNOPS job opening is 01 May 2022.
