Associate Protection Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was established in 195

• Its mission is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, providing assistance and protection to millions of individuals worldwide. The organization is committed to ensuring that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and it strives to promote durable solutions for those in need, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country.

Job Overview:
The Associate Protection Officer at UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP) plays a crucial role in providing functional protection and solutions support to country operations within the Asia-Pacific region. This position is primarily focused on case processing, particularly refugee status determination (RSD) under UNHCR’s mandate. The officer is responsible for preventing, identifying, and responding to fraud and corruption in protection processes, ensuring compliance with international protection standards and operational procedures. The role requires close collaboration with various protection, assistance, and solutions functional units, as well as relevant partners, to ensure coordinated approaches in case processing and anti-fraud initiatives. The Associate Protection Officer is expected to contribute to building the capacity of country operations in the region, providing guidance and support to staff engaged in related activities, and monitoring trends to promote consistency in case processing and integrity-related procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Associate Protection Officer include staying informed about legal, political, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, social, economic, and cultural developments affecting the protection environment in the region. The officer will support country operations to ensure compliance with global protection policies and standards, provide operational support on protection oversight and individual case processing, and conduct eligibility interviews. Additionally, the officer will draft RSD Assessment Forms, provide quality reviews, and assist in developing case processing strategies. The role also involves monitoring trends, compiling statistics related to case processing, evaluating staffing and financial needs, conducting support missions, and assessing training needs within country operations. The officer will maintain consultative processes with operations and stakeholders and perform other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess advanced knowledge of international protection principles and the legal framework surrounding refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights, and international law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">humanitarian law. Professional experience in RSD case processing, conducting eligibility interviews, and analyzing protection situations is essential. The officer should have a thorough understanding of UNHCR's procedural standards and guidelines, as well as experience in counseling asylum-seekers and managing individual cases. Excellent research, analytical, oral communication, and written drafting skills are required. Desirable qualifications include experience in protection case management, knowledge of UNHCR’s risk management framework, and familiarity with UNHCR’s case management systems.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an undergraduate degree with three years of relevant experience, a graduate degree with two years of relevant experience, or a doctorate degree with one year of relevant experience in fields such as International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, or Political Sciences. Specific learning programs related to RSD and integrity are also beneficial.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of three years of relevant experience in the field of international protection, with a strong emphasis on refugee protection and case processing. Experience in conducting eligibility interviews and analyzing protection-related assessments is crucial. Familiarity with UNHCR procedures and guidance related to fraud is also important. Desirable experience includes working directly with vulnerable populations, providing legal representation to asylum seekers, and supervising teams.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, along with knowledge of the UN working language of the duty station if it is not English. Additional languages may be beneficial but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS IICA1 category and is not remote. The target start date for this position is February 1, 202

• The role is full-time and involves working in a family-type environment, with a hardship level classified as A (least hardship). The position does not require functional clearance.