Protection Associate

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

• The organization is dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 staff members. Its mission is to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or resettle in a third country. UNHCR also works to safeguard the rights of refugees and displaced persons, providing them with assistance and protection in accordance with law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law.

Job Overview:
The Protection Associate position is crucial for monitoring and ensuring the delivery of protection standards and operational procedures in line with international standards. The incumbent will report to the Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer and is expected to coordinate timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC). This role involves identifying opportunities to integrate protection methodologies into operational responses across various sectors. The Protection Associate will also contribute to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and liaise with external authorities and partners on protection policies. A significant aspect of this role is ensuring that PoC are actively involved in decisions that affect their rights and solutions to their problems, which requires building effective relationships with local communities, authorities, and partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Protection Associate include staying informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments that impact the protection environment. The incumbent will apply international and national laws, UN/UNHCR policies, and codes of conduct consistently. They will provide advice on protection issues to PoC, assist in eligibility and status determination, and contribute to measures aimed at preventing and reducing statelessness. The Protection Associate will also be involved in developing country-level child protection and education plans as part of the protection strategy. Responsibilities include monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for protection activities, managing individual protection cases, and assisting in identifying durable solutions for PoC. The role also involves facilitating effective information management and participating in initiatives to strengthen national protection legislation and procedures. The Protection Associate will assist supervisors in prioritizing PoC for interviews and counseling, ensuring compliance with global protection policies, and submitting payment requests for PoC.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma or 2 years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Essential qualifications include knowledge of International Law, Political Science, or related fields. The candidate must possess functional skills such as IT literacy and familiarity with refugee protection principles and frameworks. Additionally, experience in protection-related guidelines, standards, and indicators is essential for this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a High School Diploma with 3 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of relevant experience. The educational background should ideally be in fields related to International Law, Political Science, or other relevant disciplines. Certifications in International Law or Political Science are considered essential for this position.

Experience:
The Protection Associate role requires a minimum of 2 years of experience in the humanitarian field, particularly in emergency planning and response, with a focus on working with internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and refugees. Experience in protection activities, monitoring, and managing programs with UN agencies, NGOs, and INGOs is highly desirable. The candidate should have a solid protection background and experience in coordinating and managing relations with multiple stakeholders.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirements for this position include proficiency in English and the UN working language of the duty station, which is Arabic in this case. Knowledge of local languages is also beneficial. For international professional and field service jobs, knowledge of English and the UN working language is essential, while for national professional jobs, knowledge of both English and the local language is required.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA6 category and is not remote. The target start date for the position is April 1, 202

• The role is categorized under a hardship level of E, indicating a high level of hardship in the duty station. The position is non-family, meaning that staff members are not permitted to bring family members to the duty station. All UNHCR staff members are expected to contribute to a safe and respectful working environment, free from harassment and discrimination.