Associate Protection Officer

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

• The mission of UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. The organization operates in over 130 countries and employs more than 18,000 staff members worldwide. UNHCR's work is guided by the principles of law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law and humanitarian action, focusing on providing protection, assistance, and solutions for those in need.

Job Overview:
The Associate Protection Officer position is a critical role within UNHCR, responsible for ensuring the protection of forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The incumbent will report to the Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer and may supervise protection staff, including those involved in community-based protection registration, resettlement, and education. The role involves providing functional protection guidance on various legal matters, including statelessness, child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), and human rights standards. The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate timely and effective protection responses, ensuring that operational responses mainstream protection methodologies and integrate safeguards. The position also requires building effective relationships with communities, authorities, and partners to enhance protection and support design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design influenced by the needs of affected populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Associate Protection Officer include staying informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments affecting the protection environment. The officer will promote international and national law, provide legal advice to displaced persons, conduct eligibility and status determinations, and contribute to child protection and education plans. The role also involves implementing standard operating procedures for protection activities, managing individual protection cases, recommending durable solutions, and facilitating participatory assessments. The officer will engage with communities to promote community-based approaches to protection, support risk management activities, and negotiate with authorities on protection issues. Additionally, the Associate Protection Officer will ensure compliance with global protection policies and standards, manage risks, and perform other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of three years of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree, two years with a graduate degree, or one year with a doctorate. Essential qualifications include professional experience in refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights, or international humanitarian law, along with a good knowledge of relevant legal principles. Desirable qualifications include field experience working directly with communities and good IT skills, including database management. Functional skills required for the position include knowledge of protection-related guidelines, age, gender, and diversity considerations, GBV coordination, project management, and international humanitarian law.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Associate Protection Officer position includes a degree in Law, International Law, Political Sciences, or a related field. Candidates with an advanced university degree at the Master’s level are preferred, although exceptional cases may consider candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and significant relevant work experience. Substantive parts of the candidates’ academic training must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the list of eligible countries for the Junior Professional Officer Programme.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for this position includes a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience for candidates with an undergraduate degree. Candidates with a graduate degree require two years of experience, while those with a doctorate need only one year. Experience within the UN system should not exceed one year, including internships and consultancies. Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in international development cooperation and have relevant work experience in refugee protection or related fields.

Languages:
For this position, knowledge of English is mandatory, along with the UN working language of the duty station if it is not English. For national professional jobs, knowledge of the local language is also required. A working knowledge of a second official UN language is desirable, and candidates are expected to have at least a B2 level proficiency in required languages.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a Junior Professional Officer role, with a target start date of May 1, 202

• The maximum age limit for candidates is 32 years as of December 31 of the year of application. The position is full-time and does not provide accommodation; however, hotels and rental houses are available in Cairo. The security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security level in Egypt is generally low, but candidates should be aware of potential risks, including road accidents and incidents of theft. The operational context includes significant responsibilities related to refugee protection and engagement with national authorities to strengthen asylum systems.