Protection Assistant

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 and displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 employees. 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 works to safeguard the rights of refugees and other displaced persons, providing them with assistance and protection, and advocating for their rights at the national and international levels.

Job Overview:
The Protection Assistant position is a critical role within the UNHCR framework, primarily focused on providing functional and administrative support to the protection unit. The incumbent will report to a more senior Protection colleague and will be responsible for various protection-related tasks, including liaison, correspondence, monitoring, case management, and reporting activities. The role involves designing and implementing a comprehensive protection strategy to ensure timely and effective responses to persons of concern (PoC). The Protection Assistant will also engage with local authorities and partners to address protection issues and facilitate the involvement of PoC in decision-making processes that affect their rights and access to solutions. This position requires building and maintaining effective relationships with communities, local authorities, and assistance partners to enhance the protection framework.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Protection Assistant include consistently applying international and national law, as well as UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct. The incumbent will observe and respect protection-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and provide functional and administrative support in all protection-related programming with implementing and operational partners. Responsibilities also include conducting needs assessments, monitoring, reporting, and case management, as well as supporting assessments on durable solutions such as voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement. The Protection Assistant will facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal documents, assist in drafting reports and routine correspondence, and maintain relevant databases and statistics. The role also involves selecting PoC for preliminary interviews and ensuring integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners. The incumbent will identify and manage risks, raise concerns to supervisors, and perform other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
The minimum qualifications for the Protection Assistant position include at least 1 year of relevant experience with a High School Diploma, or a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education. Essential functional skills include knowledge of protection-related guidelines, standards, and indicators, as well as refugee protection principles and frameworks. Proficiency in computer literacy is also required. The position does not specify any additional essential or desirable job experience beyond the minimum qualifications.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a High School Diploma as a minimum, with a Bachelor’s degree or higher being preferable. There are no specific fields of education mandated for this role, allowing for a broader range of applicants with diverse educational backgrounds to apply.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the Protection Assistant position is at least 1 year of relevant experience. This experience can be gained through various roles within the protection sector or related fields, and it is essential for the candidate to demonstrate familiarity with the responsibilities and functions outlined in the job description.

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. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly stated as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA4 category and is not remote. The target start date for the role is April 1, 2026, and the application deadline is March 15, 202

• The position is categorized under a non-family residential location with a hardship level of E, indicating a challenging living environment. All UNHCR staff members are expected to contribute to a safe and respectful working environment, adhering to the organization's core values and standards.