Protection Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting is for a position within the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an organization dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of refugees and displaced persons. Established in 1950, UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 employees. The organization's 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 essential support and assistance.

Job Overview:
The Protection Assistant role is crucial within the UNHCR framework, primarily reporting to a senior Protection colleague. This position entails providing both functional and administrative support to the protection unit, focusing on various protection-related activities such as liaison, correspondence, monitoring, case management, and reporting. The Protection Assistant is expected to contribute to the development of a comprehensive protection strategy and ensure timely and effective responses to the needs of persons of concern (PoC). The role also involves engaging with local authorities and partners to address protection issues and facilitating the participation of PoC in decisions that affect their lives. This requires building and maintaining effective relationships with communities, local authorities, and assistance partners, ensuring that the rights and needs of PoC are prioritized and addressed.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Protection Assistant will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including but not limited to: consistently applying International and National Law along with applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct; observing and respecting protection-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); providing functional and administrative support in all protection-related programming with implementing and operational partners; assisting in participatory approaches, needs assessments, monitoring, reporting, and case management; supporting assessments on durable solutions such as voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement; facilitating liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents; drafting reports and routine correspondence; updating relevant databases and compiling statistics; selecting PoC for preliminary interviews and determining relevant information to share; enforcing integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners; identifying and managing risks while seeking opportunities that impact objectives; and performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 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. Computer literacy is also required. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to the core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity, which are fundamental to the UNHCR's mission.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a High School Diploma as a minimum, with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent being preferred. While specific fields of education are not mandated, any education related to social sciences, international relations, or humanitarian work would be advantageous. Certifications related to protection and UNHCR training programs are also beneficial.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of relevant experience in a similar role or field. While specific previous job titles are not specified, experience in protection, humanitarian assistance, or related areas will be considered valuable. Candidates should demonstrate a solid understanding of the protection landscape and the challenges faced by persons of concern.

Languages:
For this position, knowledge of Spanish is mandatory, as it is the local language of the duty station. Additionally, proficiency in English is desirable, particularly for international professional roles. Candidates should have at least a B2 level of proficiency in the required languages to ensure effective communication and understanding of UNHCR policies and procedures.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a General Service role at the GS4 level and is temporary in nature, with a target start date of October 1, 2026, and an end date of December 31, 202

• The role is family-type, indicating that it may be suitable for candidates with dependents. The recruitment process will not involve any fees at any stage, and shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR maintains a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse, and all staff members are expected to contribute to a safe and respectful working environment.