Protection Officer, P3, Gao At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

In the Bureaux, the Protection Officer works under the direct supervision of the Senior Protection Coordinator or Senior Protection Officer. In the Field, the incumbent normally reports to the Representative, Deputy or Assistant Representative (Protection), Head of Sub Office or Senior Protection Officer as appropriate. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff whose work may include RSD, community-based protection, registration, resettlement, complementary pathways, internal displacement and education, among other areas.

In HQ, the incumbent may report to a Senior Protection Officer, Chief of Section or Deputy Director and may supervise other protection staff. The incumbent acts as an advisor to senior management in, when not responsible for, designing a comprehensive protection strategy under the area of responsibility (AoR). S/he represents the Organization to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine. The Protection Officer coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern under the AoR. S/he ensures that persons of concern of all age, gender and diversity groups are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying and implementing appropriate solutions to their problems. To undertake this role effectively, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the operation or the Bureau (including programme; PI and external relations; IM) and with DIP, communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

– Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues. – Stay abreast of and report as relevant on legal political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment. – Engage relevant national authorities and structures in identifying and expanding opportunities in view of developing or strengthening national asylum/RSD systems. – Facilitate a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation and/or gender identities (LGBTI persons), persons living with HIV/AIDS; gender equality and Gender Based Violence (GBV) priorities with regard to these persons. – In operations applying the Cluster Approach, seek to ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations. – Support senior management to ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team’s common humanitarian response plan where applicable, as well as with the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Three Year Strategy on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways. – Promote relevant International, Regional and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct and ensure that all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities in mainstreaming protection. – Promote the implementation of the AGD policy, including UNHCR’s updated commitments to women and girls, and, design, deliver I and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs. – Develop, implement and monitor community-based protection strategies and ensure systematic application and integration of participatory and community-based approaches in protection and solutions planning, programming and strategies. – Support the establishment of feedback and response systems and the incorporation of feedback received from persons of concern into programme design and adaptation. – Support the operation to develop and implement robust prevention, identification, and responses to fraud within protection processes and procedures, including registration, RSD, resettlement and complementary pathways, ensuring the integrity of interventions across all protection activities. – Assist UNHCR management at country level to comply with polices and commitment on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse measures. – Oversee and manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. – Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents to persons of concern (including women and others in need of civil documentation, in particular birth certificates). – As designated Data Protection Focal Point, assist the data controller in carrying out his or her responsibilities regarding the Data Protection Policy (7.2 DPP). – Oversee and undertake eligibility and status determination within the AoR ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles. – Promote and implement effective strategies and measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness within the AoR. – Contribute to the development and implementation of an education plan as part of protection strategy within the AoR as relevant. – Contribute to the development and implementation of a child protection plan as part of the protection strategy within the AoR ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach. – Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners. – Work to safeguard the rights of persons of concern in the context of mixed movements as relevant. – Coordinate the preparation of, implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. – Ensure that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement and complementary pathways are sought and provided to the largest possible number of persons of concern, including undertaking and/or overseeing resettlement and complementary pathways activities. – Contribute to the coordination of the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners. – Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners. – Ensure that the Protection Sector or Cluster has an effective information management component which: provides disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery. – Build the protection capacity of national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities. – Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights. – Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and civil society to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms. – Perform other related duties as required.

For positions in Bureaux – Support the Regional Bureau and Country Operations to reflect the protection and solution angle in support of persons of concern within regional processes. – Support Country Operations in the development of strategies to build and further develop national asylum/RSD systems with a view to ensuring their fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity, favourable protection environment and solutions. – Assist UNHCR management at regional and country level to comply with polices and commitment on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse measures. – Support Country Operations and ensure they meet their complementary pathways objectives and resettlement quotas. – In close collaboration with DIP, (a) contribute to the development of background and general normative, policy, and legal positions, in compliance with UNHCR’s global protection policies and standards; (b) contribute to the development of strategies at the regional and country level on the usage of law and policy approaches, including legislative and judicial engagement and UN human rights mechanisms – and/or regional ones – and other protection frameworks, and integrated human rights standards in protection strategies and advocacy; and (c) support coordination and review of UNHCR’s country reports to the UN human rights mechanisms. – Engage in relevant international and regional fora and contribute to forging regional partnerships to advocate for key protection and mandate issues, and engage in cross-cutting protection-related matters, including mixed movement, internal displacement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses, as well as Statelessness, in cooperation with DIP and where relevant RSD.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Law; International Law; International Refugee Law; International Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian Law; Refugee and Forced Migration Studies; Political Sciences or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Protection Learning Programme RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Minimum 4 years of relevant professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law, including experience in working directly with Field Offices. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting. Desirable Diverse field experience. Good IT skills including database management skills.

Functional Skills

*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators *PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards PR-International Humanitarian Law PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework LE-Judicial Engagement PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement PR-Accountability to Affected People – Principles and Framework PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

Taking under consideration the operational context, the desired profile is a colleague able to immediately lead the protection team. The team has for one year been without a Protection Officer; thus, it has built sufficient knowledge of protection response and assistance. Albeit, it has been without strategies which will direct, guide and re-direct response as required. In fact, most strategies and SOPs are not in place; for protection as well as other sectors. Thus, the Protection Officer will ensure that operational responses in sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards.

The team has mainly worked within the context of an office-based mindset. Yet, Gao is a sub-office and thus should function as such. Hence, the candidate must be ready to lead, plan and manage sub-office wide protection delivery as well as guide and train others for whom s/he will have technical supervision.

Experience with development of and implementation of the Refugee Coordination Model in response to mixed situations in which both IDP and refugees, amongst other POCs, simultaneous flee. Experience in mixed movements, particularly with trafficking and smuggling are equally of import.

Candidate’s assistance in promotion of UNHCR’s protection agenda externally, especially in an inter-agency context is crucial; thus experience in cluster coordination is a plus.

Experience with multi-dimensional integrated stabilization missions is desired.

Candidate must be ready to draft project proposals including for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.

To ensure that protection informs and shapes the overall humanitarian response, candidate will support reporting and information sharing; thereby enhancing the Sub-Office’s ability to make decisions based on evidence.

As the office responds to ensure protection of repatriated former refugees as well as transitioning beyond emergency response; experience with ensuring sustainable integration via contribution to strategies that link humanitarian and development action, whilst enhancing activities that build and sustain peace by ensuring access to basic social services, such as health and education, is a must. Thus, experience in nexus approach is crucial.

Experience with development of and implementation of innovative responses.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

French

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Desired languages

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The current operational context in the area covered by the UNHCR Sub-Office of Gao can be summarised in three aspects, namely return zone, asylum zone and transit zone. The Gao region was initially perceived as a return zone for both IDPs and Malian refugees in relation with the 2012 crisis. As a result of the presence of armed groups in Northern Mali, there were massive displacements of populations both in-country and to the neighbouring countries. Under direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office, Gao and functional supervision of the Snr Protection Officer in Bamako, the Protection Officer will assure all Protection activities in the Gao area including the recently established Field Unit in Menaka. The complexity of this position requires that the incumbent possesses a good idea of conflict resolution in addition to good communication and diplomatic skills in order to work with all stakeholders from different backgrounds, including the peacekeeping operation MINUSMA. It is important that the applicant is motivated, hard-working, organized and fluent in French (written and spoken), as all communications within the office and with external partners such as Government and NGOs are conducted in French. Working knowledge of English, especially written, is also required as the majority of reports and inputs, internal as well as external, are requested in English. The incumbent will need to demonstrate managerial skills to the operation and provide support to the Field Office and Field Units in close coordination with the Bamako Office. Strong interpersonal skills and flexibility in undertaking the diverse function will be needed to ensure close working relationship of the different sections to meet the strategic objectives of the operation. Previous experience in a complex operation, preferably in emergency context is a strong asset.

Living and Working Conditions:

The position is based in Bamako, a D duty station with good accommodation, public facilities/services and availability of amenities. There are several supermarkets that have a good selection of local and imported products. Power cuts are frequent, making a generator necessary. UN Clinic and hospitals are available in the country. Hot and dry weather conditions during most of the year, with a rainy season between May and September. Road traffic accidents remain a pertinent risk to staff and roads are congested. Vehicle travel is difficult at certain times of the day due to traffic volume and accidents. Security : On a 1 to 6 overall security level scale, Bamako is at 4 (substantial) while the central and northern parts of the country are at 5 (high). The capital city is at the same security level as the southern regions of Sikasso, Bougouni and Koutiala (SRM south) which is higher than those of the western regions of Dioila, Koulikoro, and Nara (SRM center-west), Kayes, Kita, and Nioro (SRM west). Notwithstanding Bamako ‘s security level, staff are discouraged from using accommodations that are not on the UNDSS hotels list or renting apartments in unrecommended suburbs. All accommodations need to be approved, and residential security measures (RSM) implemented. Internationally recruited staff members may receive an allowance to cover for some of these expenses. The capital city ‘s security level 4 rating hides high levels of security threats related to terrorism and civil unrest. Past incidents and frequent security threat information demonstrate that these threats remain a concern. The 2015 Bamako attacks on foreigners combine with regular communication by terrorist groups about their continuous intention to target the UN. This intent and their demonstrated ability to conduct operations throughout the country justifies the high ranking of the specific threat. Furthermore, with a long-lasting socio-political crisis, sporadic anti-MINUSMA and anti-French sentiments, demonstrations have become frequent in Bamako and other urban locations. They led to the 2020 blood-less military coup while the same actors of the M5-RFP and the civil society continue to organize demonstrations, at times in support of the military. Other forms of rallies and strikes are also frequent in Bamako. Some of the unauthorized demonstrations have been met with police strong hand. Even when they don ¿t turn violent, the civil unrest often causes disruptions in traffic.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Refugee protection standards

Education

BA: International Humanitarian Law (Required), BA: International Human Rights Law (Required), BA: International Law (Required), BA: International Refugee Law (Required), BA: Law (Required), BA: Political Science (Required), BA: Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (Required)

Certifications

HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program – UNHCR

Work Experience

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned IDPs, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add. 3 to Bi-annual Compendium 2022 – Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

How to apply

For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit

bit.ly/3T26gaI

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Closing date of receipt of applications: 16 March 2023 (midnight Geneva time)

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