Protection Assistant, LICA4, Santo Domingo

1. General Background

Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, UNHCR reopened its office in the Dominican Republic to provide coordination and humanitarian response to the thousands of people who came seeking International Protection. Since 2014, UNHCR has also been accompanying the Dominican authorities to achieve the effective implementation of Law 169-14, as well as to find documentary and nationality solutions for persons of concern in line with our mandate. UNHCR also implements its mandate to supervise the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, through technical cooperation with the institutions responsible for the refugee protection system in the Dominican Republic. In addition, UNHCR is one of the agencies in charge of leading the coordination of the humanitarian response to the refugee population and asylum seekers in Venezuela, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other members of the R4V Platform. UNHCR also supports Dominican authorities in emergency preparedness and protection monitoring of the main trends, opportunities and challenges relating to the situation of refugees, asylum-seekers and other persons in need of international protection.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent provides functional and administrative support to the protection unit on protection related liaison, correspondence, monitoring, case management and reporting activities.

The Protection Assistant also supports the protection unit in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to persons of concern (PoC). S/he may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on correspondence and/or protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Assistant also facilitates the involvement of PoC in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

All UNHCR affiliates are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their terms of reference. 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, affiliates 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.

– Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards, and codes of conduct.
– Observe and respect protection related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
– Provide functional and administrative support in all protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
– Conduct protection assessments, registration, and follow-up of individual cases of persons of concern to UNHCR.
– Provide support to protection, RSD, and resettlement interviews with interpretation between Spanish, English and Haitian Creole.
– Conduct biometric registration of persons of concern at UNHCR’s database (proGres v4), as well protection interviews and assessments.
– Organize and keep track of physical and digital files of persons of concern to UNHCR.
– Provide functional and administrative support in implementing participatory approaches, needs assessments, monitoring, reporting and case management.
– Support assessments on durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
– Facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents.
– Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
– Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services and assistance by local implementing partners.
– Perform other related duties as required.

3. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education and Work Experience
• 1-year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher in area relevant to protection work (Law, Social Sciences, International Relations and related areas).

b. Language

– Fluent command of the Spanish, English and Haitian Creole languages. The use of French is an advantage.

c. Functional Skills

IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
d. Key Competencies

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Not applicable.

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other information

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must have legal residence with valid work permit in the Dominican Republic at the time of submitting the application.This position doesn’t require a functional clearance