Senior Protection Officer

Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position

Hardship Level

B

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

PR4

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

• Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.

In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2023-11-30

Job Posting End Date

December 21, 2023

Standard Job Description

Senior Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

In the Bureaux, the Senior Protection Officer works under the direct supervision of the Bureau Deputy Director or Head of Bureau Protection Service or Senior Protection Coordinator. In the Field, the incumbent normally reports to the Representative, Deputy or Assistant Representative (Protection) or Head of Sub Office as appropriate. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff whose work may include RSD, community-based protection, registration, resettlement, internal displacement, complementary pathways, and education, among other areas. In HQ, the incumbent may report to a Chief of Section or Deputy Director and may lead a Unit and/or supervise other protection staff.

The incumbent acts as a key advisor to senior management and leads the development of 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 Senior Protection Officer plans, leads and coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern under the AoR. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all sectors are shaped in a protection optic, are consistent with and promote respect for relevant international law and UNHCR’s doctrine, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. Another important element of the incumbent¿s functions is to ensure 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 legal, political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Manage 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, ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
• Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Humanitarian Country Team’s common humanitarian response plan 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 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.
• Guide the operation in the development and implementation of robust prevention, identification, and responses to fraud within protection processes and procedures, including registration, RSD, and resettlement, ensuring the integrity of interventions across all protection activities.
• Oversee the management of 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 eligibility and status determination in the Operation(s) under the AoR, ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
• Promote and implement strategies and measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
• Develop and implement an education plan as part of the protection strategy within the AoR as relevant.
• Develop and implement 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 concerns 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, supporting, and/or overseeing resettlement and complementary pathways activities, including implementation of the GCR Three Year Strategy.
• Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
• Develop and implement 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.
• Research, collect and disseminate relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
• Develop the protection capacity of national and local authorities, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
• Coordinate capacity-development 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.
• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
• 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 with 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 country level to comply with policies 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) coordinate and review UNHCR¿s country reports to the UN human rights mechanisms.
• Engage in relevant international and regional fora and forge 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 P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 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, Political Sciences

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Protection Learning Programme RSD-Resettlement Learning Programme

Management Learning Programme

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Minimum 7 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. Very good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles, and of UNHCR¿s protection strategies and policies. 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-Refugee Coordination Model

PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards

PR-International Humanitarian Law

PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation

PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework

LE-Judicial Engagement

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

The position requires strategic vision and analytical skills, to be able to lead the operation in diverse protection responses to various populations of concern in a dynamic security environment. S/he must be a team leader with excellent interpersonal skills to be able to motivate and effectively lead a team of international and national staff of different backgrounds and varying experiences.

Language requirements: Spanish C2 and English C1

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

Spanish

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

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 Americas region hosts more than 18.4 million refugees, asylum-seekers, displaced and stateless people, representing some 20 percent of persons of concern to UNHCR worldwide. The number of people displaced in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras increased in 2022, and is expected to rise further in 2023. Close to 600,000 asylum-seekers and refugees from these countries have been uprooted abroad. Additionally, around 320,000 people are reportedly internally displaced in Honduras and El Salvador.

Against the above, Honduras remains characterized by a situation of protracted internal displacement caused mainly by organized crime. Although the main cause of displacement is violence, both social conflict, inequality and economic hardship and polarization in the country are causing forced displacement beyond organized crime. The context is characterized by institutional fragility, a huge risk of natural disasters, a government with limited resources and a population with high needs. Even though Honduras Operation is focused on the IDPs situation, the scenario is more complex due to the increasing number of mixed movements, new asylum claims primarily from Nicaraguans, continuous deportation/returns of Hondurans requiring bolstered efforts to expand protection and sustainable reintegration opportunities. Therefore, the main challenge is finding balance and the ability to respond to many simultaneous issues.

The persisting protection needs within high-risk communities and the weak governance capacity constitute continuing challenges for an adequate response to human rights violations and widespread violence, mainly in urban settings. Armed structures such as maras (gangs), criminal organized groups and drug trafficking structures operate under the basis of institutional weakness to consolidate their economic interests and exercise social and territorial control over the population.

Yet there are also opportunities within the country, being the IDP Bill, that was approved in April 2023 an important one. UNHCR supports the Government and provides technical assistance for the development and implementation of legal frameworks and public policies for the protection of people displaced by violence. In 2015 UNHCR officially established presence through a National Office based in Tegucigalpa and in 2016 a Field Office in San Pedro Sula.

Under the supervision of the Representative, the Senior Protection Officer will work in close coordination with partners, local authorities, civil society, UN, and forcibly displaced persons to implement Protection and Solutions strategies for IDPs, Returnees, Asylum seekers and Refugees in Honduras. There is also an increasing flow of persons of concern of various nationalities in the context of mixed movements that require protection responses.

The Senior Protection Officer leads and supervises the Protection Unit in the Country Office. S/he has oversight of the following units: Registration, RSD, Resettlement, Community-based Protection, GBV and Child Protection, Legal Protection, HLP, Livelihoods and Education. S/he will also closely liaise with Field Offices and Field Units to provide guidance and support on planning and implementing activities. The Senior Protection Officer will also provide guidance on Inter-agency coordination in the various Clusters and working groups, as well as working in close collaboration with Programme and other units in the CO to best operationalize the protection strategy in Honduras. In particular, the Senior Protection Officer will closely support the implementation of the Law on Internal Displacement, which will require close collaboration with key government actors.

Living and Working Conditions

Family duty station B

• Limited access to infrastructure (health, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications) and limited access to leisure and recreational facilities due to security restrictions. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, limitations in many aspects of daily life for staff (leisure, cultural activities, attractions) have increased and the levels of insecurity, as well as basic development indicators (poverty, food security, etc.) have worsened. The possibility of walking in the main cities is non-existent due to lack of security (assault, robbery) and lack of sidewalks or sidewalks in poor conditions, lack of lighting.
• There is no lack of private schools, although the number of bilingual or bicultural schools is not so high.
• Security: high level of violent crime, including murder, robbery and threats of kidnapping, a growing number of femicides, lack of safe and reliable public transportation and of safe public spaces for socializing and deficiency off health services. It is strongly advised to exercise extreme caution and maintain a high level of personal security awareness.
• Due to the number of robberies and armed assaults suffered by UN staff and some visitors, it is discouraged to walk alone at all times in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba, personal or official movements should be done in a vehicle.

Skills

Additional Qualifications

PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations, PR-Durable Solutions/Comprehensive Solutions Strategies implementation, PR-Mixed migratory movement management, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework, PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures, TR-Capacity Buidling

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science

Certifications

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

Work Experience

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, 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: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned IDPs

Competencies

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

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Add. 2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2023 – Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance