Associate Community-Based Protection Officer, P2, Bokh at UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Representative, D1 at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Position: Associate Community-Based Protection Officer, P2, Bokh

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer is a member of the Protection Team in a Regional Bureau or a Country Office and normally reports to the Senior Community-Based Protection Officer, the Senior Protection Officer, Head of Sub-Office or the Assistant Representative for protection. For a regional position, the incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for Protection and Community-Based Protection staff in the regional office, and a technical support role for Community-Based Protection staff in the region. For a country level position the incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for Community-based Protection staff and other protection staff in the operation. S/he supports the implementation of protection standards and provides advice on community-based protection to senior management and Country Operation(s) in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection (DIP). The incumbent is relied upon by senior management to support a coordinated approach in the implementation of UNHCR’s rights-based and community-based engagement with all persons of concern (PoC) and contributes to the achievement of UNHCR’s commitments to accountability to affected people. S/he maintains close working relationships and supports Protection and Community-Based Protection staff in the field, who act as the critical interface between UNHCR and communities of concern, enabling them to provide the AGD-sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities that form the essential foundations of national and regional programmes. The incumbent maintains close working relations with sister UN entities, governmental entities, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions that can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions through people centred, community-based and gender responsive approaches. The incumbent provides guidance to country operations to strengthen their coordination and advocacy on community-based approaches to protection with governments, partners and other key stakeholders.

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

– Be fully informed about community structures and the protection and security situation of the population of concern and develop strong links with a cross-section of members of refugee/IDP/stateless communities, using an AGD approach.

– Through relationships with PoC and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to senior management.

– Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC are reflected in the protection strategy, planning processes and operations plan addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS.

– Ensure through direct action and advocacy with more senior protection staff that the necessary resources are allocated to enable community work to identify and address protection and assistance gaps.

– Support a consultative process with government counterparts at local levels, partners and PoC to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, child protection, education and GBV, and solutions approaches.

– Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners and implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all community-based protection related issues.

– Support the design, implementation and evaluation of protection centred and solutions oriented programming with implementing and operational partners guaranteeing that community-owned activities are integrated.

– Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures

– Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among PoC, authorities and host communities.

– Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with PoC, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, contribute to the development of an AGD-compliant strategy on which the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in and covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.

– Support the Operation’s work to fully integrate the protection strategy into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team’s common humanitarian action plan where applicable.

– Contribute to the Protection team’s information management component which: provides disaggregated data on PoC and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary.

– Support the inclusion of participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches in strategies and plans within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).

– Support community understanding of UNHCR’s commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.

– Support PoC to develop structures that enhance their participation and protection.

– Contribute to the design of the community-based protection strategy, project submissions and budgets for endorsement by the supervisor. – Intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues.

– Negotiate with local counterparts, partners and PoC.

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights, International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology, International Law or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified. (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Relevant professional experience, including in the areas of community based protection, community services, social work, and human rights. Desirable Proven communication skills, both oral and written. Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches. Understanding of and demonstrated competencies in forced displacement and protection, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy.

Functional Skills

DM-Database Management IT-Computer Literacy PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations PR-Convention on the Rights of the Child / International Legal Framework PR-Gender Equality PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) CO-Drafting and Documentation ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming (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 incumbent should have proven competencies and experience as follows:
– Demonstrated professional working experience in the areas of community services, social work (e.g., gender, GBV programs, women’s empowerment and protection, work with refugees) or/and human rights or related tasks in government, NGO or international organisation.
– Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches
– Understanding of and demonstrated competencies in forced displacement and protection, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy.
– Ability to work with a diverse range of partners, including host Governments, humanitarian organizations, and development partners
– Demonstrated experience in coordination, particularly within the inter-agency context and contributing to inter-agency response strategies while ensuring that the interest of refugee and other populations that UNHCR serves well represented and articulated.
– Proven communication skills, both oral and written.
– Completion of relevant UNHCR learning programs or specific training relevant to the functions of the position.
– Experience working with Somali caseloads is desirable.

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

Desired languages

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Since hostilities erupted in February 2023 in Somalia, close to 100,000 are estimated to have crossed the border into Ethiopia to escape the violence. UNHCR Field Office in Bokh has been scaling up its activities and protection interventions for asylum seekers arriving into the three hosting districts in Doolo Zone, including border and protection monitoring, relocation, registration, as well as community-based protection interventions in collaboration with government counterpart Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), local authorities and partners. UNHCR recognizes the global need for a broader, cultural shift from long-term care and maintenance to self-reliance and solutions-oriented planning and programming in its refugee operations within the context of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). To this end, the Federal and Regional Government supported by UNHCR and partners will be advancing a refugee settlement approach in Doolo from the onset of operations, which will look at integrating social services, and prioritizing interventions that will strengthen peaceful coexistence to ensure that the displaced population can enjoy asylum in safety and dignity.

UNHCR’s strategy is focused on a community-based approach and on ensuring maximum outreach to refugees and other populations UNHCR serves together with the through a network of community centres, mobile units and outreach volunteers in all accessible locations in and around the settlement, with the aim of reducing vulnerabilities, strengthening resilience and enhancing protection, with particular attention to the most vulnerable persons. UNHCR is also working to provide a range of integrated protection services to address the most pressing needs of the population including psychosocial support (PSS), education support, child protection services, GBV prevention and response and in-kind and other assistance and services for persons with specific needs.

Under the supervision of the Protection Officer, the incumbent will work with a particular focus on protection risk assessment and analysis, standard-setting as well as partner monitoring and management in the area of community-based protection. The incumbent will contribute to, and monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s Protection and Solutions Strategy for the refugee response in Doolo with a focus community engagement and empowerment. Working with a wide range of counterparts within the inter-agency response, s/he will ensure that protection is mainstreamed in interventions across all sectors taking into consideration age, gender and diversity principles.

The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer will closely coordinate with the Programme Unit in in order to adjust services to evolving needs and ensure that protection objectives are translated into programmatic interventions that tangibly benefit the refugees and other populations UNHCR serves. In a highly complex operational environment, to effectively establish and maintain communication with communities and other partners is a key requirement in the Bokh operation. The incumbent will undertake efforts to mobilize communities to identify their own needs, capacities and resources in order to determine how the communities themselves can contribute effectively to the response and make it more inclusive and sustainable. In order to successfully undertake the required tasks, the incumbent needs to be able to display professionalism, creativity, adaptability as well as organizational and cultural awareness.

The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer will have oversight responsibilities over the management of community centers, the outreach volunteers and associated programmes and activities. In doing so, s/he need to effectively provide guidance and support to build capacities of UNHCR teams and partners, focusing in particular on standardization, effectiveness and efficiency of the community-based protection response, ensuring the response adheres to age, gender and diversity principles as well as to commitments towards accountability to affected populations. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff.

Living and Working Conditions:

Further to the conflict in and around the Laascanood area of Somaliland state of Somalia (Sool region) of early 2023, an estimated 100,000 refugees crossed into the Doolo zone of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. In order to respond effectively, UNHCR set up a base in Bokh, a small town located in Doolo zone of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia and headquarters of the Bokh woreda (district), with an estimated population of 50,000 people. Bokh is situated 170 kms from Wardher, the zonal capital of Doolo zone and some 80-100 kms from the Ethiopia-Somalia border. Bokh is also located at almost 700 Kms from Jijiga, the headquarters of the Somali Regional State Government where UNHCR Sub-Office is based.

Bokh is a non-family duty station, yet to be categorized as per UN duty station levels. Given the remoteness of the area and its proximity to the border with Somalia, the security situation in Bokh is considered to be fluid and requires a sense of vigilance and alertness. UNHCR’s Field security Advisor on ground in collaboration with UNDSS provides security advisories regularly to all staff in Bokh and the surrounding field locations to which adherence is expected. All UNHCR international staff are accommodated in the UNHCR Staff Guest House in line with the policy on UNHCR-provided accommodation in the field. Security briefing is mandatory upon arrival at the Guest House. All travel itineraries should report to the radio room before departure and continue reporting their position every 60 minutes, until back to the Guest house. Official working hours are Monday through Thursday: 08:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00 hours; while on Fridays 08:00 – 13:30 hours.

Bokh is served by a Government Health Centre and a Level-1 Hospital in Wardher, both of which offering basic medical services. It should be emphasized that the medical facilities in the area are insufficient to treat complicated medical cases. The UN Team in Bokh is working on a plan to establish a UN Clinic with a full-time doctor and nurses to provide onsite medical assistance to staff and also process referrals as may be needed. A medevac plan is also under discussion in collaboration with the Medical Services Team at the Regional Bureau in Nairobi and the UN Health Care Centre in Addis Ababa; the latter provides 24/7 health care services for eligible UN staff and their dependents in different specialized Medical Units. Bokh also has small markets, restaurants and shops from where food and other household items can be purchased. Banking services are very limited in Bokh and it always advisable to carry cash. The only Ethiopian Commercial Bank branch is located 170 kms away in Wardher where financial services, including ATM machines, can easily be accessed. However, a microfinance agent exists in Bokh and facilitates some small financial transactions in the local currency.

Transportation in and out of Bokh is by road. However, the UN Team is mobilizing donors to facilitate the establishment of an airstrip in Bokh so that UNHAS can operate regular flights to Addis Ababa. Land for the airstrip has already been provided by the authorities and technical surveys undertaken by UNHAS. In the meantime, travel is either through Jijiga (served by Ethiopian Airlines daily) or through Kebridehar where Ethiopian Airline flies from Addis Ababa twice a week, and then onward on a road journey of some 7 hours on a dusty road.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, DM-Database Management, ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals, IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Convention on the Rights of the Child / International Legal Framework, PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming, PR-Gender Equality

Education

BA: Anthropology (Required), BA: Cultural Studies (Required), BA: Human Rights (Required), BA: International Development (Required), BA: International Law (Required), BA: International Social Work (Required), BA: Political Science (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

FT Ethiopia for Somali Situation

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/3W6DW8L

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: 18 May 2023 (midnight Geneva time)