UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR*)*
EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Vacancy Notice No. HONNO-008
Title of Post: Senior Protection Assistant
Category/grade: Equivalent to G5
Location: Honduras, Tegucigalpa
Type of contract: LICA UNOPS
Effective date Assignment: July 01, 2020
Date of Issue: June 1st, 2020
Closing Date: June 8, 2020
Operational Context:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has an international mandate to protect refugees, people who have left their countries of origin due to acts of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or belong to a particular social group. The National Office in Honduras is located in Tegucigalpa, and requires support in the protection area to analyze the needs of the displaced population and strategies to guarantee their protection. The Protection Assistant will support institutional and community strengthening to guarantee the protection of the displaced population both from the legal point of view and through the institutional presence of UNHCR through the 3 priority strategies: 1) Improvement of the systems national protection, 2) comprehensive measures for to improve durable solucions, and 4) Improvement of strategies with partners, coordination with other humanitarian and Human Rights agencies working in the area.
The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff. The Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor. The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that PoC are involved 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.
Functional Statement: Purpose and Scope
The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that PoC are involved 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.
Duties
Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
Contribute to a country-level education plan for PoC as part of the protection strategy.
Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
Perform other related duties as required.
Authority: The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to Senior Protection colleague.
Monitoring and Progress Control
- 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.
Essential Minimum Qualifications and Experience:
Complete secondary education preferably with a Technical or University Degree in Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Law, Economics or other relevant.
2 years of relevant professional experience;
Previous experience in working with displaced population;
Experience in the field
Familiarity / Interest with Refuge Laws, Human Rights Laws and International Law and or related areas. Preferably with protection for refugees and influxes of mixed migration and / or internal displacement.
Familiarity in interview techniques.
Skills to write, report and make presentations in Spanish and desirable in English. Knowledge of a third official UN language is a plus;
Knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point, Access);
Good understanding of the current political situation, human rights, refuge and internal displacement in Latin America, particularly in the Central America region.
Functional Skills:
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
Language Requirements:** For General Service jobs in Honduras: Knowledge of English and Spanish is essential.
Key Competencies:
Professionals:
Knowledge of the institutional mandate and policies related to international protection, human rights and migration;
Knowledge / experience with the UN System and its mechanisms;
Analytical skills, evaluation and integration of information from various sources;
Take responsibility for incorporating a gender perspective and ensuring equal participation between women and men in all work areas.
Communication:
- Strong communication skills (word, written, and presentation), including the ability to produce clear and concise written reports, provide training to external audiences, and maintain effective relationships with partners.
Planning and organization
Ability to set priorities and carry out proper work planning, managing demand and working under pressure of frequent and short delivery dates for reports and / or services;
Ability to work independently, with little supervision and keep up with the job demand.
Teamwork:
Excellent interpersonal relationships, including the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people in a multi-cultural environment, with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
Willingness to learn from third parties; Customer orientation;
Ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with Persons of Interest to UNHCR by obtaining their trust and respect;
Identify needs of Person of Interest and find appropriate solutions;
Monitor the development of possible problems affecting Persons of Interest to keep them informed and react in a timely manner.
Required Competencies:
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
Eligibility:
Candidates must meet the essential minimum requirements of the position and candidates not citizens of the country must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country.[1]
Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. Please visit: https://jobs.unops.org/salarycalculator#/GsSalary
[1] Completed and relevant university education can count as maximum 50% of the required years of work experience.
Submission of Applications:
If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your letter of motivation, signed Personal History Form by e-mail clearly stating the position title, vacancy notice number and your Last Name in the subject line to: honduras@unhcr.org by the closing date June 8, 2020 The Personal History Form and its supplementary sheet https://www.unhcr.org/how-to-apply.html?query=personal%20history%20form
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).
How to apply:
Submission of Applications:
If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your letter of motivation, signed Personal History Form by e-mail clearly stating the position title, vacancy notice number and your Last Name in the subject line to: honduras@unhcr.org by the closing date June 8, 2020 The Personal History Form and its supplementary sheet https://www.unhcr.org/how-to-apply.html?query=personal%20history%20form
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).
UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.**
Refugees – who cares? We Do