Protection Assistant, UNOPS LICA4, Nouakchott

Terms of Reference

Refugee status determination is conducted in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou covering asylum-seekers throughout the country with the exception of the Hodh Chrgui area that hosts the Mbera camp, where enhanced registration leads to prima facie recognition refugee.

UNHCR started to register Malians outside of the Mbera camp in 2019 and developed a merged registration-RSD procedure for Malians originating from Northern and Central regions. To implement this merged procedure, two dedicated teams are working in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou.

The incumbent is a member of the Protection team. Under the direct supervision of the Associate Protection Officer, the Protection Assistant is responsible for supporting all activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Field Unit. The Protection Assistant provides counselling to and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR’s RSD procedures, their rights and obligations, including towards the host authorities, and the status of processing of their claims. In discharging these responsibilities, the Protection Assistant liaises closely with Registration, Community Service, Resettlement, and other Protection staff. The Protection Assistant is responsible for conducting RSD interviews and drafting RSD Assessments. S/he will conduct COI and other research related to RSD and maintain the operation’s local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards. The Protection Assistant assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. S/he may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.

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 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

Standard Job Description

Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

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 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

– 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.

– 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).

– 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For G4 – 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses

Protection

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential: Not specified.

Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills

PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

IT-Computer Literacy

(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.

Required Languages

French

,

,

Desired Languages

Arabic

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

HCR Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Protection Induction Prog – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program Statelessness – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Thematic Protection Learning Program – UNHCR

Work Experience

RSD

Other information

The English version is considered original and authoritative, translation to other language(s) serve the purpose of advertisement of local positions where applicable but are not considered as official translationsFrenchThis position doesn’t require a functional clearance