Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, February 02, 2023 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Hardship Level
C
Family Type
Family

Family Type
Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade
PR2

Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Professional

Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted
No

Target Start Date
2023-03-01-08:00

Job Posting End Date
February 16, 2023

Standard Job Description
Associate Protection Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards. The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that persons of concern are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of persons of concern. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection. 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 – Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment. – Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. – Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application through mainstreaming in all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations. – Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to persons of concern. – Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. – Conduct eligibility and status determination for persons of concern in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles. – Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. – Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach. – Contribute to a country-level education plan. – Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities which integrate AGD sensitive procedures. – Oversee and manage individual protection cases, including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners. – Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement. – Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern. – Participate in the organisation and implementation of participatory assessments and methodologies throughout the operations management cycle and promote AGD sensitive programming with implementing and operational partners. – Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners. – Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems. – Promote and integrate community-based approaches to protection and contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights. – Support activities in the area of risk management related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, fraud, case-processing, data protection, and human rights due diligence at country level. – Participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures. – Intervene with authorities on protection issues. – Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR. – Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals. – Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services. – Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures. – 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 Law, International Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Protection Learning Programme (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Desirable Field experience, including in working directly with communities. Good IT skills including database management skills. Functional Skills *PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators *PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination MG-Project Management PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards PR-International Humanitarian Law PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement CO-Drafting and Documentation (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 ideal candidate shall demonstrated awareness on UNHCR protection guidelines to support persons that we care in encamped situations as well as a general understanding on the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework. The above shall me complemented by proven coordination and communication skills, especially with persons that we care and protection-related stakeholders. The ideal candidate shall demonstrated flexibility and adaptability to work in challenging environments where Age, Gender and Diversity guidelines shall operationally be implemented. A proven capacity to design and/or implement project proposals as well as a general understanding on UNHCR programme cycle shall be shown by the ideal candidate.

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 incumbent reports to the Head of Office and leads a team of 6 national staff members, 1 International UNV and 4 Resettlement Deployees. As at end October, Zambia hosts 93,493 persons that require UNHCR continuous attention including 66,257 Refugees, 3,348 Asylum seekers and 3,888 Former refugees (Angolan & Rwandan). The caseload is a combination of protracted refugee situation compounded by periodic arrivals from neighboring DRC.
The area of responsibility includes Zambia’s North-Western Province, Solwezi serves as the administrative capital. The Government of Zambia requires that persons that we serve and care shall live, along with their hosts, in Maheba Settlement, located in Kalumbila district, part of the above mentioned province. Through development, national, and local government partnerships, the Solwezi Field Office oversees the implementation of humanitarian initiatives (i.e., Since Zambia continue receiving sporadic new arrivals from the Democratic Republic of Congo) and development engagement (i.e., under the umbrella of the Comprehensive refugee Response Framework and the Humanitarian Nexus Frameworks) in Maheba settlement to advance refugee inclusion in national system delivery and support host communities. The incumbent will work with the UNCT, the UNHCR Branch Office in Lusaka and other field locations to operationalize the refugee inclusion and find long-term solutions for refugees through voluntary repatriation, resettlement, and local solutions.
The selected candidate is expected to oversee and supervise all registration, protection, field and community services activities. The incumbent will take on the role of protection sector coordinator at the field level, liaising with all relevant partners on the ground, reporting and coordinating with the protection sector lead at central level in Lusaka. She/he should have related field-protection awareness with an understanding on UNHCR’s protection coordination. Knowledge or experience with registration tools such as BIMS or the rapid distribution tool would be desirable. Ability to engage constructively with a variety of partners, including non-traditional partners, and with host communities would be an asset since a Zambia is a roll out country of the Comprehensive refugee Response Framework which is mainstreamed in the above mentioned hybrid humanitarian and development response.
The Associate Protection Officer would receive technical and strategic protection support of the protection sector lead in the Branch Office (Lusaka).

Living and Working Conditions:
Solwezi is the capital of the North-Western Province of Zambia with a population of 65,000 persons. 590 Km separate the capital of the country to Solwezi. Transportation is possible via land (some 12 hours) and by air (i.e., two airlines fly from/to Solwezi to Lusaka, almost on daily basis. Flight prices, compared with similar services in the Southern Africa region could be considered high). UNHCR works in a refugee settlement, which is located 88 KM northwestwards from Solwezi in the Kalumbila District. UNHCR staff commutes from Solwezi to Meheba almost on daily basis to conduct field/monitoring activities. The Provincial capital has few amenities and services in place. The duty station may be challenging in view of the lack of: i) adequate health facilities to accommodate UN staff’s needs; ii) and/or minimum adequate housing and infrastructure opportunities; iii) international schools and iv) leisure spaces/opportunities. Solwezi hosts three retail-branded shopping sites, where basic commodities would be found. Most local shops are concentrated along the central tarred road. Mining is the major industry present in the province; some services and amenities are available for mining companies’ staff and/or contractors (e.g., clinic, accommodation, leisure and schools); UN staff would be able to get access to some on a case-by-case basis. Overall, the security situation in the province has been considered by the UNCT as Level 2; Solwezi and Kalumbila has rarely faced security incidents, except of isolated non-violent incidents.

Education
BA: International Law (Required), BA: Law (Required), BA: Political Science (Required)

Certifications
HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR

Work Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales 
Compendium
Add.2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2022 – Part B

Functional clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
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