Protection Officer (RSD and community-based protection) 72 views1 applications

Title of Post Protection Officer (RSD and community-based protection) Category/grade IICA-2

1. Organizational Setting

The incumbent will have direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff whose work includes RSD, community-based protection, registration, and case management, among other areas. The incumbent will report to the Senior Protection Officer in Tunis. She/he coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern under the AoR. S/he ensures 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 through case management and other ways. To undertake this role effectively, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the UNHCR Tunisia and Zarzis office, MENAPS and communities of concern.

The incumbent mainly provides advice and guidance on legal and procedural matters related to RSD in the context of mandate RSD, is responsible for review, endorsement and clearance of recommendations on appeals in line with requirements under the RSD Procedural Standards or as directed by the Senior Protection Officer. The incumbent is also responsible for contributing to the development of or, depending on the context, develop an RSD strategy and, where required, methodologies to promote the effectiveness of RSD as a protection tool and implementing broader organizational objectives and priorities, in compliance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies. The incumbent provides advice and support to staff engaged in RSD and related activities, monitors trends of RSD decision-making, and conducts training and other capacity-building/strengthening activities to promote consistency in RSD procedures and decision-making. The Protection Officer works closely with the Senior Protection Officer, RSD staff as well as staff responsible for registration, CBP and case management. The incumbent supervises the RSD and CBP teams.

1. Duties
2. Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues.
3. Facilitate a consultative process with 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 Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Support the establishment of feedback and response systems and the incorporation of feedback received from persons of concern into programme design and adaptation.
7. Coordinate the preparation of, implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
8. Provide legal/procedural advice and support on RSD adjudication issues within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
9. Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments relevant to mandate RSD, the protection environment, including developments in relation to national asylum/RSD systems, as applicable.
10. Undertake quality review of RSD appeal assessments in line with UNHCR policies/guidelines related to mandate RSD and endorse RSD decisions as required.
11. Provide ongoing coaching as well as specialized training on the inclusion criteria; principles/procedures related to exclusion; cancellation/revocation; international humanitarian law; human rights law; interviewing techniques and credibility assessment/establishing the facts; and legal drafting.
12. Analyse key indicators of the quality and efficiency of decision-making in RSD processing to assess capacity and resource requirements of operations in the region or the operation to which the RSD Officer is assigned.
13. Contribute to identifying and preventing fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR personnel, partners and persons of concern.
14. Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

Two to four years of relevant working experience, preferably with UNHCR in the field of RSD and CBP and case management. Relevant professional experience in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law, including experience in working directly with Field Offices. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting.

Field(s) of Education

Graduate degree in one of the following fields: International Refugee Law; International Human Rights; Law; International Humanitarian Law; International Criminal Law; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

RSD Learning Programme; Management Learning Programme; Protection Learning Programme;

.Relevant Job Experience

Essential: Diverse field experience. Good IT skills including database management skills.

Experience working directly with procedures and principles related to adjudicating individual asylum claims in RSD procedures. In-depth knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law and ability to apply relevant legal principles in the RSD context, including exclusion decision-making. Thorough knowledge of the “Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR’s Mandate” and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR’s mandate RSD activities. Experience in counselling asylum-seekers and individual case management.

Desirable: Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government SD procedures is highly desirable. Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or Government SD procedures. Experience in supervising a team. Completion of other UNHCR Learning Programmes relevant to RSD. Training and coaching experience. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals. Knowledge of additional UN languages.

Functional Skills

Individual Case Management (People of Concern); Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators; Interviewing and counselling refugees/asylum seekers; Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures; UNHCR RSD Principles and Procedures; Adjudication of individual asylum claims in RSD;

Submission of Applications:

If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit: • A cover letter which indicates both position number and Title of position. • P11 (personal History Form) form duly filled and signed (please click on POSTULER to download the P11 form) Applications must be submitted to the following email address:

[email protected]

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for an 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.

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