Senior Protection Assistant

General Background
The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior
Protection Officer. He/she 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 and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and
safeguards in operational responses. He/she 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 persons of concern are involved with the
Office 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.
Accountability:
– The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and
National Law relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.
– Protection activities are guided by the UNHCR country protection strategy.
– The participation of persons of concern is facilitated through supporting participatory,
rights and community-based approaches.
– Support is provided to identify and report protection incidents.

Duties and Responsibilities:
– Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC
policy, standards and codes of conduct.
– Provide counselling on protection issues to persons of concern; 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 persons of concern 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 persons of concern 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.
– Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling
statistics for the protection unit / section.
– Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
Authority
– Select persons of concern for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information
to share.
– Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
Qualification Required:
Education:
– Completion of the Secondary School Education. Additional Training courses in
protection related issues.
– Knowledge of International Law and policy is an advantage.
Experience: Minimum 4 years of previous job experience relevant to the function.
Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN
language.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
– Good computer skills.
– Completed Protection Learning Programme.
Managerial Competencies:
– Empowering and Building Trust.
– Managing Resources.
Cross-Functional Competencies:
– Analytical Thinking.
– Political Awareness.
– Stakeholder Management.