South Sudan: Associate Community-Based Protection Officer, P2, Wau

The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer is a member of the Protection Team in a Regional Bureau or a Country Office and normally reports to the Senior Community-Based Protection Officer, the Senior Protection Officer, Head of Sub-Office or the Assistant Representative for protection.

For a regional position, the incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for Protection and Community-Based Protection staff in the regional office, and a technical support role for Community-Based Protection staff in the region. For a country level position the incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for Community-based Protection staff and other protection staff in the operation.

S/he supports the implementation of protection standards and provides advice on community-based protection to senior management and Country Operation(s) in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection (DIP).

The incumbent is relied upon by senior management to support a coordinated approach in the implementation of UNHCR's rights-based and community-based engagement with all persons of concern (PoC) and contributes to the achievement of UNHCR's commitments to accountability to affected people.

S/he maintains close working relationships and supports Protection and Community-Based Protection staff in the field, who act as the critical interface between UNHCR and communities of concern, enabling them to provide the AGD-sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities that form the essential foundations of national and regional programmes. The incumbent maintains close working relations with sister UN entities, governmental entities, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions that can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions through people centred, community-based and gender responsive approaches.

The incumbent provides guidance to country operations to strengthen their coordination and advocacy on community-based approaches to protection with governments, partners and other key stakeholders.

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: 

• Be fully informed about community structures and the protection and security situation of the population of concern and develop strong links with a cross-section of members of refugee/IDP/stateless communities, using an AGD approach.
• Through relationships with PoC and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to senior management.
• Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC are reflected in the protection strategy, planning processes and operations plan addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS.
• Ensure through direct action and advocacy with more senior protection staff that the necessary resources are allocated to enable community work to identify and address protection and assistance gaps.
• Support a consultative process with government counterparts at local levels, partners and PoC to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, child protection, education and GBV, and solutions approaches.
• Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners and implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all community-based protection related issues.
• Support the design, implementation and evaluation of protection centred and solutions oriented programming with implementing and operational partners guaranteeing that community-owned activities are integrated.
• Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures
• Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among PoC, authorities and host communities.
• Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with PoC, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, contribute to the development of an AGD-compliant strategy on which the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in and covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
• Support the Operation's work to fully integrate the protection strategy into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
• Contribute to the Protection team's information management component which: provides disaggregated data on PoC and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary.
• Support the inclusion of participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches in strategies and plans within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
• Support community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
• Support PoC to develop structures that enhance their participation and protection.
• Contribute to the design of the community-based protection strategy, project submissions and budgets for endorsement by the supervisor.
• Intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues.
• Negotiate with local counterparts, partners and PoC.
• 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: 

• International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights,
• International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
• Anthropology, International Law or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses: 

• Not specified.

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

Relevant Job Experience: 

Essential: 

• Relevant professional experience, including in the areas of community based protection, community services, social work, and human rights.

Desirable: 

• Proven communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches.
• Understanding of and demonstrated competencies in forced displacement and protection, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy.

Functional Skills: 

• DM-Database Management
• IT-Computer Literacy
• PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations
• PR-Convention on the Rights of the Child / International Legal Framework
• PR-Gender Equality
• PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
• CO-Drafting and Documentation
• ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals
• PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming
• PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming

(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: 

Given the complexity of the operation at UNHCR Wau Field Office and the IDP/returnee programme in greater Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap and Abyei Administrative Area, the incumbent needs to be a dynamic and results-oriented team-player. Excellent communication, decision making, management and leadership skills are required as the Associate CBP Officer will lead the protection unit with 4 to 5 staff and will, where required, act as the OIC/the Head of Office. The incumbent should have demonstrated experience both in IDP and refugee returnee operations. The incumbent should have proven experience in multi-agency coordination processes and knowledge of implementing new initiatives, such as the joint UN programmes on PFRR (Programme for Recovery and Resilience).

Solid understanding and proven experience in UNHCR community-based protection and protection delivery as a Protection Agency operating in the context of complex inter-agency Cluster system is required. Specifically, she/he should have a good understanding of IDP protection policies and solid background in both Refugee and IDP protection. The incumbent is expected to coordinate and take part in regular missions to the field and in particular hard-to-reach areas including through integrated UN missions such as IRNA (Inter-agency Response Needs Assessments). Previous experience and involvement in emergency preparedness and response are also desired skills in a region which is conflict prone.

The incumbent maintains close working relations with sister UN entities, governmental entities, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions that can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions through people centred, community-based and gender responsive approaches. The incumbent will play a key role in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of community based protection projects and community support projects.

Operational Context: 

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

The security situation in South Sudan though generally stable, remains fragile and fluid in complex and unpredictable environment and is characterized by low intensity and localized armed conflict in some areas, high levels of crime across the country, inter/intra communal conflict over a diverse range of issues including cattle raids, competition for resources and revenge attacks and regular civil unrest in refugee and IDP operations and host community. These challenges continue directly and indirectly impact on UNHCR operations. The signing of the Revitalized Agreement of the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan in September 2018 represented an important milestone for the country. The ceasefire is holding in many areas of the country except in some few locations where localized and low intensity armed conflict continues to impact on security situation. Many areas in the country are also affected by season flooding which has also displaced significant number of people.

The security level in South Sudan is assessed as substantial (security level 4) in all areas.

SRM measures in place:

• UN curfew is in force across the country, timing differs from one SRM Area to another. UN curfew is from 19:00 to 05:00 in Juba.
• International personnel must request and receive security clearance for official and non-official travel.
• International personnel on mission must stay in either a UN facility or UN approved commercial lodging for staff members.
• Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environment (SSAFE) to be conducted in areas with HIGH Risk level and above.
• All international and national personnel must be issued with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and VHF radios.

Nature of Position:

The Associate Community-Based Protection Officer reports direct to the Head of Field Office based on the current structure of the Office. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based, protection, and Field. S/he provides functional protection guidance to protection staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures, and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Associate CBP Officer directly interacts with partners and Persons of Concern to UNHCR, therefore level of maturity and proven managerial skills as well as good communication skill are essential requirements for the candidate to fill the post. Also, the incumbent is required to identify and develop relationships and solid coordination mechanisms with all relevant partners including the government counterparts.

The Associate Community-based Protection should be fully committed to developing strong two-way communication with staff and persons of concern, ensuring protection by presence and being ready to stay and deliver. S/he should be able to plan strategically, manage human, financial, and material resources, and understand security standards and administrative procedures. Strong technical skills and understanding of refugee data management are essential.

Living and Working Conditions:

Presently, UNHCR Wau has 03 international staff and 12 national staff members. All national staff members reside in Wau town. Accommodation is arranged for international staff to reside in the UNMISS compound which is secured. Curfew applies from 19:00 to 06:00 hours. There is a UNMISS level 1 health facility supported by a Chinese level 2 facility inside the UNMISS compound. Power and water are available in the container type accommodation which is self-contained.

Wau is serviced by UNHAS flights between Wau and Juba from Monday to Friday. There are three commercial flights that fly the route which are not cleared for UN staff. Zain and MTN connections are good but with fluctuations in the urban. There is no telephone communication network five kilometres from the town centre. Staff also have access to office VSAT or internet-based voice calls such as VIBER/ WhatsApp (within the office compound where broadband Wi-Fi internet connection is available)

Wau market is the source of foodstuff from the farms and markets outside the state. There are shops that have supplies from Sudan. A UN shop offers limited supplies which subsidises the food supplies. Referrals to Juba for treatment can be arranged through medical referral or evacuation as the situation would require. There are no operational Banks or any other form to access money. Staff are advised to carry enough cash to see them through to the next R&R. Relatively well-equipped Gym is available within the office and in UNMISS accommodation compound.

UNHCR staff serving in AOR are expected to have the capacity to exercise patience and adjust to the working environment which is characterized with limited to non-social activities outside the compound and at times challenging and demanding relationships with various stakeholders, including local authorities.

Additional factors which I would like to highlight are:

UNHCR office is located in Wau town three kilometres from the UNMISS compound where international staff are accommodated. The office organizes pickups and drop offs for the staff members residing in the UNMISS compound. During rainy season, the road movements are difficult and at the same time UNHAS flights may have difficulty in landing at the airstrip. There may be occasional last-minute cancellations due to poor weather conditions or for any other reasons. Staff member may therefore wish to plan outward journeys out of Juba with this in mind.

Rubber boots or covered shoes are advisable to wear, especially during the rainy season. It is advisable to bring a good medical kit with medicines, pain killers, mosquito or insect repellent, shampoo, bath soap/gel and personal toiletries.

Staff member will be required to work in a culturally and ethnically sensitive environment.

Previous experience in similar security risk operations and good security awareness needed.

Additional Qualifications: 

Education: 

• BA: Anthropology (Required), BA: Cultural Studies (Required), BA: Human Rights (Required), BA: International Development (Required), BA: International Law (Required), BA: International Social Work (Required), BA: Political Science (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)

Competencies: 

• Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, 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

How to Apply: 

For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit https://bit.ly/3wTfyeT

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Closing date of receipt of applications: 16 February 2023 (midnight Geneva time)