Head of Bureau Protection Service at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• The incumbent heads the Protection Service in the Regional Bureau and reports to the Bureau Director. S/he has direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff in the Bureau and may supervise other staff.
• The incumbent ensures coordination of regional protection and solutions support and acts as a senior advisor to the Bureau Director and to Country Operations in the region on all protection and legal matters and accountabilities, including durable solutions. 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, registration, asylum systems building and 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. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring the centrality of protection in all of UNHCR's activities.
• The incumbent works in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection (DIP), Division of Resilience and Solutions, Division of Programme Support and Management and other relevant Divisions.
• He/she maintains close working relations with senior protection staff in all countries in the region as well as regionally based UN entities, other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organisations, embassies, donors, international financial institutions, academic institutions and the media and represents the Organization on protection and legal matters.
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring, in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization's Mandate, overall quality assurance and managerial support of operations, in line with the Bureau's 2nd line function, within the three lines of defence conceptual framework for effective control and risk management adopted by the UN system.
• S/he will, further, cover the full spectrum of managerial oversight, manage performance and monitor the adherence of Country Operations to UNHCR's rules and regulations, monitoring, identifying and addressing any emerging issues and risks as appropriate. The incumbent also promotes a culture that is results-oriented, efficient and based on trust and pursues measures to ensure that inclusion, gender balance and diversity are taken into due consideration in staffing, resource allocation and representation at all levels throughout the region.
• As a key custodian of the organization's standards of conduct, s/he will proactively establish a working environment where all personnel feel safe, heard, equipped and empowered to speak up; demonstrate no tolerance for sexism, gender inequality, discrimination of any kind, abuse of power, harassment or sexual harassment; foster ongoing dialogue on those matters; take seriously all issues of inappropriate behaviour and actions reported, whether formally or informally; and seek guidance and support as necessary to ensure that appropriate follow-up is taken, working on the basis of zero tolerance for any form of misconduct.
• 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

• Provide strategic guidance to the Bureau Director on all protection matters.
• Develop a regional protection and solutions strategy consistent with UNHCR's priorities and commitments; support regional and country programming for protection from planning to evaluation including contingency planning and advocate for adequate resource allocations.
• Ensure the continued functioning of the protection service under her/his supervision as one strong team, guided by common strategic, principled and practical protection objectives, working towards increased protection impact.
• Coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of persons of concern in the region including emergency responses. Facilitate overall harmonization, coherence and application of the Bureau's protection strategies, policies and operations.
• Engage in regional fora and forge regional partnerships with broad cross-section of stakeholders to advocate for key protection and mandate issues, to ensure effective protection leadership and strengthen regional and national protection frameworks plans and capacities. Coordinate development of the Bureau's strategic protection partnerships with selected institutions, including regional organizations, relevant NGOs, civil society and academic institutions. Advocate for protection within regional coordination mechanisms.
• Maintain a functional link and oversight of the most senior protection staff in Country Offices. Coordinate and provide legal, technical and policy advice to Country Operations and enforce Country Operations' compliance with, and operationalization of, UNHCR's global protection policies and standards, priorities and commitments.
• Support Country Offices in identifying and taking up opportunities to influence legislative, institutional and judicial processes in relation to asylum, statelessness and internal displacement; ensure quality comments are provided on draft legislation and policies and to Human Rights mechanisms; review judicial interventions and engage with legal and judicial institutions as relevant.
• Guide and support Country Operations in the development of strategies to build and further develop national asylum/RSD systems with a view to ensuring their fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity.
• Support Country Operations in the preparations of Exchange of Letters, Tripartite Agreements, and other agreements as required.
• Support Country Operations and ensure they meet their complementary pathways objectives and resettlement quotas. Support local integration objectives and well as efforts to promote social inclusion.
• Guide and support risk management related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), fraud, data protection, and human rights due diligence at country level, in consultation with relevant Divisions (as appropriate).
• Consolidate and share analysis of emerging protection risks and recommended practices with DIP for global analysis and consult DIP on sensitive protection issues and when proposed regional/local UNHCR policy/position could affect global coherence and accountabilities.
• Coordinate efforts to harmonize and ensure the effectiveness of the Bureau's external protection communications with key counterparts including donors and the media.
• Develop protection capacity of senior protection and legal staff in the region through protection training and regional consultations; promote reviews and evaluations across all areas of protection and identify, document and disseminate promising practices.
• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.

Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

• For D1 17 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 16 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 15 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• International Public Law; International Refugee Law; Political Science; International Human Rights Law; Refugee and Forced Migration; International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential

• Minimum 12 years of previous work experience in progressively responsible functions in an organisation or institution that assists asylum-seekers, refugees, stateless persons and/or IDPs, preferably within the UN. Thorough knowledge of International refugee law and its application; ability to analyse and advocate the application of various regional legal instruments for the benefits of the persons under UNHCR's mandate. Proven and outstanding track record and intimate familiarity with UNHCR's protection doctrine and operational experiences, including experience of application of protection doctrine in highly political context, senior level protection management, leadership in coordination within UNHCR and the UN and with government counterparts. Excellent drafting and analytic skills.

Desirable

• Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.

Functional Skills

• *PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• *PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
• *PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework
• *PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
• *PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
• (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 successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring a mechanism is in place which supports the Organization’s Mandate, overall quality assurance and managerial support of operations, in line with the Bureau’s second line function, within the three lines of Defense conceptual framework for effective control and risk management adopted by the UN system.

Key tasks of the Head of Bureau protection services include the following:

• Support country offices to develop comprehensive protection and solutions strategies that comply with global policies and address needs across the full spectrum of forced displacement and build on country strategies to develop and implement regional (e.g., situational) protection and solutions strategies while ensuring that the Regional Bureau has the requisite expertise to support country operations to comprehensively address protection, response, and solutions challenges.
• Support development of regional and country level strategic advocacy plans to support broader regional/country strategies for protection and solutions and undertake advocacy for key protection and mandate issues in line with relevant global advocacy strategies.
• Engage in regional fora (including IGAD, EAC, ICGLR) and forge effective partnerships to ensure protection leadership, adapted approaches that take into account regional integration frameworks, and promote corporate priorities and commitments on forced displacement, mixed movements and comprehensive solutions.
• Support operations in ensuring accurate and timely monitoring and reporting on progress made in relation to organizational protection priorities, including creating or promoting tools that enable the regional bureau to oversee protection standards across the region.
• Support operations in the implementation of the 2013 GRF pledges, and ensure knowledge exchanges across the region.
• Support targeted resources mobilization efforts aimed at addressing specific protection gaps in emergencies as well as resilience and solutions programmes.
• Coordinate efforts to harmonize and ensure the effectiveness of the Bureau’s external protection communications with key counterparts including donors and the media.
• The Head of Protection reports to the Regional Director and ensures a comprehensive and adapted protection and solutions response in EHAGL, aligned with the regional frameworks, including those of IGAD, EAC and ICGLR. The successful candidates supports  the Regional Director in guiding country offices to develop comprehensive protection and solutions strategies that comply with global policies and address needs across the full spectrum of forced displacement and build on country strategies. S/he also supports development of regional and country level strategic advocacy plans in line with relevant global advocacy strategies. S/he is also tasked in engaging in regional fora and forge regional partnerships to ensure effective protection leadership and promote corporate priorities and commitments on forced displacement, mixed movements, and comprehensive solutions. The incumbent also advises the Regional Director for accurate and timely monitoring and reporting on progress made in the implementation of the GRF pledges and other priorities, all aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees.
• The successful candidate should have a solid experience in effectively leading protection and multifunctional teams, including in complex settings. A demonstrated experience in advancing protection and solutions in complex refugee, IDP and returnee setting as well as in mixed movements (which are prevalent in the East and Horn, and Great Lakes) is a requirement. S/he is expected to lead the development and implementation of the region's protection and solutions strategies and undertake quality, timely and effective protection interventions, including in the emergency contexts, which are recurrent in the region. S/he needs to be familiar with UNHCR’s operational responses in the field, at regional and global level. The ability of the candidate to analyze protection data, and related information (including from external actors), to inform effective program planning, development and management will be highly relevant. S/he needs demonstrated communication skills and the ability to effectively work with diverse teams, in the region and with HQ, including DIP. The ability to forge meaningful partnerships (humanitarian, development, peace, etc), to advance protection and solutions in the region will be expected of the successful candidate.