Senior Protection Coordinator at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• In the Bureaux, the Senior Protection Coordinator works under the direct supervision of the Head of Bureau Protection Service, the Bureau Director or Bureau Deputy Director. In the Field, the incumbent normally reports to the Representative, Assistant Representative or Deputy Representative as appropriate. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and may supervise other staff.
• The incumbent provides guidance to the Country Operations in the AoR 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.
• The incumbent provides protection oversight and guidance to other functions in the AoR, to support protection delivery to populations of concern and to promote and gain support for UNHCR¿s protection agenda also externally. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all areas and sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards and benchmarks.
• The incumbent works in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection, 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 or all offices in the country, as appropriate, as well as regional/country-based UN sister entities, other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organisations, embassies, academic institutions and the media and represents the Organization on protection and legal matters.
• In the Regional Bureaux, 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 AoR.
• 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 guidance to the Bureau Director on all protection matters.
• Contribute towards the development of a protection and solutions strategy in the AoR 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.
• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and security developments that have an impact on the protection environment and protection delivery capacity and advise the senior management in the overall management of UNHCR¿s operations.
• Coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of persons of concern in the AoR including emergency responses.
• Maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the protection service guided by common strategic, principled and practical protection objectives, working towards increased protection impact in line with the regional strategies.
• Provide legal, technical and policy advice to Country Operations or Offices under the AoR and enforce Country Operations¿ compliance with, and operationalization of, UNHCR¿s global protection policies and standards, priorities and commitments.
• Coordinate a consultative process (through Country Offices in the region, if applicable) with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement the protection and solutions strategies at the country level. Ensure strategies address gender equality priorities, internally displaced persons, specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation and/or gender identity, minority groups, and person living with HIV/AIDS.
• Coordinate with partners and provide oversight to specific protection areas described above.
• Advocate with authorities and stakeholders for access to and respect for the rights of persons of concern and their access to services.
• Support local integration objectives and well as efforts to promote social inclusion.
• Coordinate activities in the area of risk management related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), fraud, case-processing data protection, and human rights due diligence at country level, in consultation with relevant Divisions (as appropriate).
• Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners also in line with Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

For positions in Bureaux

• Work with Country Offices in identifying and taking up opportunities to influence legislative, institutional and judicial processes in relation to asylum/RSD, statelessness and internal displacement; ensure quality comments are provided on draft legislation and policies and to Human Rights mechanisms; draft/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 and ensure they meet their complementary pathways objectives and resettlement quotas.
• 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 P5 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Law; International Law; Political Science; International Humanitarian Law; International Refugee Law; International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Management Learning Programme;
• Protection Learning Programme;
• (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential

• Minimum 8 years of previous work experience in progressively responsible functions in an organisation or institution with a protection mandate, preferably within the UN. Thorough knowledge of International refugee law and its application; ability to analyse and advocate for the application of relevant international and regional legal instruments for the benefits of the persons under UNHCR's mandate.

Desirable

• Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters/Regional entities. Proven track record in emergency preparedness, response and management. Proficiency in local language(s) in the given region. Knowledge of additional UN languages.

Functional Skills

• *PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• *PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
• PR-Gender Equality
• PR-Refugee Coordination Model
• PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
• PR-International Humanitarian Law
• PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework
• LE-Judicial Engagement
• PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
• 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 incumbent 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 2nd line function, within the three lines of Defence conceptual framework for effective control and risk management adopted by the UN system.
• The EHAGL Regional Bureau based in Nairobi supports UNHCR operations in eleven countries in the East, Horn and Great Lakes regions of Africa. The incumbent will provide guidance to Country Operations on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. The areas of intervention include adapted asylum systems, mixed movements, registration, protection partnerships, durable solutions for/with refugees, IDPs and stateless persons. 
• The candidate will also have to demonstrate competencies to oversee a Durable Solutions Unit (DSU) in the Regional Bureau working on repatriation and reintegration, resettlement and complementary pathways, prevention of statelessness as well as inclusion and local integration.
• The candidate will be required to develop pragmatic protection responses and strategies in complex operational contexts marked by a combination of new, resurgent, and protracted displacement situations.  
• The incumbent will be expected to have proven knowledge and practice in coordination and policy cultivation of State lead Multi-Year-Multi-Partner Protection (MYMP) and solution strategies. The cross functional competencies desired for this position include ability to define impact driven protection and solution approaches in the East Horn and Great Lakes region of Africa. In this regard political and knowledge of inter-agency and inter-governmental protection and solution.
•  Under the guidance of the Head of Protection Service and in a mutually reinforcing manner with other pillars and in coordination with DIP, the incumbent will be tasked to develop and update policy and guidance, ensuring Standard setting, developing practical tools and guidance, gathering and consolidating operational practice, facilitating community of practice, contributing to global regional policy development and discourse on protection.
• A solid conceptual and practical understanding of UNHCR’s approaches to comprehensive solutions, the CRRF and GCR, the SG’s Action Agenda on IDPs, route-based protection responses to mixed movements and climate and conflict based solutions to displacement are a pre-requisite. Strong drafting skills are necessary for the position, along with a demonstrated ability to work with diverse teams. A good command of French and Arabic would be an advantage.