Jobs at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Duties and responsibilities

The Senior Social Protection Officer is expected to:

• Build on the recent mapping and analysis of existing and planned government social protection systems and programmes in the region and the key actors supporting this and work with Country Operations to refine and make progress on the key recommendations of the regional study (produced in 2021).
• Support selected Country Operations to develop roadmaps/country level plans towards the inclusion of UNHCR's Persons of Concern (PoCs) to social protection programmes, including how to align UNHCR assistance to these programmes within the Area of Responsibility (AOR), working with Multi-Functional Teams to transform this into planning (including resourcing) in accordance with UNHCR procedures.
• Support Country Operations in host countries accessing IDA-19 and IDA-20 WHR funding for social protection projects to engage in project design and implementation, including potential ----transition action plans---- for PoC inclusion.
• Contribute to policy development and advocacy, providing operational and best-practice briefs to senior management and other technical staff engaged in external processes and partnerships linked to social protection.
• Leverage external partnerships to influence government and donor policy dialogue.
• Represent UNHCR and support advocacy and funding partnerships with host Governments, key bilateral donors and international financial institutions working to strengthen social protection systems and COVID-19 responses in forced displacement contexts.
• Continue to organize and co-chair with ILO and the World Bank quarterly meetings of the Regional Knowledge Exchange on Social Protection and Forced Displacement (revived in 2021) which includes UNHCR, World Bank, ILO, UNDP, FCDO, UNICEF, WFP, GIZ, ECHO, EC Delegation, REDSS, NRC, Oxfam, Concern, CALP etc. Ensure the data portal for this group is kept up to date.
• Promote and support applied research to build the knowledge base for UNHCR and other external actors for the inclusion of refugees and other PoCs to social protection and economic inclusion programmes.
• Support the capacity building of regional and country operations staff through training sessions, sharing of internal and external best practices and relevant research and experience.
• Further develop relationships with key social protection stakeholders at a regional level to further the inclusion agenda.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least a master's degree in Socio-Economic Development; Social Sciences; Development studies; Community Development; International Relations; Law; Political Science; Disaster Risk Management/Emergency Management/related Environmental/Earth science or other relevant field.
• At least 9 years of demonstrated experience in field programming and support related government social protection systems, particularly in contexts of fragility and/or forced displacement.
• Proven knowledge and technical skills in implementing and monitoring of social protection programmes.
• Relevant field experience in working with humanitarian and/or forcibly displaced caseloads.
• Preferably, a good knowledge of UNHCR and/or other institutions working with displaced populations. Experience in poverty reduction and/or graduation programmes is a bonus.
• Excellent English skills and additional language skills relevant in the region a bonus.

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Duties

•  Assist in administrative tasks as required such as preparation of reports and meeting authorized personnel and assisting them during field missions.
•  Act as interpreter in the exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
•  Collect data and other information relevant to UNHCR and report to the supervisor accordingly.
•  Keep regular contacts with local authorities and implementing partners as requested by supervisor.
•  In coordination with implementing partners, assist in the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
•  Liaise with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
•  Direct incidents and problems to the supervisor when they cannot be resolved at their level.
•  Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree For G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher
• Field(s) of Education Not applicable
• Certificates and/or Licenses Business Administration, Law, Political Science (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
• Relevant Job Experience Essential Not specified

Desirable Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.

Functional Skills *IT-Computer Literacy CO-Drafting and Documentation CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community (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.