Senior Community-Based Protection Associate

Grade

GS7

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

H (no hardship)

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2024-09-02

2025-08-31

September 13, 2024

Standard Job Description

Senior Community-Based Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Community-Based Protection Associate is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Senior Community-Based Protection Associate works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the Senior Community-Based Protection Associate is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (PoC). The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.

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
– Assist functional units, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection strategy and operational procedures.
– 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 the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
– Work with host communities to identify opportunities for national civil society involvement in improving the protection of PoC.
– Work with implementing and operational partners as well as with displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.
– Perform analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
– Contribute to participatory assessments and ongoing consultation with PoC using multifunctional teams.
– Plan and monitor programmes and budgets with an AGD perspective.
– Build capacity to maximize opportunities for participatory and community-based approaches and to make appropriate use of guidelines and tools in working with partners and other relevant entities.
– Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
– Ensure community understanding of UNHCR’s commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
– Assist in developing UNHCR communication strategies by emphasizing the participatory, community-based and AGD approaches.
– Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
– Contribute to the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR’s work.
– Initiate AGD sensitive interventions at the appropriate level on community-based protection issues and to respond to protection concerns and incidents within the office, with external interlocutors, groups and individuals based on agreed parameters.
– Identify and select which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
– Intervene with authorities on protection.
– Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– As instructed by the supervisor, approve individual payment requests for PoC.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 – 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Development, Human Rights, nternational Law
Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.

Desirable
UNHCR learning programmes (PLP). Knowledge of MSRP.

Functional Skills
*IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
PR-Community-based Protection – Principles and methodologies
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
TR-Capacity Building
(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.

Title: Senior Community-Based Protection Associate
Grade: G-7
Duty Station: Prague, Czech Republic
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
Duration: Until 30 September 2025
Start date: as soon as possible

Operational context:

The United Nations Refugee Agency has been present in Czechia since 1992. The war in Ukraine triggered the displacement of Ukrainian refugees to Czechia, with currently over 360,000 temporary protection holders registered in the country.

The Office has partnership agreements with seven NGO partners that provide legal assistance, integration support, empowerment and specialized protection services in support of refugees. Some of the specialized protection services include the prevention, mitigation and response to gender-based violence. UNHCR also funds several refugee-led organizations with small grants to support community-based initiatives and solutions to protection risks.

UNHCR follows its community-based approach, working closely with refugee-led organizations in the response to problems that affect them. UNHCR’s community engagement also aims at providing accurate, timely, relevant and accessible information and enhancing two-way communication with communities. UNHCR is committed to ensuring adherence to UNHCR’s Age, Gender and Diversity Policy and Accountability to Affected Populations.

To support the work of the Office, UNHCR is seeking to recruit a Senior Community-based Protection Associate. who will work with refugees, refugee-led organizations (RLOs), and different partners. The position will cover different areas of community-based protection work, including supporting UNHCR and its partners’ community-based protection activities (community outreach and engagement, communication with communities, MHPSS, prevention, mitigation and response to gender-based violence, etc.). The position is expected to conduct comprehensive reporting of activities.

The position is based in Prague with regular travel in Czechia. The Senior Community-based Protection Associate will report to the Community-based Protection Officer. The Senior Community-based Protection Associate will closely work internally with colleagues in other units to ensure a coordinated approach, and ensure strong coordination with partner organizations, refugee-led organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

UNHCR’s workplace is international and multicultural and therefore inclusive and diverse. It offers opportunities that contribute to professional growth and development, and it requires cultural awareness and sensitivity and adaptation to different communication styles and behaviours.
The UNHCR Office in Czechia operates under the Representation for Central Europe (MCO Hungary), which covers four countries (Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia).

Desired Candidate Profile

o Experience working with refugees and community-based organizations.
o Experience working with international organizations, including UNHCR or other UN organizations.
o Able to work in a multi-stakeholder setting and work well with diverse NGO and UN partners, authorities, and other actors.
o Previous project management experience: highly organized and ability to work independently, including experience planning multi-stakeholder events.
o Experience working in the prevention, mitigation and response to gender-based violence.
o Sound understanding of human rights principles, UNHCR’s mandate, refugee policies and systems in Czechia.
o Possesses strong interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills.

Language Requirements

o Knowledge of English as the UN working language of the duty station and Ukrainian language is required.
o Knowledge of Czech would be considered a strong asset.

Additional information:

Candidates must be legally present in the Czech Republic at the time of application, recruitment and hire.

Remuneration:

In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

G-7 monthly salary range: NET CZK 55,946 – CZK 68,886

Benefits:

Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a temporary appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 1.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).

Pension system: Staff members holding a temporary appointment longer than 6 months will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

Health insurance plan: locally recruited staff members in the Czech Republic will be enrolled in the National Health System of Czech Republic.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

English

,

Ukrainian

,

Czech

,

,

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PR-Community-based Protection – Principles and methodologies, TR-Capacity Buidling, UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

Education

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work – Other, Development Studies – Other, Human Rights – Other, International Law – Other, Political Science – Other, Social Sciences – Other

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