Associate Protection Officer (JPO, P2)  

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. Through its efforts, UNHCR helps to mobilize international action, offering necessary protection, shelter, and assistance. 

Around 3.5 million people of Afghanistan are internally displaced, having fled their homes searching for refuge within the country. In light of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in 2021, the number of people fleeing will likely continue to rise. Afghanistan has suffered more than 40 years of conflict, natural disasters, chronic poverty and food insecurity. Facing an ongoing humanitarian crisis, the resilience of refugees, internally displaced people and host communities is slowly reaching its limit.

UNHCR’s work in Afghanistan focuses on protecting the most vulnerable and assisting newly displaced Afghans, unable to access basic human rights including, documentation, education and access to services. This background provides for a pressing need within the protection unit, to ensure support of an Associate Protection Officer, who will oversee core protection functions such as Reception, Registration, RSD, RST, Complementary Pathways as well as helping the operation to provide technical support for national reception and asylum procedure.

As Associate Protection Officer you support the Protection Unit by providing the following:

• Monitor political, social, economic, and cultural developments affecting protection environments and advocate for relevant legal standards and policies.
• Provide legal guidance and advice to persons of concern, ensuring proper documentation and liaising with authorities for issuance.
• Oversee and ensure strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for protection activities, including the registration process, eligibility assessments, status determination, and individual case management.
• Manage and coach national staff in Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and Resettlement (RST) processes, ensuring quality and timely execution.
• Promote community-based approaches, risk management, and capacity-building efforts to support relevant institutions, NGOs, and individuals in enhancing national protection and rights advocacy.
• etc.

Part of the Swiss JPO Programme, this position is sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC of the FDFA.

One reassignment during the three-year allocation period is supported by the SDC. Furthermore, there is a rest & recuperation cycle of 4 weeks. 

Please find the full job description here: