Senior Protection Assistant

Following the 2017 influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Bangladesh, the number of registered refugees across 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar District is more than 984,000 as of the end of June 2024. Bangladesh is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Despite the lack of a normative framework, Bangladesh continues to demonstrate generosity in hosting the refugees on humanitarian grounds, where UNHCR and partners play a critical role in supporting the Government’s efforts to protect them. However, due to the absence of recognized legal status and the consequent absence of legal rights to formally engage in wage earning activities, it is estimated that 95% of the Rohingya refugee population is moderate to highly vulnerable and remains entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance. Additionally, restrictions on movements outside refugee camps as well as on access to formal education and livelihoods further expose refugees to specific protection risks, including human trafficking and exploitation. In addition, the security situation in the camps remain extremely volatile as seen in the record-high 91 killing/murder incidents that occurred in 2023, a 65% increase compared to 2022. According to the Inter-Sector Coordination Group’s (ISCG) Protection Sector, the overall number of serious security incidents (murder, physical assault, kidnapping, abduction, extortion, gunshots) in 2023 reached 1,830, increasing by 181% in comparison to 2022. The Sector further reported that there were 318 serious security incidents in quarter 1 of 2024 including 15 killing/murder, 72 serious physical assaults, and 152 abduction/kidnapping. The stark number of serious security incidents in the camps underscore the need to strengthen prevention and response mechanisms. UNHCR will address these challenges through a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy that includes engaging Government authorities and partners to strengthen the protective environment for refugees, including by enhancing outreach activities, community consultation and engagement, case management, advocacy for refugees’ basic rights. 

The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague.  He/she monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff. 

The Senior Protection Assistant is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of refugees and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. He/she contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that refugees are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with refugees, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.     

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.

• List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.

• Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring
• The protection of refugee is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.
• Protection activities are guided by the UNHCR country protection strategy.
• The participation of refugees is facilitated through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community-based approaches.
• Protection incidents are identified, reported and recorded in a timely manner.
• Prioritize refugees for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
• Enforce compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
• Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
• Submit individual payments request for refugee volunteers for approval. 
• Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
• Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to refugees.
• Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
• Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
• Conduct individual protection case management including developing case management plans and managing referrals to different service providers. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
• Maintain the integrity of files and other materials related to cases and record information and data accordingly into the UNHCR proGres database in a timely manner.
• Coordinate protection activities in the camp when assigned as the Protection Sector focal point organizing coordination meetings and protection interventions.
• Execute the duties as the Protection Emergency Response Unit (PERU) focal point when assigned to the role.
• Monitor the activities of Protection volunteers and provide the necessary support to fulfil their duties.
• Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of refugees through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.

• Level and area of required and/or preferred education.
• Completion of secondary education is required. Post-secondary and/or any additional certificate/training in International Law, Political Science or related field is desired.

Work Experience :

• List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.
• 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma, or 1-year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

Source: https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Coxs-Bazaar-Bangladesh/Senior-Protection-Assistant_JR2446270