Georgia: Associate Field Officer (Protection), P2, Sukhumi, Georgia

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Associate Field Officer (Protection) integrates the Protection Unit in a Field Office, Sub-Office or Country Office and reports to the Protection Officer, Field Officer or Head of Field or Sub-Office as applicable. The Associate Field Officer (Protection) in a Field or Sub-Office reports to the Protection, Field Officer or Head of Field Office as appropriate. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection staff and supports the application of protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at the field level. He/she liaises with protection partners on the delivery of the Field Office protection strategy and programmes.

The Associate Field Officer (Protection) assists in the design and preparation of the Office protection strategy, in particular by ensuring that it is based on consultations and actual needs of persons of concern. He/she provides timely analysis on the protection situation in the field, highlighting important political, social, military and economic developments affecting the protection of persons of concern. The incumbent is responsible for the application of protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at the field level and is relied upon by the Field or Country Office to plan and undertake quality, timely and effective responses to the needs of populations of concern.

To achieve this, the incumbent will build daily contacts with persons of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

Responsibility

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to senior management.
• Support UNHCR's consultative process with local government counterparts, partners and persons of concern for effective needs assessment and planning.
• Facilitate UNHCR's responses in addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities and other specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS.
• Manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection.
• Monitor the integrity of UNHCR operations management standards and procedures in the AOR and facilitate the respect of deadlines.
• Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with persons of concern, host communities, local authorities and partners.
• Monitor and report on the protection, security and safety situation of persons of concern.
• Facilitate and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
• Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures. Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among populations of concern, authorities and host communities.
• Provide advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents and services to persons of concern.
• Contribute in developing and implementing an education plan for the AOR as part of the protection strategy.
• Intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion, arbitrary deprivation of nationality, and other protection incidents through close working relations with governments and other partners.
• Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern.
• Support the effective systematization and management of data to enhance monitoring, response and evaluation mechanisms.
• Contribute to initiatives to build the capacity of local partners and civil society through training and other initiatives to protect persons of concern.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in International Law, Political Science, or related fields plus minimum 3 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 2 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 1 year of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
• Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

• Computer skills.
• Knowledge of additional UN languages.

Application

Interested candidates should submit their application online at http://www.unhcr.org/careers.html by clicking on "Vacancies". All currently available vacancies are advertised on our career page at https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html.

Please note that the closing date is Thursday 9 May 2019 (midnight Geneva time).

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.