ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer.  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 Protection Associate (Child) is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, primarily children of concern and identify opportunities to mainstream Child Protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors.  He/she contributes to designing a comprehensive child protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate (Child) also ensures that persons of concern under area of responsibility 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 communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Protection Officer and under the day-to-day supervision of Protection Officer (Child), the Protection Associate (Child) will be responsible for:

• The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles;
• Child Protection activities are guided by the UNHCR country protection strategy;
• The participation of persons of concern is facilitated through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches;
• Child Protection incidents are immediately identified and reported.

Responsibility

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment;
• 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 persons of concern;
• Provide advice on child protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation;
• Work closely with UNHCR’s new child protection implementing partner to ensure a rapid start-up, staff trainings and effective delivery of child protection services and case management, including monitoring and assessing the alternative care arrangements for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) refugee and asylum-seeker children;
• Provide guidance and support to UNHCR’s child protection implementing partner staff in conducting Best Interest Assessments (BIA) and Best Interest Determinations (BID) of UASC;
• Assist the Office in setting up or strengthening the different refugee community’s participation in child protection programmes and improving their awareness of child rights and ability to identify children at risk. This includes working with community groups as well as child and youth participation groups;
• Contribute to risk assessment exercise with urban refugee and asylum seeker youth and children to identify child protection risks and gaps and develop appropriate responses, in cooperation with UNHCR’s implementing partner;
• Participate in child protection coordination meetings with implementing partners, operational partners, Government counterparts and other UN agencies;
• Support efforts by UNHCR to promote birth registration by authorities for asylum seekers and refugees in Khartoum in coordination with the MoSW/COR/Civil Registry;
• Contribute to effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems;
• Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures;
• Follow-up on child Protection cases, including family reunification cases, alternative care arrangements, BIA/BID processes, including referrals (in accordance with SOPs);
• Monitor the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all CP activities;
• Any other tasks as identified by the office.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Education: Completion of secondary school. Additional certificate/training in International Law, Political Science or related field is required;
• Job experience: Relevant to the function: 6 years;
• Fluency in English and working knowledge of another relevant UN language or local language;
• Knowledge of national and international Refugee Law and Human Rights Law, in particular the rights of children as per the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the Sudanese Child Rights Act, and the ability to apply the relevant legal principles;
• Good drafting and report writing skills.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES 

• Previous experience working with children and / or refugee issues with international or national agency;
• Knowledge of the Best Interests Process as per UNHCR’s Guidelines.

REQUIRED MANAGERIAL & CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Analytical Thinking
• Planning and Organizing
• Political Awareness
• Stakeholder Management

In order to be considered for this position , candidates are required to complete and submit the NEW UNHCR P11 Form.

Only short listed candidates will be notified.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Candidate Assessments may include a written examination followed by a Competency Based Interview.