Protection Associate – UNHCR job in Turkiye

• Country: Gaziantep, Turkiye
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: UNHCR 
• Gender: Both
• Deadline:  2024-02-14

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The incumbent 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 is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he 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 Protection Associate also ensures that PoC are involved 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.

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
– 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 PoC.
– Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
– Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
– Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
– Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
– Contribute to a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy.
– Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
– Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
– Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
– Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
– Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
– Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
– Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
– Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
– Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

– 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

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 – 3 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
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to successful reference checks, and integrity clearances

PLEASE DO NOT USE TURKISH CHARACTERS IN YOUR NAME & SURNAME INFORMATION.
Staff members should serve for a minimum of one year following assignment before being considered eligible to apply for another position within the same category. This requirement is waived in respect of staff members whose position is being changed or whose assignment/appointment through the joint staff/management review body is in a replacement capacity.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.
External candidates should be legally present in Türkiye at the time of application, recruitment, and hire.
Non-Turkish citizens are required to upload their residence permits or relevant documents under the ‘Certifications’ section, by selecting the type ‘Personnel Administration – Other’, to be considered for this job opening. Applications by non-Turkish citizens will NOT be considered if a valid residence permit is not attached to the application.
For further information on how to apply, please visit the ‘UNHCR – Application and Selection’ page, at https://www.unhcr.org/how-to-apply.html.

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 – 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education: bachelor’s in law.
Required Education Level: Bachelor’s degree

Required Experience: Minimum 3 years
Bachelor’s in law, with a particular focus on International law and refugee law is required.
Contextual and legal knowledge on principles and procedures pertaining to detention, deportation, temporary/ international protection regimes; registration procedures and practices including but not limited to birth registration in Türkiye as well as legal framework on principles, procedures and measures related to laws numbered 5395 and 6284 are required.
Experience in Bar Associations i.e commissions is an asset.
Experience in delivering training and reporting on legal and procedural issues is a strong asset.
Experience as a lawyer/legal intern is a strong asset.
Experience in database management, and/or repositories is recommended.

Language : Turkish and English (mandatory) Arabic or Farsi are desirable
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

https://www.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The post of Protection Associate is within Sub-Office Gaziantep, Protection unit focusing on the legal portfolio under the supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer and covers the needs of 11 Provinces in the Southeast. The incumbent under the supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer will be in charge of providing technical support and expertise under the legal portfolio to lawyers, partners, as well as counseling to the refugees. The incumbent will participate actively in the elaboration of the legal intervention strategies and will be responsible to update and track the detention, deportation, registration, and other databases information. The incumbent will be in charge of drafting reports. The incumbent will be requested to conduct training and take part in the coordination platform and working groups in the Southeast.

As part of the protection team, the incumbent will be requested to conduct missions to different provinces in the southeast region and to work within the team in the field. The incumbent is requested to have  strong communication and drafting skills as he/she will be meeting on regular basis stakeholders, civil society, refugees, and the host community.

Results/expected:

• As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
• Provide relevant and immediate information on detention cases to prevent deportation and to prepare advocacy points with the Government.
• Support the NOA during the Legal Counsellors Group meeting and activities on the group work plan as well as update and follow up needed actions.
• Follow up with the partners, UNHCR, and persons on their referrals on legal issues.
• Support the quality and timely reporting of the protection unit, on the legal and protection aspects.
• Quality periodic thematic reports on detention and deportation cases prepared, clear reporting about pushback and refoulement, and gap analysis in the field.
• Support the organization of consultation and technical workshops of 2024.

Duties:

• Provide necessary technical counseling and advice to lawyers, or partners following up on  cases. Update and track the detention/deportation, registration, and other relevant databases; and prepare periodic reports as well as post-return reports.
• Participate in the elaboration of legal intervention strategies; refer, follow-up and monitor the individual cases on access to asylum, registration, and services as well as detention, and deportation. Ensure continuous communication, counselling and necessary follow-up with the refugees, family members, and partners, and liaise with the lawyers for individual cases referred to UNHCR.
• Closely collaborate with legal counsellors, lawyers, bar association administrations, law faculties under universities, and relevant public institutions to identify and address the needs and gaps in response to legal protection.
• Facilitate informative sessions during training and assist in the preparation of activities on legal issues.
• Prepare and develop training materials on legal and protection issues on the topics not limited to but including international and national legal framework on refugee law, human rights law, and international principles and safeguards pertaining to refugee rights, preventive and protective measures, and relevant public institutions.
• Conduct desk reviews and analysis on the current issues and recent changes in the legislation and legal practices, including analysis of court decisions, daily review of official gazette, and decisions of quasi-judicial institutions with necessary translations.
• Maintain and keep track of court decision repository.
• Support the Sub Office and the Protection Unit, in the working group, thematic, and/or operational meetings with stakeholders; prepare necessary NFFs and keep track of agreed action points. The incumbent will assist in the preparation of thematic and operational reports.
• Follow up and coordinate with the field units to respond to the protection and legal needs of the people with and for whom UNHCR works.
• Participate in monitoring missions related to registration, protection desks, removal centers, temporary accommodation centers, MFTs and prepare mission reports.
• Keep track of information on ProGres and TuranCore systems, follow up with relevant colleagues on the field for interventions with PDMMs and draft incident forms to be shared with relevant focal points at the country office in urgent cases that need prompt intervention at the central level.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Certifications

International Law – Other, Political Science – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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