H (no hardship)

Family

Family

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2025-02-04

March 7, 2025

Protection Associate

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.

To fulfil his/her functions, the Protection Associate will need to have a good understanding of the relevant international and national legal framework, operational procedures, and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards. In particular, the Protection Associate will support UNHCR contribution to the development and monitoring of the national implementation plan, preparation of commentaries to new legislation, recommendations for the asylum reform and the delivery of capacity development activities, in collaboration with relevant actors and in line with UNHCR positions, as well as relevant international and EU standards. Moreover, the Protection Associate will contribute to monitoring and analyzing new legislation on asylum and statelessness, and will be preparing background notes and reports for the purpose of enhancing human rights engagement in Slovenia.

The Protection Associate will also be required to contribute to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and to liaise externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor and MCO Legal Officer. Furthermore, the Protection Associate will contribute to reinforcing the office’s collaboration with the Judiciary, the legal community and the University, with a view to enhance the promotion of refugee law, monitor the quality of legal assistance and generally access to protection for asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons.

Duties

o Monitor the development of law and doctrine.

o Provide input to assist in analysis of relevant emerging legislation in line with protection and humanitarian principles, international law and standards.

o Provide inputs to selected advocacy efforts of the operation.

o Contribute to the preparation of legal advice and draft position papers.

o Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.

o Assist in preparing background notes and submissions for the purpose on human rights engagement.

o Provide advice on protection issues to forcibly displaced individuals in need of protection and people who are stateless.

o Liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.

o Liaise with relevant national and international counterparts, including the judiciary and universities.

o Assist activities aiming at strengthening the national asylum system, including legislation and procedures.

o Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.

o Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.

o Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents, in coordination with supervisor and MCO.

o Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of people in need, through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.

o Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.

o Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on people assisted by UNHCR.

o Contribute to the organization of events and initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to improve the protection environment

o Contribute to enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

o Liaise with relevant state authorities at central and local levels, partner NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.

o Contribute to draft protection documents and policies in cooperation with supervisor.

o Provide guidance and support in the formulation of protection strategies.

o Assist in the preparation of legal advice and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.

o Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.

o Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.

o Liaise and intervene with local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to persons of concern.

o Perform other related duties as required.

Desired Skills / Expertise

o Experience in the in the field of asylum, human rights and migration and training are an asset.

Language Requirements

o Knowledge of English as the UN working language of the duty station and Slovenian language is required.

Additional information:

Applicants must be nationals of Slovenia or other EU/Schengen country OR in the possession of a valid Hungarian residency and work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted.

Remuneration:
In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

G-6 salary range: NET EUR 2,597 – NET EUR 2,985

Benefits:
Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).

Pension system: Staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

Health insurance plan: locally recruited staff members in Hungary will be enrolled in the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP). The coverage is also optionally available for eligible family members.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

English

,

Slovene

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Ljubljana is classified as a H duty station. To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

While Slovenia has traditionally been a transit country, it is gradually becoming destination for an increasing number of people fleeing from the international conflict in Ukraine and for asylum-seekers and refugees from other countries, including in the context of the Western Balkan route. At the same time, Slovenia is actively engaging in reforming its asylum system in line with the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, as well as migration and integration policies adopted in 2023 and 2024, with a view to ensure a more welcoming environment and effective inclusion.

The UNHCR Representation for Central Europe, Multi-Country Office (MCO), that covers the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, therefore strengthened its engagement in Slovenia, supporting the authorities and partners to promote protection sensitive approach to the development of the National Implementation plan, national asylum legislation and longer-term solutions for forcibly displaced persons, while advocating for and supporting the development of robust, protection sensitive andquality asylum system. In order to ensure the effective implementation of its broader engagement in Slovenia, UNHCR is seeking to recruit a colleague with strong legal expertise, to support its activities aiming at reinforcing the asylum system through advocacy and capacity development.

The Protection Associate will be based in Ljubljana, Slovenia and will report to the NO-B Associate Protection Officer, under the overall supervision of the MCO Legal Officer.

Living and Working Conditions:

Slovenia is located in a temperate climate zone having 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Winters are becoming milder with average temperatures around -5 centigrade on average during the daytime. Summers are hot, occasionally reaching around 35 centigrade, especially in July and August.

Accommodation is easy to find; short-, mid- and long-term. The city offers a wide range of hotels, Airbnb, long term rents, etc. Accommodation can be fixed using the services of property agencies, but online solutions are also numerous.

– Regular medical facilities are available;

– General sanitary and hygiene conditions are adequate;

– Good local banking facilities are available (use of credit cards, ATMs);

– Communication services (domestic and international) are available on a regular basis;

– Availability of food, furnishings and other necessities is adequate (various grocery stores and markets with fresh food products, shopping centres, etc);

– Public transportation is available;

– Public water supply, electricity and sewerage system are in place;

– Various leisure, recreational and sports facilities are available;

No specific security conditions pertain to Slovenia. Ljubljana is a safe city, however as in any other city caution shall be exercised when using public transport to avoid pickpocketing.

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

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements