1351 views4 applications

Assistant Protection Officer

Job Opening; 22923

UNHCR Libya

Assistant Protection Officer

10029276 Tripoli, Libya ASAP

Title of Post

Post Number

Location

Effective date of assignment

Operational Context

Category/grade

Type of contract Date of Issue Closing Date

National Officer, NOA

Fixed-term Appointment

02/11/2020 16/11/2020

Libya has, for generations, been both a country of transit and destination for refugees and asylum seekers. Yet, in the wake of more than seven years of conflict, political turmoil and widespread human rights violations and abuses, the magnitude of protection challenges and needs has exponentially increased. Overall, in Libya, amidst a population of 6.5 million, the UN estimates that 1.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, of which 0.5 million are internally displaced or returnees. In addition, Libya continues to host some 50,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly Syrian, Iraqi and Palestinian nationals; as well as an estimated 700,000 migrants, predominantly from western Africa, contributing to one of the most complex mixed-migration situations in Northern Africa.

Chronic human rights violations and abuses in the context of armed conflict, violence and insecurity, and disregard for the minimum standards of international humanitarian and human rights law characterize the absence of effective protection for large numbers of civilians in Libya. Forced displacement and family separation with the associated tearing of the social fabric have resulted in a high-risk environment for persons living in Libya, with children being particularly vulnerable. In addition, increased economic hardship as a result of the protracted crisis, coupled with a liquidity crisis, contributing to a collapse of the national infrastructure, social cohesion and the country’s economy, have impaired access to safety, basic services, humanitarian aid and livelihoods, and compounded the protection risks of the population, refugees and migrants, in particular vulnerable groups.

Considering the highly sensitive environment in which UNHCR operates in Libya, the incumbent should possess strong analytical and diplomatic skills, knowledge of the local context and exhibit good judgment and protection instincts. Moreover, the incumbent should possess excellent proven drafting skills, as well as the proven ability to organize high-level meetings and events and develop trusted networks with the national authorities and civil society.

The present situation in Libya is unstable and the outlook uncertain. This creates ongoing pressures at work and in daily life as priorities are frequently upended for other urgent ad hoc tasks. The incumbent should be prepared to work under very challenging conditions and be able to manage stressful situations.

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

1

Under the direct supervision of the UNHCR Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer, the incumbent will ensure the delivery of protection and implementation of protection strategies within the mixed migration context. S/he will also support in continuous updating of the SOPs and expansion of the protection monitoring activities in all location in which UNHCR operates. S/he will manage the daily UNHCR’s intervention in detention, rescue at sea as well as coordinate internally and lead an expanding team to implement the operational and logistical procedures of UNHCR’s evacuation program out of Libya through the ETM. The incumbent is required to work closely with the relevant Libyan officials in charge of detention management, rescue at sea and immigration department, as well as other official national authorities as needed. The incumbent will also ensure that UNHCR enhances its protection work to persons of concern in detention and within the mixed migration context, and lead advocacy and response on their behalf, through provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance, protection monitoring and advocacy for release and for alternatives to detention. The incumbent is also required to ensure that UNHCR provides timely and regular trends analysis on all situations, profiles and interventions related to mixed migration including: detention center situations/fact sheets, thematic reports, situation and incident reports, analysis on protection environment through protection monitoring activities and status of UNHCR’s intervention and response in relevant areas of responsibility.

The Assistant Protection Officer will serve as UNHCR’s focal point in all relevant inter-agency coordination meetings in the absence of the Protection Officer.

In the context of the notable international attention to mixed migration matters in Libya, and recalling the functions specified in the JD/description of responsibilities, the Assistant Protection Officer is expected to have solid understanding of protection matters and relevant procedural standards. S/he must also be aware of the regional dynamics, demonstrate strong coordination skills, and ideally to have had previous professional work experience in the field of Mixed Migration as well as in emergency settings.

Due to the responsibilities involved in coordinating the operational implementation of the UNHCR evacuation program, the incumbent is required to be aware of the divided responsibilities internally between different units (including program, supply and protection, inter alia), in order to ensure effective delivery of results. The incumbent must have experience in protection and registration activities, with good knowledge of UNHCR’s global registration database ProGres, and previous experience of managing international and national transfers of refugees and asylum-seekers. Solid communication skills with the authorities is also critical as the incumbent is expected to have daily coordination with all working level authorities and state actors engaged in Mixed Migration, as well as humanitarian actors (which requires good deal of humanitarian diplomacy). It is essential that the incumbent has experience in inter-agency coordination.

Excellent coordination and management skills will be required of the incumbent in order to manage the various competing priorities. Lastly, the incumbent should have a proactive and positive approach and be able to implement planned activities successfully under adverse conditions. In this regard, s/he shall be able to motivate and train a large team of national staff with varying degrees of experience and to demonstrate strong interpersonal and leadership skills.

The position is based at the Country Office in Tripoli, with frequent visits to the Western and Central regions.

Functional Statement:

Duties

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Be fully informed about community structures and the protection and security situation of the population of concern in detention centers in Libya.
• Through relationships with persons of concern and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice during protection programming and UNHCR response in detention centers and disembarkation points in Libya.
• Supervise and provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR protection staff in the Field Protection unit for identification and referral of vulnerable individual cases where protection concerns are identified at DCs, disembarkation points and Mobile Information Desks.

2

• Liaise and coordinate with partners to implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all protection referrals in the locations/areas of responsibility.
• Develop and maintain appropriate tools for follow up on referrals and ensure monitoring and quality control on internal and external referrals.
• Support the design, implementation and evaluation of protection-centered tools for CwC at Mobile Information Desks, in cooperation with other UNHCR units and in close collaboration and coordination with the Community-Based Protection Unit.
• Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with persons of concern, local authorities and partners.
• Contribute to the FP team’s information management component which provides disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary.
• Ensure PoC understanding of UNHCR’s commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
• Lead and implement counselling activities and information campaigns for PoC in detention centers and MIDs.
• Produce systematic and ad hoc protection reports on profiling exercises as required.
• Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy,

  standards and codes of conduct.

• Provide inputs for the development of protection policies and standards within the AoR.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all relevant

  protection activities.

• Monitor protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
• Contribute to and facilitate 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.

• Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
• Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
• OIC in absence of Protection Officer, which includes overall coordination of all operations under FPU,

  including of evacuations through the ETM and humanitarian corridors.

• Other duties as assigned by the Protection Officer/Senior.

3

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• –  1-year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree in Law, International Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field.; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree.
• –  Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
• –  Fluency in Arabic and English languages is essential due to the nature of this position, which requires close and

  daily communications with the relevant stakeholders (who by majority only speak the Arabic language).

  Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

• –  Completion of the Protection Learning Programme,
• –  The incumbent has previous experience in working in the Mixed Migration field, and preferably with good

  knowledge of the Libyan context.

  Functional Skills

• –  *PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• –  *LE-International Refugee Law
• –  *PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
• –  PR-Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Coordination
• –  MG-Projects management
• –  PR-PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
• –  PR-International Humanitarian Law
• –  PR-Protection and mixed-movements
• –  PR-Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operations & IDPs Status/Rights/Obligation
• –  PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
• –  PR-Community-based Protection
• –  MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation

  Competency Requirements

  Core Competencies:

• –  Accountability
• –  Communication
• –  Organizational Awareness
• –  Teamwork & Collaboration
• –  Commitment to Continuous Learning
• –  Client & Result Orientation

  Managerial Competencies:

• –  Judgement and Decision Making
• –  Empowering and Building Trust

  Cross-Functional Competencies

• –  Analytical Thinking
• –  Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• –  Political Awareness

Eligibility:

4

Internal candidates: Interested staff members should consult the Policy and Procedures on Recruitment and Assignments of Locally recruited Staff (UNHCR/AI/2020/1/Rev.1). If you have questions regarding your eligibility, you may also contact the HR Unit.

Internal candidates for vacancy announcements in the GS category are divided in Group 1, Group 2, as follow:

Group 1 comprises current GS staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above.

Group 2 comprises candidates from the categories listed below after completion of one cumulative or continuous year of service in the country of the vacancy. The Group 2 status will be confirmed by the UNHCR Libya’s HR team as applicable. Further details on the Group 2 are available in our career portal UNHCR Libya Jobs .

External Candidates are candidates who are not in Group 1 or Group 2.

Remuneration:

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org

Submission of Applications:

• –  Prior to the closing, interested candidates are to access the vacancy notice through UNHCR Libya’s recruitment portal: http://www.unhcr.org/ly-jobs/ and to apply through
• –  https://www.unhcr.org/other-opportunities.html
• –  Candidates must be Libyan citizens or hold a valid local work permit at the time of application. No

  relocation fees apply.

  No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).

  UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.