Job Description
| Organization | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
| Job Title | Protection Associate – UNOPS – LICA 6 |
| Location | El Geneina, Sudan |
| Hardship Level | E |
| Job ID | 33526 |
| Salary Grade | NB |
| Family Location Type | Non-Family |
| Closing Date | 14 February 2022. |
Eligible Applicants
This Job Opening is available to eligible UNHCR staff members and external applicants.
Duties and Qualifications
Protection Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Youth-led activism and protests were the foundation of the 2019 Sudanese Revolution, propelled by a generation of young Sudanese men and women, who previously had limited access to civic forums through which to advocate for the advancement of their political and social demands. Darfuri youth, most of whom have grown up in a conflict milieu since 2003, were also a part of the 2019 movement. However, given recent bouts of violence in places such as El Geneina, West Darfur, dividends from Sudan¿s political transition have not been immediately evident in Darfur. Despite their substantial contributions to the Sudanese Revolution, both male and female youth in Darfur feel aggrieved at their lack of representation in decision-making fora, institutions, and processes, such as State-level government ministries and the negotiations for the Juba Peace Agreement, which was signed between the Transitional Government of Sudan (TGoS) and key Darfur-based armed movements in October 2020. Moreover, in spite of grassroots-level activism, the voices of young women, IDPs, and nomads remain absent in local and national governance structures.
Financed by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) through its Youth Promotion Initiative (YPI), the Darfuri Youth Empowerment in Civic Spaces to Advance Peacebuilding project will focus on the following outcomes in West and Central Darfur: 1. Youth access to civic spaces expanded by enhancing their capacity to develop digital content and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on issues related to peace and conflict; 2. Positive social and civic engagement by youth in their communities enhanced by youth-driven dialogues, micro-projects, and leadership skills building that contribute to peaceful coexistence; 3. Youth engagement in public policy spaces augmented through improved access to state, locality, and community-level powerholders.
UNHCR Sudan is currently building on its peacebuilding and durable solutions programming in Darfur. Through its interventions, UNHCR Sudan intends to pay particular attention to the inclusion of marginalized groups, including young women, across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
Two positions will be hired under this vacancy – one Protection Associate will be based in UNHCR Field Office (FO) in El Geneina, West Darfur, and one Protection Associate will be based in UNHCR Field Unit in Zalingei, Central Darfur, where they will support the implementation of the PBF-financed interagency peacebuilding project on youth and civic spaces. Both incumbents will report to Protection Officers in these locations.
The Protection Associates will be expected to coordinate in a timely and effective manner with project implementing partners, civil society organisations, and other UN partners. The incumbents will also mainstream protection methodologies into the project interventions, including Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) considerations, and integrate protection safeguards throughout the project cycle. S/he will also liaise externally with authorities and partners within the framework of the peacebuilding project, and as guided by his/her supervisor. The Protection Associates must ensure that project beneficiaries are involved in making decisions that affect them. To achieve this, the incumbents will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with local communities, government authorities, and peacebuilding partners.
Duties:
- Assist the Office in the planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of activities related to youth, peacebuilding, and governance, including youth-led community dialogues, leadership skills trainings, and youth inclusion in government policy forums.
- Work closely with UN partner agencies and implementing partners, including identification and assessment of youth-led civil society organizations on peacebuilding and durable solutions.
- Conduct field visits and engage closely with local communities and project beneficiaries, including through focus group discussions and consultative meetings
- Liaise and intervene with local authorities on peacebuilding and protection issues pertaining to youth and the PBF project.
- Support with the selection of youth and youth-led civil society organizations for disbursement of micro-project grants and participation in government policy forums, and provide guidance and mentorship to young people, as required.
- Support the oversight of an internship program placing young men and women in government bodies, and serve as a focal point between UNHCR, youth interns, and relevant government officials.
- Contribute to advocacy for enhanced inclusion of young men and women in community-based structures and government institutions.
- Assist in the preparation of narrative inputs for semi-annual and annual donor reporting and contribute to the documentation of findings, lessons learned/best practices, recommendations, and success stories.
- Assist in research, information gathering, and analysis of conflict in target areas to support and promote peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
- May act as interpreter during meetings with authorities, if required.
- Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts, as required.
- Perform other related duties, as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience in protection, peacebuilding, civic engagement, working on programmatic activities related to young people, youth movements and research/analysis with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
Field(s) of Education
Social Science; Political Science; Peace and Conflict Studies; International Law; or other relevant field.
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Strong community and government engagement skills, preferably with a focus on young people.
Prior experience supporting project implementation in humanitarian settings.
Strong understanding of gender mainstreaming and gender-related issues.
Strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.
Previous experience in research, analysis, and reporting.
Desirable
Previous background in youth-related peacebuilding, intergenerational dialogues, and/or conflict prevention programming is desirable.
Previous experience working with marginalized communities or Persons of Concern would be an asset.
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection, or any other equivalent external courses, would be an asset.
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy*
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards, and indicators
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
Fluency in English and Arabic is essential.
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
Judgement and Decision Making
Cross-Functional Competencies
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
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.
Closing Date
The closing date for this position is 14 February 2022.
