Protection Associate Full-time Job

Job Summary

Under the overall supervision of the Field Protection Officer (FPO) and the direct supervision of the Protection Team Leader in Syria Field Office (SFO), the incumbent:

Participates in planning, implementing, and evaluating the protection work, identifying protection trends and risks and assisting in the development of the related programmes, plans and policies.

In coordination with relevant SFO units and external partners, contribute to establishing systems, guidelines and standards in implementing UNRWA's protection responsibilities including mainstreaming of protection considerations, with particular attention to Gender Based Violence and Child Protection within all UNRWA programmes.

Assists in designing and developing advocacy tools on matters of strategic importance to promote protection and advocate for issues of concern to refugees; helps build a referral system and working relations with national and international organizations to address issues of vulnerability of Palestine refugees.

Attends meetings, workshops and training sessions to promote knowledge and build capacity in relation to UNRWA’s protection policies, approaches and programmes;

Supports UNRWA SFO in providing guidance and promoting internal adherence to the UN/UNRWA protection principles; actively participates in inter-agency and working-level coordination meetings related to Protection matters and any follow-up of resulting decisions and agreements.

Ensures protection risks of Palestine refugees are regularly and timely brought to the attention of relevant actors;

Support monitoring and verification mechanism through reviewing information gathered from internal and external sources to verify civilian status, targeting and impacts on affected civilians.

Reviews protection concerns and raise legal issues with senior staff for appropriate follow-up; maintain and update on regular basis, databases of protection related data.

Assist to update SFO and HQ protection information (e.g. legal information), including drafting internal guidance notes for UNRWA Staff as appropriate.

Assists in researching documents, guidelines and any additional sources needed. Translates various material from and into English.

Carries out other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor(s).

Competencies

Core Competencies

Exemplary Communication

Exemplary Planning and Organizing

Exemplary Analysis and Problem Solving

Driving and Managing Change

Empowering and Developing Others

Additional Information

A university degree, preferably in Law or related field, such as human rights, humanitarian work, social sciences or international relations

At least three years of experience in protection and/or related humanitarian work;

Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic.

Demonstrated capacity to plan, implement, and report on activities carried out, Demonstrated capacity to identify, analyze, and report on protection trends and vulnerabilities; Demonstrated ability to collect, analyse and disseminate data related to protection

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a United Nations agency established in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees registered in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states.