Protection Associate

Job Description

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based): B

Family Type (not applicable for home-based): Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type: UNOPS LICA6

Target Start Date: 2025-07-15

Deadline for Applications: July 7, 2025

Terms of Reference

Operational Context

India currently hosts more than 261,000 refugees and asylum seekers. These include some 91,000 Sri Lankan refugees and 73,400 Tibetans directly assisted by the Government of India. There are 47,881 individuals registered under UNHCR’s mandate primarily from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other countries. In addition, around 49,000 Myanmar nationals have sought refuge in the Northeast of India and live in a refugee-like situation. UNHCR works with the Government of India to offer protection and find solutions for refugees and asylum seekers.

As a result of reprioritization, UNHCR India is refocusing its efforts on three core objectives: mandate-critical protection and solutions work; lifesaving and emergency activities with a focus on the most vulnerable; and essential resource mobilization and advocacy for protection and inclusion.

With refugees and asylum seekers spread across 13 different locations across the country, UNHCR relies on its 8 NGO partners for support. It funds activities that complement or facilitate access to essential services and assist the most vulnerable people with humanitarian assistance. UNHCR also works with various partners and key stakeholders to advocate for greater inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). The office is engaged in advocacy with the government to support the development of a national framework for refugee protection, and advocates on issues related to the use of alternatives to detention, access to documentation amongst other key areas. UNHCR’s office is in New Delhi and has a field presence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu State.

Desired Candidate Profile

The Protection Associate will be a part of the Protection Unit and report to the Senior Legal Associate. The Protection Associate will contribute to the implementation of the Digital Gateway multi-year project (2025-2027) funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies to promote birth and death registration for refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR India.

The Protection Associate will work closely with the refugee community especially on capacity building and awareness raising on the importance of birth and death registration and will advocate with relevant stakeholders and authorities for inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in national systems and services, including access to birth and death registration.

The Protection Associate will also work closely with refugee communities to support them in setting up Refugee Led Initiatives to create digital hubs to support refugees and asylum seekers to access the digital gateway.

The Protection Associate will support the development and dissemination of communication material and reporting related to the digital gateway project.

A minimum of 3 years of direct work experience with refugees and asylum seekers, at UNHCR or its partners in the context of community-based protection, advocacy, documentation and/or related services is required. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals and strong cross-cultural communication skills are desired. Strong understanding of UNHCR’s protection principles and community-based approaches is required. Prior work experience on issues related to birth and death registration of refugees and asylum seekers is desired.

Strong data analysis and report writing skills are required. Proven record in the usage of proGres database, and Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel are required. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines and strong organizational and time management skills are required. A demonstrated ability to work with communities, conduct advocacy, deliver training, including on-the-job coaching and guidance to communities and partners, is highly desirable.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted, and they may be required to undergo a written test and/or an interview.

Standard Job Description: 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.
• Assist 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

Certificates and/or Licenses: International Law, Political Science or other related field (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience: 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.

Other information: This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Remote: No.

Deadline for Applications: July 7, 2025

“While we try our best to keep our information updated, the closing date of the actual job source may be changed by the recruiter without prior notice. With this, please make sure to check the official job link when submitting your application. Thank you.”