Organization Mission

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org)

Context

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

UNHCR Operation in Chad addresses protection and assistance needs for more than 400,000 refugees, established in 19 camps, 12 of the camps hosting refugees since more than ten years, at the same time establishing new camps to accommodate continuous influx. The UNHCR Office also leads the protection cluster in response to the general protection of internally displaced population, along with their reintegration in villages of origin. Chad is among the most complex UNHCR operations in terms of security, environment and logistical context. The environment is characterized by unforeseen trends related to these factors. The operation in Chad is currently decentralized and the Branch Office in N’Djamena retains the role of strategy provision, support and coordination of three Sub-Offices and their respective Field Offices. Given the considerable and diverse workload, it is important that the applicant be motivated, hard-working and organized. Fluency in both English and French is recommended (written and spoken). In Chad, all communications within with external partners are conducted in French.
The Lake Province is facing a prolonged humanitarian crisis fueled by armed conflict, intercommunal tensions, and the effects of climate change. The operational context of the Lake region continues to be dominated by protection incidents due to attacks by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs), criminal acts/banditry, and sporadic inter/intra-community conflicts, particularly involving the Boudouma and Kanembou communities. These conflicts often stem from disputes over access to arable land (polders), grazing areas, and fishing zones. The effects of climate change are increasingly visible, with river and/or rain-induced flooding and rainfall deficits. The region also suffers from a precarious socio-economic situation, inadequate basic social services, unemployment, and a food crisis, among other challenges.
Despite several military operations, armed group elements remain active in the province and across the Lake Chad Basin countries. In this complex humanitarian context, UNHCR has developed a strategy aimed at durable solutions for forcibly displaced populations in the province. This strategy aligns with the Lake Province’s development program and the 2024 Nexus coordination framework. After identifying convergence zones, UNHCR is working to mobilize development and peace actors to carry out stabilization and development activities aimed at empowering the population.
Located in western Chad, the UNHCR Baga Sola area of responsibility shares a long land and lake border to the west with northern Cameroon, northeastern Nigeria (Borno State), and eastern Niger (Diffa region). It is also adjacent to Kanem Province to the north and Hadjer-Lamis Province to the east.

Key Responsibilities

– The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Head of Office.
– The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection registration, resettlement and education as well as field.
– S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and Programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities.
– The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards.
– The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.
– S/he also ensures that persons of concern are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of persons of concern.
– To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.
– The Associate Protection Officer is expected to facilitate the work of the Protection Cluster through the provision of support in analysis, organization and reporting. This includes the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the incumbent supports an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.
– The Associate Protection supports the Protection Cluster Coordinator in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms, for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age, gender and diversity in the humanitarian response and early recovery activities.Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
– Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
– Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
– Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
– Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
– Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
– Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.Results/expected outputs
– Oversee and manage individual protection cases, including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
– Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
– Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other persons of concern.
– Participate in the organisation and implementation of participatory assessments and methodologies throughout the operations management cycle and promote AGD sensitive programming with implementing and operational partners.
– Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
– Support the Protection Cluster to ensure that protection informs and shapes the overall humanitarian response, and that the protection response is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team’s common humanitarian action plan.
– Facilitate coordination and conduct of Protection Cluster or Inter-Cluster level protection needs assessments, including participatory assessments of affected populations.
– Coordinate initiatives to build the protection capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
– Support reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
– Ensure that the Protection Cluster produces regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population, response activities, challenges and recommendations.
– Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
– Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster – for clearance by Senior management.
– Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
– Perform other related duties as required.

Required Skills and Experience

3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1-year relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

The incumbent will be expected to:
– Be familiar with coordination of refugee and IDP (Internally displaced people) response context, in general, UNHCR’s solutions strategy, and the Nexus approach.
– Strong reporting skills and analysis of the operational context are required, as well as the ability to work effectively with local authorities and partners.
– Proven experience in conducting assessments, developing protection strategies, and implementing programs.
– Strong experience to cover general protection, CBP (Community-Based Protection) as well as protection cluster related activities and provide training for protection of local authorities as well as local partners.

Core Competencies

Competencies and values:

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority.
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary.
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living Conditions

Chad is a landlocked country in the center of Africa. It is in many respects similar to, although less mediatized than, its eastern neighbour Sudan, for instance, in terms of the north-south divide (both geographically and societal/religion-wise); several latent or open internal conflicts and rebellions, among others related to ethnical tensions and/or land issues; ubiquity of small arms; large parts of the country have an ingrained culture of violence, are subject to frequent banditry (“coupeurs de route”) and are highly militarized; a large population of former IDPs and refugees; and strained relationships with its neighbours, not in the least with Sudan itself. Large swaths of the country are in “pre-/post-conflict” mode, and security is a serious concern everywhere, especially in the border area with Darfur/Sudan (the area east of Abéché).
Because of the direct exposure to the various hazardous along with difficult living conditions, as mentioned in below paragraphs, Chad has been strictly declared as a non-family duty station.
The living cost in N’djamena is comparatively high as compared to western Chad. UNV volunteers are usually encouraged to share the accommodation for the cost sharing and security purposes; a modest and furnished accommodation (on sharing basis) will between USD 500-USD 700/ month. N’djamena consists of few restaurants and some franchise chain of hotels, i.e. Kempinsiki and Novotel, which are expensive. In Eastern Chad, due to security reasons it is recommended to stay within UN guesthouses.
Food is usually available in N’djamena in the local market as well as few superstores “Alimentation Generale”. In the WEST, Lac Chad basin, vegetables, fish and meet are available in local market. Food stuff can be purchase during week market day on Wednesday in Bol and Saturday in Bagasola.
As Chad is a francophone country, therefore, people speak French and also Arabic. English is not a very common language. Daily transactions are made in either Euro or in local currency, named FCFA. Since climate in Chad is comparatively hot, therefore, you may not need to bring any warm clothing. Yet, it is advisable to at least bring one jacket for any unforeseeable weather changes.
Flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in hazardous and harsh conditions involving physical hardship and little comfort are essential. Rest and Recuperation cycle is 6 weeks

Conditions of Service
The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.
A volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents.
The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,631. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates monthly according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website (http://icsc.un.org).