Senior Protection Assistant UNOPS LICA5

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)FamilyUNOPS LICA52025-01-01November 20, 2024General Background
     
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) is the agency entrusted by the United Nations General Assembly with the mandate to provide international protection to refugees and, together with Governments, to seek permanent solutions to the problems of refugees. Article 35 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and Article II of the 1967 Protocol requires states parties to cooperate with the office of the UNHCR in the exercise of its supervisory responsibilities. UNHCR’s supervisory responsibility has been reflected in European Union law, including by way of a general reference to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees in Article 78 (1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (“TFEU”), as well as in Declaration 17 to the Treaty of Amsterdam, which provides that “consultations shall be established with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees … on matters relating to asylum policy”.   
Within the framework of UNHCR’s supervisory responsibility, the UNHCR country office in Cyprus seeks a Senior Protection Assistant to identify and support support vulnerable populations across Cyprus, including in the reception centres.
Cyprus continues to experience complex challenges in supporting forcibly displaced persons, particularly with regard to reception conditions for asylum seekers. Despite a decrease in new arrivals, the climate has grown increasingly hostile toward forcibly displaced persons, creating significant hurdles for non-governmental organizations to deliver essential services. This negative shift coincides with a noticeable change in the profile of forcibly displaced persons, who now present more vulnerabilities, especially given the limitations in housing and employment access. The rise in destitution, specifically among Syrian asylum seekers, underscores the need for immediate systemic improvements, as individuals unable to secure basic needs are often at risk of exploitation—sexual and employment—for survival. Survivors of gender-based violence, persons with specific needs, single women, and unaccompanied children, as well as children in the community, are particularly at risk and require tailored solutions to address their unique vulnerabilities.
There is an on-going reception crisis for the past years. Access to work has been restricted for the maximum possible period, leaving asylum seekers dependant on benefits for nine months. The level of assistance provided is insufficient and at 50% below the poverty line. Housing availability remains a pressing issue, as landlords increasingly refuse to rent to asylum seekers, leaving many with limited options. Compounded by delays in accessing welfare support due to administrative barriers, many asylum seekers or newly recognized international protection beneficiaries face extended periods without financial assistance, at risk of homelessness and destitution. This situation has particularly impacted newborns and families of asylum seekers with undecided appeals, leaving them in a precarious position. Asylum seekers with specific needs are altogether excluded from special needs assistance, including disability schemes. Additionally, systemic inefficiencies further complicate access to critical services. Growing reports of xenophobic incidents highlight an urgent need to address discrimination within service delivery systems, which disproportionately affects survivors of GBV, single women, and children, who are often reluctant to report incidents due to fear of further marginalization.
Access to meaningful integration pathways remains limited, especially for young asylum seekers transitioning to adulthood. The absence of targeted support services for individuals aged 18-21 leaves this age group vulnerable to exploitation, emphasizing the need for psychosocial support and peer programs. Survivors of GBV, single women, and unaccompanied children also require specific support, such as safe spaces and legal counseling, to prevent further harm. Additionally, recent changes to national policies and procedural barriers, including on access to naturalization and long-term residence, have significantly strained forcibly displaced persons’ ability to fully integrate into Cypriot society, leading to widespread feelings of exclusion. Effective integration requires coordinated policy reform, community-based support, and resources that address the distinct needs of various groups, particularly those who seek stability and long-term inclusion.


Purpose and Scope of Assignment
     
• Monitor community dynamics and developments affecting the protection environment, providing timely updates to the protection team.
• Coordinate with authorities to ensure vulnerable individuals are referred to appropriate services and assistance.
• Conduct regular follow-ups on cases, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, including single women and children.
• Advocate for the rights and needs of vulnerable persons with authorities and stakeholders.
• Identify individuals at risk and assess their specific protection needs, ensuring targeted interventions.
• Foster collaboration with local civil society and communities to enhance protection efforts for forcibly displaced persons.
• Contribute to community-driven initiatives addressing protection issues such as education, health, and child protection.
• Conduct data collection and analysis for monitoring programs and assessing risks, including an age, gender, and diversity (AGD) perspective.
• Prepare and implement participatory assessments in collaboration with other concerned colleagues, using an AGD perspective, ensuring accountability for affected populations.
• Ensure community awareness of UNHCR’s accountability and quality assurance commitments.
• Maintain accurate records, prepare reports, and handle routine administrative tasks as required.
• Enforce AGD-sensitive approaches in protection interventions and programming.
• Conduct best interest assessments of children and support the Protection Unit in its advocacy with the authorities for the development of comprehensive best interest procedure and child protection system.
• Recommend prioritization of individuals or groups for specific support based on agreed criteria.
• Ensure compliance with protection policies and standards by implementing and operational partners.
• Perform additional duties as needed in support of community protection efforts.


Monitoring and Progress Controls
     
The Senior Protection Assistant will work under the supervision of the Protection Officer of UNHCR. S/he will also maintain close contact with all other relevant staff in the office, and other UNHCR offices as required. S/he will have regular meetings with the supervisor where, among other things, performance issues will be discussed. Given the nature of the assignment, no interim or final report is required. Specific reports relating to the scope of the incumbent’s work may be required by the Protection Officer. 

Qualifications and Experience

Education
     
Completion of secondary education, Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS). Relevant background in Community Development / Social Work, Psychology, Social Science, Political Science, Law, or related fields. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s) or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) in these fields may also be accepted. 


Work Experience

• 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1-year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
• Professional experience in Social Work/Counselling.
• Experience working with vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees.
• Experience working in reception and detention facilities in Cyprus.
• Knowledge of the operational context in Cyprus.


Key Competencies
    
• Computer skills (MS Office applications) 
• Excellent writing/drafting skills 
• Analytical skills: Ability to identify trends and produce relevant and usable information; assesses needs quickly and accurately; offers well-supported recommendations for a course of action. 
• Planning and organizing skills: ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments, respond to competing demands and work under pressure of frequent, multiple and tight deadlines. 
• Inter-personal skills: ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; ability to develop partnership and networks in community development work. 
• Communication skills: Is sensitive, compelling, and clear in formal and informal communication; has well developed listening skills; explains complex matters in a clear and informative way.  
• Client & Result Orientation: Understands and exceeds client needs. Ensures overall provision of quality service to persons of concern. Is sensitive to and responsive to the age, gender and diversity requirements of clients.  
• Stakeholder Management: Builds networks of mutual trust with stakeholders in order to maximize results for people of concern. Effectively engages with stakeholders and collaborates with partners. 
• Political Awareness: Identifies and understands relationships, constraints and pressures affecting others as well as their motivations and objectives; in light of UNHCR's mandate to serve refugees and other forcibly displaced persons.


Candidates must be legally present in Cyprus at the time of application, recruitment, and hire.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

 

Standard Job Description

Senior Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. 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 Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Protection Assistant 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
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
- 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 for PoC as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of GBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in 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.
- Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
- Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
- Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.

- 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
G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential: Not specified.
Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(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.

Required Languages

English

,

Greek

,

Desired Languages

Arabic

,

French

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Education

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No