Protection Assistant

The international obligations of Turkey and its national legislative framework on asylum have shaped the form of the current collaboration with UNHCR. During the last 54 years, UNHCR and Turkey have been working together in close partnership. Turkey has provided the asylum space for persons seeking refuge, and UNHCR has assisted Turkey to determine who is in need of international protection and to enable access to rights by these persons, including access to justice. As the main partner of the Turkish State in the field of international protection, UNHCR Turkey continues to cooperate with the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (UTBA), the Justice Academy of Turkey (JAT) and other national institutions to enhance institutional capacity-development in the field of refugee protection.

UNHCR in Turkey also intervenes to strengthen access to justice by persons of concern through conducting technical assistance and capacity development activities for legal actors, in a way to include lawyers, judges, prosecutors, interns, I/NGOs, national and local authorities. Access to justice is consisted of enabling access to various rights, such as, inter alia, legal aid, legal assistance, interpretation, and access to courts.

The international obligations of Türkiye and its national legislative framework on asylum have shaped the form of the current collaboration with UNHCR. During the last 54 years, UNHCR and Türkiye have been working together in close partnership. Türkiye has provided the asylum space for persons seeking refuge, and UNHCR has assisted Türkiye to determine who is in need of international protection and to enable access to rights by these persons. As the main partner of the Turkish State in the field of international protection, UNHCR Türkiye continues to provide legislative and technical support as well as institutional capacity building support to the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) and other national institutions.

UNHCR in Türkiye also cooperates with the national institutions and civil society to strengthen the protection environment and access to social support mechanisms, endeavors to find durable solutions and provides support to the Turkish asylum authority, i.e. PMM (Presidency of Migration Management) in the implementation of national status determination procedures.

Based on the national legislation, i.e. the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, PMM conducts adjudication of international protection applications, and in this context UNHCR provides direct operational support, capacity development and technical advice to Turkish authorities to reinforce the national asylum system and RSD processing.

Please note that there is a possibility of extension depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance; however, there is no guarantee of assignment extension.

Under the delegated authority and supervision of a Senior Protection Assistant, with overall guidance from an Assistant Protection Officer and general oversight by the Head of Office, the national UNV Protection Assistant will perform the following tasks:
• Consistently apply international and national laws, as well as applicable UN/UNHCR and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) policies, standards, and codes of conduct.
• Evaluate the needs and vulnerabilities of cases referred to the AFU Protection Team. Conduct counseling interventions and referrals to related partners, sub-partners, and UNHCR units based on the identified needs and vulnerabilities. Follow up on interventions conducted by third parties and monitor updates in the needs of related cases. Finalize resolved cases and report observed irregularities and emergencies to the AFU Team. Provide weekly reports on AFU Protection Team activities.
• Maintain accurate and consistent records of individual protection cases referred to AFU, including:
- Recording basic biodata, referral sources, referral dates, required interventions, actions taken by AFU and other units, periodic progress updates, and case conclusions in the unit's database.
- Identifying solutions, coordinating with partners to implement those solutions, following up, and reporting on case progress.
- Proposing recommendations to UNHCR in consultation with the Head of AFU, team leaders, and field assistants.
• Prepare a weekly follow-up list, outlining cases to be monitored, interviews to be conducted, and actions to be taken. Provide guidance to the outreach team on follow-up activities.
• Actively follow up on cases, including:
- Providing information and support to partners and other UNHCR units throughout the case management process.
- Suggesting solutions for cases, requesting updates, and taking further actions as needed.
- Adding cases to the PDU Tool (Turan Core) for issues related to registration, city transfers, and HI reactivation for individuals unable to access services.
• Contribute to reporting processes, including:
- Preparing the AFU Weekly Update and 3RP reports.
- Drafting reports on provincial dynamics and challenges identified through case follow-ups for the information and planning of supervisors and relevant UNHCR units.
• Participate in trainings, workshops, and meetings, supporting the unit through notetaking and reporting.
• Translate materials as required.
• Perform other duties as required.



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, 5th of December).
- 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 (for instance at https://vra.unv.org),
- Contribute articles/wrjte-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.