Protection Assistant - UNOPS LICA-4

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)FamilyUNOPS LICA42025-02-04January 29, 2025IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

This position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Only Mexicans or candidates holding a permanent residency or valid work permit in México will be considered eligible (attach the corresponding document in the application).

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might/could include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

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

This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 31/12/2025 with possibility of extension.

Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations. UNHCR also offers comprehensive medical insurance and pension plans.

1. General Background
(Brief description of the national, sector-specific or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations 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 also has a mandate to help stateless people.

Mexico is a country of destination, transit, and origin, thus UNHCR is supporting the Government and other actors to build a stronger asylum system that allows asylum seekers and refugees to fully exercise their human rights, from the moment of entry into Mexico, to when a durable solution is found. However, it is crucial to work on alternative migratory pathways and other forms of complementary protection to preserve the integrity of the asylum system in such a complex and dynamic context of human mobility. Such dynamics particularly affects refugees and asylum seekers with specific protection needs due to the interaction of different factors related to their profiles, their journey and the conditions in their country of origin.

Over recent years, Mexico has evolved from being a country predominantly of origin and transit for many refugees and asylum-seekers, to also being a country of destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking international protection from within the region and beyond. The exponential growth in the number of asylum applications in Mexico, which reached a historical record of over 130,000 in 2021 and 118,478 in 2022, has posed multiple challenges to its asylum system and to durable solutions, which has already been strained over the past years.

UNHCR Mexico has progressively strengthened its protection response, including registration procedures in proGres, robust case management and identity systems to provide the required protection services, cash-based assistance -when applicable- and other forms of humanitarian assistance, legal and psychosocial interventions, as well as the establishment of community protection networks. The increasing numbers of asylum seekers in Mexico and, therefore of UNHCR assistance, require a solid capacity to provide timely and effective registration procedures and referral pathways to appropriate services in all Field Offices, as well as together with key partners.
The Protection Assistant is a member of the protection team in Juarez and is supervised by the Associate Protection Officer. The incumbent is responsible for supporting all protection activities within AoR that consist -but are not limited to-: (i) registration, which may also include functions related to reception, filing and data management; (ii) liaise with partners to ensure timely identification and referral of persons of concern for protection follow up; (iii) providing legal and basic material assistance and information to refugees and asylum-seekers, through local partners and ensuring access to a fair and efficient refugee status determination (RSD) procedure, including those in detention and (iv) promoting livelihoods and local integration.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks, and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)

Under the direct supervision of the Associate Protection Officer, the Protection Assistant will carry out the following tasks:

• Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards, and codes of conduct.
• Observe and respect protection related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Provide functional and administrative support in all protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
• Provide functional and administrative support in implementing participatory approaches, needs assessments, monitoring, reporting and case management.
• Facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents.
• Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
• Assist visits to migratory detention facilities to provide information about asylum process in Mexico.
• Support Protection Monitoring activities in shelters and strategic border points.
• Conduct registration interviews in accordance with local SOPs and registration standards.
• Respond to queries from asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR´s registration procedures and their rights and entitlements.
• Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all individual registration cases.
• Identify persons with specific needs and ensure timely referral to protection follow-up as required.
• Collaborate with protection staff and/ or partners in the delivery of assistance and programming, including provision of identity and entitlement documentation.
• Refer cases to other units within the office and to implementing partners as necessary.
• Perform other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)

• Stronger knowledge about refugee protection, with special emphasis on International Refugee Law, through trainings and presentations provided to authorities and civil society.
• All cases that need follow up are provided the needed legal and basic assistance within the limitations of UNHCR.
• Good coordination amongst legal aid and humanitarian and development actors.
• Asylum-seekers, refugees, and migrants properly informed regarding their rights and obligations, and all given cases receive thorough follow-up.
• Efficient case management in coordination with government partners and stakeholders.
• Progress case registration, ensuring data quality.
• Support tasks aimed at strengthening the multi-service center.
• Strengthened capacity-building of actors -governmental, NGOs, civil society- working with asylum-seekers, refugees, and migrants to better detect and inform potential asylum seekers.
• As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions.
• 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 must discharge their responsibilities consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.
• Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise, and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
     
• Completed high school or its equivalent with certificate / training in International Relations, Law, Social Sciences, Psychology, Political Science, Communication, or other related area.
• Advanced command of spoken and written English language (Writing skills in Spanish and English).

b. Work Experience
(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)
     
• Minimum 1 year of experience relevant to the functions.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations.
• Experience with the refugee population and with data collection.
• Desible experience with local integration of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people.
c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
     
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No