UN Youth Volunteer in Protection

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).

As of September 2024, Bangladesh hosts 1 million Rohingya refugees, 52% of whom are female, and 52% of whom are under the age of 18 in 33 extremely congested camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar, and 35,510 reside on Bhasan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal, 60 km from the Bangladesh mainland. The escalation of the conflict in Northern Rakhine State since November 2023, has brought new arrivals to the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and complex protection challenges, including security and impacts on the civilian character of the camps. The Interim Government of Bangladesh has made two important decisions at the end of 2024 which result in allowing biometric identification for assistance and safer shelters in the camps. It is also considering how its policy that voluntary repatriation is the only durable solution can be applied when the territory of Rakhine State is currently under the control of the Arakan Army.

In order to carry out this work, the UN Volunteer will be properly trained both formally, through available workshops, seminars, e-Learning platforms; and informally through on-the-job training, intensive coaching/mentoring, shadowing other colleagues to familiarize his/herself with the relevant global and local policy and procedures related to Protection activities.

The UN Volunteer will be closely supervised by both senior and middle level management within the unit and it is expected that within a few months s/he will have the necessary skills to carry out many of the daily tasks with limited guidance.

Under the direct supervision of Senior Protection Officer , the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Learn how to contribute to legal and policy analysis on refugee protection and durable solutions
• Supporting engagement with government, United Nations, Humanitarian Partners, Refugee communities and civil society stakeholders
• As part of a team support the further development of protection and durable solutions strategies, related advocacy and interventions