About this role
Deadline for Applications
August 2, 2026 Grade GS4 Staff Member / Affiliate Type
General Service Reason Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment Hardship Level
E (most hardship) Family Type
Non Family with Residential Location
Danger Pay Residential location (if applicable)
Dakar, Senegal Target Start Date
2026-08-10 Target End Date
2027-02-09 Standard Job Description Protection Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent provides functional and administrative support to the protection unit on protection related liaison, correspondence, monitoring, case management and reporting activities.
The Protection Assistant also supports the protection unit in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to persons of concern (PoC). S/he may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on correspondence and/or protection issues as guided by the supervisor.
The Protection Assistant also facilitates the involvement of PoC 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. - 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. - Support assessments on durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement. - 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). - 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 Years of Experience / Degree Level For G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education Not applicable
Certificates and/or Licenses Protection (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience Essential: Not specified. Desirable: Not specified.
Functional Skills PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework IT-Computer Literacy (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.
Desired Candidate Profile
La/le candidat(e) idéal(e) recherché(e) doit avoir une formation académique et/ou professionnelle en droit, sciences politiques, sciences sociales ou dans un autre domaine connexe pertinent, et être un professionnel de protection expérimenté, doté de solides compétences qui impliquent des capacités de coordination des activités de protection y compris la protection à base communautaire, de suivi et d’accompagnement technique de partenaires de mise en œuvre de projets de protection. Elle/il doit avoir au moins trois (03) années d'expérience pertinente en tant qu’Assistant de Protection sur le terrain dans des contextes d'urgence difficiles et complexes ainsi que dans des situations sécuritaires volatiles. La/le titulaire du poste doit être capable de suivre au quotidien les activités de protection mises en œuvre par les partenariats financés par le HCR sur le terrain et d’assurer le lead dans la production des rapports pertinents du ou des projets sous sa responsabilité. Une bonne connaissance du contexte humanitaire dans les régions de la Tapoa, du Yaadga, du Liptako et du Soum serait un atout. En outre, il/elle devra démontrer de capacités éprouvées de collaboration avec les autorités locales, afin de conduire d’éventuels plaidoyers nécessaires pour faciliter l’implémentation du ou des projets. Elle/il doit avoir de solides compétences en coordination de projets, une solide expérience dans la coordination des activités avec les partenaires et aussi être en mesure de promouvoir le dialogue et les consultations pour renforcer les partenariats. Il /elle devrait être apte à collaborer et avoir des contacts fréquents avec les autres collègues ainsi qu’avec les partenaires. Elle/il doit posséder des compétences en gestion des risques et une bonne compréhension des politiques interagences de l'ONU, d'excellentes compétences interpersonnelles et de communication travaillant avec les équipes multifonctionnelles, les parties prenantes externes, telles que les partenaires financés par le HCR, les partenaires opérationnels, les services décentralisés et déconcentrés de l’Etat sur les questions liées aux partenariats et dans le contexte du renforcement des capacités des partenaires et du personnel national. Le titulaire du poste devra être au fait de tous les aspects de protection et des partenariats, conformément aux principes de partenariat, au code de conduite, aux règles de protection, politiques et réglementations de l'ONU et du HCR, ainsi qu'à d'autres documents pertinents relatifs à la protection des personnes déplacées de force, des personnes retournées et des communautés hôtes vulnérables. Une expérience supplémentaire dans le monitoring de protection, la lutte contre les violences basées sur le genre dans le contexte actuel et dans le suivi de projets financés par le CERF, serait un atout. Functional Clearance
This position doesn't require a functional clearance Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)
French, ,
Desired languages
, ,
Additional Qualifications
Skills IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and FrameworkEducation Certifications HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCRWork Experience
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