UNHCR Assistant Protection Officer - Jobs in Ethiopia

UNHCR Assistant Protection Officer - Jobs in Ethiopia

Organizational Context

Ethiopia has a long-standing history of hosting refugees and continues to be a safe haven for over 680,861 refugees who fled their home. The Government of Ethiopia provides protection to refugees from some 20 countries, with the majority originating from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan respectively.

The Government of Ethiopia maintains an open-door policy for refugee inflows into the country. In close cooperation with UNHCR, it allows humanitarian access and protection to those seeking asylum on its territory.

On 19 September 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants, calling for greater burden sharing by the international community to support the world’s largest refugee hosting states.

A day after the adoption of the New York Declaration, the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees was held. On that event, the Government of Ethiopia made nine Pledges to provide more opportunities for refugees in the country such as employment, documentation, local integration and access to services in a spirit of global solidarity and in line with the fundamental principles of international refugee law and human rights.

The successful implementation of the pledges and the CRRF required a favourable policy and legal framework. As a result, the House of People’s Representative repealed the previous refugee Proc.

No. 409/2004 with the New Refugee Proclamation, Proc. No. 1110/2019. Further, Ethiopia is a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and its 1967 Protocol and the 1969 OAU Convention.

Thus, refugee protection in Ethiopia is provided within the framework of these international and national refuge laws as well as the core international human rights treaties that have been ratified by the country.

In addition, the Government of Ethiopia has taken the task of preparing the National Comprehensive Refugee Response Strategy that has a ten-year time frame within which it foresees to make significant progress towards transforming the lives of refugees and host communities.

The strategy will be followed by the preparation of National Action plans, National Implementation Guidelines followed by Regional Action Plans and Guidelines curtailed to the context of each Regional States.

The strategy and accompanying action plan and guidelines shall be the documents that will guide refugee protection and assistance for the coming ten years in Ethiopia.

Against this background, UNHCR is hiring Protection Associate with the dedicated role of supporting the proper implementation of the New Refugee Proclamation and the National Comprehensive Refugee Response Strategy with the view of mainstreaming the Global Compact on Refugees in protection activities.

Accountability

The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.

The protection strategy incorporates a thorough age, gender, diversity (AGD) analysis and reflects the organization’s global, regional and country level priorities.

The participation of persons of concern is assumed through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community-based approaches.

Responsibility

Under the supervision of the Protection/Legal Officer, the Protection Associate (Legal) will undertake the following activities:

Stay abreast of political, social, economic, and cultural developments that have an impact on protection within the new context of Global Compact on Refugees.

Consistently apply International and National Laws and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.

Assist in reviewing and preparation of strategies, legal and policy documents.

To conduct research on different legal issues and on any other protection related thematic areas that have an implication on persons of concern.

Support activities towards fostering increased refugee inclusion in national systems and on the Development-Humanitarian Nexis related to refugee inclusion and self-reliance projects by focusing on legal issues.

Support the Government by providing detailed technical protection and legal support on the development of subsequent legislations to the Refugee Proclamation in the form of either regulation or directives.

Contribute to strengthening the legal and protection capacity of ARRA, including its engagement with the World Bank Economic Opportunities Program.

To assist and contribute to the different surveys, assessments and studies that are conducted with the view of mainstreaming the Global Compact on Refugees and the pledges made by the Government of Ethiopia.

Assist the legal team on mixed migration, statelessness, alternate to camps and access to justice.

Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.

Assist in identifying durable solutions for persons of concern in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.

Support in drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protection guidelines for all protection/solutions activities.

Perform other duties as required.

Authority

Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level

Contribute to draft strategies, policies, action plans, guidelines, SOPs, legal and other documents.

Assist in the development of GCR/CRRF and protection related project proposals and project implementation.

Facilitate training workshops on policies, laws, guidelines related to protection and Global Compact on Refugees.

Ensure appropriate dissemination of legal/protection related strategies, laws and policies within the protection unit of UNHCR; participate in training activities and workshops.

Essential Minimum Qualification and Professional Experience Required

Education: University degree in Law or related field

Minimum of 1 year of professional experience

Excellent policy and legal research, analytical and drafting skill

Excellent knowledge of English and local language is essential

Excellent computer skills, including Excel, Word and Power Point

Strong communication and facilitation skills

Submission of Applications

This vacancy is open for qualified Ethiopians only.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Important

Applicants who wish to be considered for this position should send a motivation letter the P11 Form and or the most recent fact sheet through the online application system.

Candidates may be required to sit for a test.

Due to the volume of applications only short-listed candidates will be invited for interview.

UNHCR Assistant Protection Officer - Jobs in Ethiopia