Protection Assistant Vacancy Job Ref: VACUNHCR1175-41

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.

The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary objective 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 opportunity to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Since 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Mauritania, in collaboration with the Mauritanian government, has been providing assistance and protection to refugees who have fled armed conflicts in northern Mali to the Mbera camp (Moughata of Bassikounou).

The operation is carried out by its sub-office based in Bassikounou, in partnership with international and national organizations as well as other agencies of the United Nations system. As of 31 January 2024, approximately 104,658 Malian refugees continue to receive humanitarian assistance in several vital sectors: food security, health/nutrition, water, sanitation, shelter and non-food items, education and livelihoods.

UNHCR coordinates its response in the camp and ensures that refugees have access to basic needs and benefit from international protection.

Within the framework of delegated authority and under the supervision of the Protection Officer or his/her designated representative, the UN Volunteer:

• May be required to conduct preliminary interviews of individual cases and report to the Protection Officer.

• Remains fully informed of various political, social, legislative and administrative developments impacting on the daily lives of refugees and other persons of concern.

• Conducts visits to prisons and detention centers to monitor the status of refugees and other persons of concern who are imprisoned/detained.

• Maintains links with site managers and other officials concerned with protection issues, including those in the justice system.

• Assists UNHCR field staff and protection and community protection staff in organizing trainings, workshops and information campaigns to sensitize local authorities and others working with refugees on the rights and obligations of refugees.

• Works in collaboration with field, protection and programme staff to assess the needs of refugees and other persons of concern and to ensure that their needs are met and that their livelihoods are not threatened.

• Assists protection, resettlement and repatriation staff in implementing appropriate durable solutions (repatriation, local integration and resettlement) for refugees; advises refugees on various issues and aspects of durable solutions so that they can make informed decisions.

• Monitors the implementation of UNHCR’s programme, including the distribution of assistance items.

• Assists in monitoring the security and safety situation of refugees and other persons of concern and alerts the Protection Officer and management in cases of violations of refugees’ rights.

• Supports participatory assessments and ongoing consultations with forcibly displaced persons.

• Supports communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.

• Ensures community understanding of UNHCR’s commitment to ensuring accountability and quality assurance in its response.

• Collects data for monitoring programmes and budgets from an AGD (age, gender and diversity) perspective.

• Assists in the application of sensitive and participatory AGD analyses as an essential basis for all UNHCR’s work.

• Identifies and recommends individuals or groups to be prioritized for counselling sessions and field visits based on agreed criteria.

• Compiles monthly statistics and helps maintain an up-to-date database on refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, and prepares periodic reports on their protection/legal concerns.

• Performs other duties as required.

In addition, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the mandate of the UN Volunteers programme into their mission and to promote voluntary action through engagement with communities during their work. As such, UN Volunteers are expected to dedicate part of their working time to some of the following activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteering by reading relevant UNV and external publications and actively participating in UNV activities (e.g. International Volunteer Day events);

• Become familiar with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteering in the host country;

• Provide annual and end-of-mission reports on UN Volunteering actions, results and opportunities;

• Contribute articles/writings on field experiences and submit them to UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

• Assist in the Sponsorship Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;

• Promote or advise local groups on the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV online volunteering service whenever technically feasible.

Expected results/outcomes:

• Contribution to the implementation of UNHCR’s international protection mandate;

• Refugee needs are assessed and met within available resources;

• UNHCR’s programme, including distribution of assistance items, is implemented and monitored;

• The security and safety situation of refugees and other persons of concern is monitored;

• Visits to prisons and detention centers to monitor the status of imprisoned/detained refugees and other persons of concern are conducted;

• Trainings, workshops and information campaigns to sensitize local authorities on the rights and obligations of refugees are organized;

• Monthly statistics and periodic reports on their protection/legal concerns are compiled;

• Preliminary interviews and assessments of individual cases are conducted and submitted;

• Sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) and child protection cases are assessed and handled in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs);

• The AGD (age, gender and diversity) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the mission.

• At least 2 years of prior relevant professional experience with asylum seekers and refugees.

• Good command of UNHCR tools (ProGres).

• Knowledge of international legal affairs relating to asylum, migration or related issues.

• Computer skills (MS Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).

• Fluency in French and Arabic or other local language required.

• Working knowledge of Arabic, English or other local languages ​​desired.

As this is a national level UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own accommodation and other living necessities.

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