Community-Based Protection Assistant-Tunis

Details

Mission and objectives

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, works to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees all over the world. UNHCR’s purpose is to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge from war and persecution. UNHCR also protects stateless people.

Context

This volunteering opportunity is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Tunisia in the framework of the initiative launched in partnership with UNV in December 2023 to foster youth and disability inclusion through meaningful and impactful volunteering assignments with the United Nations between 2024 and 2026.
UNHCR Tunisia provides protection and assistance, and facilitates access to durable solutions, for nearly 15 000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Tunisia originating from 48 different nationalities with the majority being from Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ethiopia and a range of other countries from across the region. UNHCR Has two offics in Tunisia, its country office in Tunis and a Field office in Zarzis.
Based on principles of age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming, UNHCR works and with the community at large to enhance the protection space by strengthening their skills and capacities in order to respond to their needs. In line with principles of age, gender and diversity mainstreaming, the active participation of refugees and asylum seekers in developing activities and programs is essential. The UN Volunteer will work jointly with UNHCR and partners to strengthen communication with communities and reception capacity of UNHCR . S/he will be part of the protection unit within the Tunisia operation.

Task description

Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with partners and other stakeholders, the incumbent works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. S/he supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the incumbent is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern and must showcase commitment towards UNHCR mandate. The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent
Under the direct supervision of the protection officer or Associate protection officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
– Support UNHCR Protection staff in the communications with communities to improve dissemination of accurate and relevant information and reception of structured feed-back.
– Support participatory assessments and ongoing consultation with PoC.
– Support reception activities including through Identification of individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
– Perform other related duties as required.