Senior Protection Assistant – G5 – Hr347 - Tripoli

2.1 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT. Define the role of the position within the team, describing its leadership role, if any, it’s external/internal work relationships or contacts, the contextual environment in which it operates and the scope of supervision received, and where applicable, exercised by the incumbent. As of December 2014, Lebanon hosted more than 1.1 million registered refugees from Syria. The Syrian refugee population in Lebanon is the largest in the world and also represents a significant percentage of Lebanon’s total population.   There are no approved camps and refugees are found across more than 1,700 locations all over the country. Based on the last UNHCR shelter survey, some 57% of refugees rent basic apartments or homes; many are overcrowded with several refugee families sharing limited space. Over 40% live in sub-standard and insecure conditions in makeshift shelters, tents, unfinished buildings, garages, warehouses and worksites. Ensuring access to basic services is a constant challenge. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response in Lebanon, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field to support the Government. The structure brings together 11 UN agencies, 51 national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. Moving forward, partners are making significant efforts to ensure that available resources reach the most vulnerable including through the targeting of assistance across all sectors and new programming efficiencies such as the introduction of cash assistance. UNHCR also continues to integrate direct support to government institutions and communities most impacted by the refugee influx into its programming to help facilitate continued social cohesion and receptivity towards refugees. The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to the Associate Protection Officer or the Protection Officer.  He/she monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff. The Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. He/she contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor. The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that persons of concern are involved with the Office 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.  2.2 FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT. Describe the accountabilities, responsibilities and authorities associated with the position. Accountability (key results that will be achieved) -         The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles. -         Protection activities are guided by the UNHCR country protection strategy. -         The participation of persons of concern is facilitated through supporting participatory, rights and community based approaches. -         Support is provided to identify and report protection incidents.   Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results) -         Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.  -         Provide counselling on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. -         Coordinate interventions on evictions to ensure housing land and property rights are enhanced -         Support activities in protection related to social cohesion -         Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. -         Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment. -         Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. -          Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy. -         Contribute to a country-level education plan for persons of concern as part of the protection strategy.  -         Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. -         Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents. -         Assist in identifying durable solutions for persons of concern in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement. -         Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. -         Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics for the protection unit / section. -         Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.   Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results) -         Select persons of concern for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share. -         Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.