Community-Based Protection Assistant ( 2 Positions) – G4 – MTL162 / MTL163 – UNOPS Contracts - Mount Lebanon

General Background

The Government of Lebanon (GoL) estimates the total number of Syrian refugees at 1.5 million, of which close to one million are registered as refugees by UNHCR.  Lebanon is also host to around 16,000 refugees of other nationalities, in addition to the Palestinian refugees. This makes Lebanon the highest refugee-hosting country per capita in the world. There are no approved camps in the country and refugees are living in over 2,000 localities. The presence of such a large refugee population, in a small country that is struggling to maintain its own delicate balance and regain its pre-crisis economic growth, is seen as affecting the social stability in many municipalities. Pressure on infrastructure and services, competition over jobs and other factors are trying the patience and hospitality of the host community. At the same time, refugees are facing a multitude of protection problems in their daily lives due to factors such as restricted access to legal stay and documentation, and limited opportunities to work and become self-reliant coupled with insufficient assistance to meet all of their essential needs, which increases risks of exploitation and other harm. Moreover, COVID-19 further compounded the situation for most people living in Lebanon. 

To prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19, the GOL, since February 2020, put in place several interventions such as lockdowns, curfews, mandatory masks in public and mass communication campaigns. This is being done by GOL through the Ministry of Public Health, in coordination with UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR, IOM, relevant government ministries, DRM, municipalities, NGOs, CSOs and academic institutions, among others, under the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Taskforce (RCCE) for COVID-19. UNHCR Lebanon has been supporting national efforts through several mass information, public information, community engagement and public health activities. This includes equipping ICU units at hospitals, training refugees and Lebanese to produce facemasks and soaps and mobilizing refugees with health backgrounds to visit informal settlements and collective shelters. In early 2021, Lebanon began receiving batches of the COVID-19 vaccine and put in place platforms and systems for persons to register and receive the vaccine. In March 2021, UNHCR Lebanon initiated a plan to increase refugee access to information on the vaccine and remove barriers to their registration (lack access to internet, computer literacy, disability, etc.). This entailed sharing information through community structures and social media platforms on where to register and mobilizing volunteers and UNHCR/partner staff to support older persons and others to register on the online vaccination platform. The Community-Based Protection Assistant is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO 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. Mount Lebanon Sub-Office has been supporting the vaccine enrolment outreach activities, including support with registration on the IMPACT Platform at the Reception Center. Refugees are having difficulties with the platform – both navigation of the platform and reading the code (in English) – and will continue to need support. The Community-Based Protection Assistant will support UNHCR interventions that aim to build the capacity of refugees and host communities to prevent and respond to COVID-19 and support refugees to register on the online vaccination platform. 

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Through relationships with persons of concerns (POCs) and network of Partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment, including around the COVID-19 situation, and provide advice to the protection/community-based protection (CBP) team.  

Provide individual and group counselling on Covid -19 vaccination

Distribute leaflets and other types of information, education and communication materials as well as facilitate the access to and understanding of information.

Conduct outreach activities including community mobilization and sensitization related to COVID-19 vaccines.

Support refugee to register on the platform

Follow up with Partners supporting vaccination registration and provide technical support as needed

Identify refugees with specific needs who may need more support to reach the vaccination centres

Follow up on the 2nd dose appointments, especially for refugees with specific needs

Draft and type routine correspondence, documents and reports and maintain up-to-date filing systems

Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries

Compile periodic reports on vaccination outreach activities.

Perform other related duties as required

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Objective setting at the start of the contract

Workplans with clear tasks and timelines 

Mid-year review and evaluation of objectives on a yearly basis 

Issuing monthly reports related the assigned tasks