Associate Protection Officer

March 29, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

PR2

Junior Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-01

Associate Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff, including community-based protection registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Associate Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that forcibly displaced and stateless persons are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of forcibly displaced and stateless persons. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application through mainstreaming in all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to forcibly displaced and stateless persons; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for forcibly displaced and stateless persons in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy to ensure programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan.
- Implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities which integrate AGD sensitive procedures.
- Oversee and manage individual protection cases, including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of forcibly displaced and stateless persons through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Participate in the organisation and implementation of participatory assessments and methodologies throughout the operations management cycle and promote AGD sensitive programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Promote and integrate community-based approaches to protection and contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Support activities in the area of risk management related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, fraud, case-processing, data protection, and human rights due diligence at country level.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
- Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law, International Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
Desirable
Field experience, including in working directly with communities. Good IT skills including database management skills.

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

This job is advertised in the frame of the JPO Programme.

• Candidates must have an advanced university degree at Master’s level in a study relevant to the advertised position and minimum 2 years relevant work experience after obtaining first university degree.
• In exceptional cases candidates with a Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 4 years relevant working experience can be considered.
• Candidates who have already completed a JPO assignment cannot be considered.
• Maximum age limit is 32 years as of 31 December of the year of application.
• Work experience within the UN system should not exceed 1 year, including UNV, (paid) UN internship and UN consultancy.
• Working knowledge of English.
• The posting is outside the candidates’ country of origin.

Additional requirements for candidates from developing countries:
• Candidates should be nationals of developing countries that appear on the list of eligible countries: eligible-countries-DC-JPOs.pdf
This means that only nationals of the following countries can be considered for this position: Afghanistan, Indonesia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Iraq, Somalia, Benin, Ivory Coast, South-Sudan, Burkina Faso, Jordan, Sudan, Burundi, Kenya, Tunisia, Chad, Lebanon, Uganda, Colombia, Mali, Ukraine, Democratic Rep. Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Niger, Yemen, Ghana, Nigeria, India and Palestinian Territories.
• Substantive parts of the candidates’ academic training (Bachelor and/or Master) must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the list of eligible countries.
For the minimum qualification requirements see the website of Nedworc Foundation: https://nedworcfoundation.nl/junior-professional-officers-programme/
Junior Professional Officer Programme - Nedworc Foundation
Please read the selection criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying

In addition to the above requirements, all candidates should meet several supplementary criteria, such as:
• Be able to show their interest in international development cooperation.
• Preferably have working knowledge of a second official UN language next to English.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

The majority of Egypt is at Security Level 2 (Low) with the exception of the Western Desert (Security Level 3, Moderate) and the North Sinai (Security Level 5, High). UNHCR currently operates only in Low to Moderate security level areas. The security situation is relatively stable; however there have been a number of attacks on security (police and military) forces and on rare occasions religious and tourism sites.  Civil unrest since 2015 is low, there are very rarely large demonstrations or public disorder incidents.  The crime rate in the country is moderate with some incidents particularly in the crowded neighborhoods of large cities (Cairo and Alexandria) such as thefts, burglary and robbery (e.g. bag snatchers especially against females). Sexual harassment against women and girls is high in the country targeting both Egyptian and foreigners. Hazards are the most challenging safety issue.  Road accidents are common in Egypt, due to poor road conditions, dangerous driving and non-enforcement of traffic laws. Fires in apartments are a hazard, with electricity standards low causing electrical fires. Vulnerability to staff is exacerbated by disregard of safety advisories, such as installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in their residences.

Nature of Position:

The Arab Republic of Egypt is a State Party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 Protocol and the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention governing specific aspects of refugee issues in Africa. On 16 December 2024 the Asylum Law for Foreigners No. 164 was enacted, which provides for the creation of the Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs to attend all refugee related matters in Egypt. However, its Executive Regulations have not yet been established, and the Committee has not been appointed. In the absence of a national asylum legislation and system, the functional responsibilities for all aspects of registration, documentation and refugee status determination (RSD) of asylum-seekers and refugees have been delegated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) by virtue of the 1954 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Egypt (GoE). UNHCR is currently working with the GoE, supporting their transition towards a State-led asylum system.

 

As of 24 July 2025, UNHCR has registered 1,015,957 refugees and asylum-seekers from 62 countries. The Sudanese refugee population is the largest, with 751,279 registered individuals (74%), followed by Syrians, Eritreans, Ethiopians, Somali, Yemini, and other nationalities.

 

Following the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan on 15 April 2023, large numbers of civilians have been forced to flee, including people who were already internally displaced because of previous conflicts in Sudan and refugees from other countries who had sought safety in Sudan. Sudan is the largest forced displacement situation in the world, with 14.3 million refugees and IDPs, compared to 8.8 million from Ukraine.  At the same time, given the protection challenges in Egypt and other neighboring countries, Sudan is witnessing a higher number of individuals going back home in adverse circumstances.

 

Syrians represent 13% of the total refugee population in the country, with a total of 128,232 individuals. Following the change of government in Syria on 8 December 2024, there has been a significant increase in Syrians approaching UNHCR in Cairo and Field Office Alexandria to request the closure of their asylum cases in order to return to their country of origin

 

The operational strategy of UNHCR Egypt focuses on responding to immediate protection and humanitarian needs of refugees and asylum-seekers through targeted protection and assistance services. These include the implementation of registration, refugee status determination (RSD) and resettlement procedures, child protection and gender-based violence case management, protection monitoring, legal assistance and advocacy as well as delivery of targeted health, education and cash interventions.

 

Following the adoption of the national asylum law, UNHCR Egypt also focused on asylum capacity development (ACD), including through the preparation and implementation of a transition plan that was shared with the Government of Egypt. Going forward, capacity development of national authorities, the judiciary, and NGOs/civil society will be a key activity of the operation.

 

In light of increasing mixed and onward movements to, through and from Egypt, UNHCR proactively engages with partners, including IOM, implementing the route-based approach (RBA).  Additionally, in terms of its interagency commitments, UNHCR Egypt leads the refugee response, including for the Sudan influx, and chairs/co-chairs the following bodies.

 

In light of organization commitments to Accountability to Affected People (AAP) and Localisation, UNHCR Egypt is in the process of widening and strengthening its communication with affected populations, including through revamping UNHCR’s hotline into an interagency contact centre.

Living and Working Conditions:

• Housing/accommodation: No accommodation provided by UNHCR Office - Hotels and rental houses are available.

• Health care: Wide variety of Private health facilities are available.

• Educational facilities: Bilingual and international schools are available.

• Security: The majority of Egypt is at Security Level 2 (Low) with the exception of the Western Desert (Security Level 3, Moderate) and the North Sinai (Security Level 5, High).

• Other (transports, banks, etc): International banks are available. Transportation, food, furniture and clothing, there is variety of choice withs the costs depending on the preferences of the incumbent.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, MG-Project Management, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance