Deadline for Applications
November 20, 2025
A (least hardship)
Family
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
GS6
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
General Service
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
2025-12-29
Protection Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The incumbent 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 Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.
The Protection Associate also ensures that PoC are involved 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.
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.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
- 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 as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.
- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable
Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified
Desirable
Protection Learning Programme
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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.
Desired Candidate Profile
Operational context:
The UNHCR Representation to Central Asia is based in Almaty and manages the organization’s activities across Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are Parties to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, with national asylum frameworks in place. Turkmenistan remains the only country in the region that is also a State Party to both Statelessness Conventions. Uzbekistan has not yet acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not have an established asylum system but has supported the UPR recommendations to accede to both the Refugee and Statelessness Conventions. Central Asia hosts both convention and mandate refugees.
Given this protection context, UNHCR in Central Asia focuses on strengthening national asylum systems and promoting their national ownership. It also pursues opportunities for the local integration of refugees, advocates for durable solutions for mandate refugees through long-term residency and naturalization, supports efforts to eradicate statelessness, and collaborates with partners to enhance emergency preparedness and response.
There are a number of processes, projects and activities that have been in place and being implemented by National Offices in two countries and direct implementation by MCO in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. MCO supports National Offices when it comes to implementation of the activities, including the legislative drafting and comments on the national legislation related to asylum and statelessness issues, the capacity building activities for the various state authorities involved with the asylum and statelessness issues, the support ( including legal advices) to the partners on individual cases, case- management and as well as the work together with other UN agencies under the UNSDCF framework. The MCO also supports the coordination and implementation of regional activities, including those related to capacity-building and advocacy, as well as initiatives under the Global Refugee Forum and the Almaty Process. In addition, the MCO coordinates with National Offices on data reporting and analysis during the annual and mid-year reporting cycles and facilitates the submission of proposals for funding.
DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE:
Given the operational background in the region, the incumbent is expected to coordinate quality, timely, and effective protection responses to the needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons across Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, while also providing technical and coordination support to colleagues in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as required. S/he will identify opportunities to mainstream protection safeguards across operational sectors and support the implementation of protection activities, providing technical inputs and guidance to colleagues, partners, and government counterparts.
The incumbent will contribute to the review of national legislation and policies in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, monitor states’ compliance with international obligations, and assist in the preparation of confidential comments and analyses to advocate for greater alignment of national laws and practices with international standards. S/he will also provide technical and coordination support to colleagues in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as required, in carrying out related tasks.
The incumbent is expected to have experience in legal work, including legal revision, analysis, counselling, or representation, and in liaising with a broad range of stakeholders, including government institutions, NGOs, UN agencies, international organizations, and academia. Political and organizational awareness are essential to maintaining protection space and supporting the development and implementation of protection strategies.
S/he will contribute to designing a comprehensive protection strategy, liaise externally with authorities and partners on protection policy issues as guided by the supervisor, and support activities related to the identification, prevention, and reduction of statelessness.
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.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting assessments of protection needs for PoC.
- 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 as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Essential, desirable qualifications and required competencies:
Education/Degree: Bachelor’s degree in law, International law, Social Sciences, Political Science or other relevant field.
Relevant experience and demonstrated interest in:
- International human rights protection, refugee law, citizenship law and/or statelessness.
- Ability to plan and organize work assignments, often under close deadlines.
- Ability to deal with multiple tasks with speed, in a courteous and service-oriented manner.
- Attention to detail, effective time management
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint essential), AI tools.
- Ability to work well in a team environment as well as independently and manage own work related to multiple tasks and activities.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
Russian
,
English
,
Kazakh
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
Skills
IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
Certifications
International Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Competencies
Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Additional Information
This position doesn't require a functional clearance