Deadline for Applications
December 8, 2025
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
U (unclassified)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
No designation
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
CONS Local
2025-11-20
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Title: Protection Associate
Project: UNHCR Rwanda/2025/E12925
Duty station: Rubavu Field Unit, Rwanda
Section/Unit: Protection Unit/UNHCR Rwanda
ICA Level: LICA 6 (UNOPS), Corresponding level: G6
Duration: from November 2025 to December 2026 (renewable)
Supervisor: Associate Protection Officer, P2
General Background
The Government of Rwanda (GoR), through the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE), leads the national refugee response in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR Representation in Rwanda comprises a Branch Office in Kigali and Field Offices (FOs) in Huye, Karongi, and Kirehe.
FO Karongi is responsible for overseeing Kiziba Refugee Camp, Nkamira Transit Centre—which hosts asylum seekers from the DRC—as well as two additional transit centres, Nyarushishi and Kijote, which receives and accommodate Rwandan returnees from the DRC.
Established in 1996, Kiziba is the oldest refugee camp in Rwanda. The camp hosts protracted caseload of refugees from the DRC and currently has a population of about 14,109.
The camp is the most context-sensitive in Rwanda’s operation and therefore needs well-informed personnel with adequate experience in the same or similar operational context ready to manage the expectations of the population on resettlement which is the only most preferable durable solution to the plight of the persons of concern in Kiziba camp.
The government of Rwanda is a party to the 1951 convention and other important human rights convention and offers international protection to refugees and asylum seekers present on its territory including those in Kiziba and Karongi area of responsibility. The refugee situation in Rwanda has largely been a protracted one, but recently, increasing instability in Eastern DRC during the latter part of 2022 and early 2023 has forced people to flee across the border to Rwanda. As of end of September 2023, around 15,000 new arrivals have been recorded. At the policy level, Rwanda gives utmost importance to refugee inclusion into national services such as education, health, socio-economic and financial services (including access to investment & bank accounts). Explicitly, Article 18 of the Law n°13ter/ 2014 of 21/05/2014 relating to refugees stipulates that "without prejudice to other laws, any person having obtained refugee status in Rwanda shall enjoy the rights and liberties provided for by international instruments on refugees ratified by Rwanda.
There is a gradual shift from a humanitarian approach to a developmental focus in the Rwandan refugee response, with emphasis on sustainable livelihoods and social cohesion (Humanitarian, Development and Peace nexus). UNHCR further strengthens its advocacy with partners and assists refugees to become more self-reliant with targeted assistance and an increased number of livelihood projects, including access to training, cash grants, and technical expertise, as well as establishing strategic partnerships with Development actors, UN agencies and private sector. UNHCR current protection activities provided to refugees, displaced communities and stateless persons include Registration, Refugee Status Determination, Resettlement and Durable Solutions, while assistance is primarily focusing on life-saving activities such as health, education, livelihoods, and community development/empowerment. With resettlement being the main durable solution for Congolese refugees, it has become challenging to manage expectations in resettlement, and attempted fraud cases are being identified and managed. Domestic violence within families have been reported, all linked to resettlement expectations. The refugee communities were most often unwilling to develop their capacities/potentials, due to concerns of losing resettlement opportunities. This dynamic has shifted with recent limited allocated slots for resettlement, and refugees are willing to engage in self-reliance activities, and there is need for Karongi office to accompany these changes in mindset.
Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The Protection Associate reports to the Associate 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 refugees, displaced and stateless persons 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 the communities we serve 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 partners.
Under the direct supervision of the Associate Protection Officer, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks:
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 refugees, displaced communities and stateless persons.
Provide advice on protection issues to the people we serve; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for the people we serve.
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 the people we serve 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 the people we serve 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 the people we serve 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.
Submit individual payments request for the people we serve for approval.
Provide logistics and administrative support to voluntary repatriation border-crossing/return movements.
Assist in monitoring the implementation of the voluntary return operation through consultations, regular field visits and monitoring tools.
Gather and enter data related to return movements and conditions in areas of return and accordingly advise the protection/programme units, as appropriate.
Assess the specific needs of vulnerable categories of returnees during return movements and advise on responses.
Draft and submit reports relating to voluntary repatriation.
Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
The performance of the incumbent will be assessed through regular feedback from the supervisor and periodic reviews. Key performance indicators will include the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of registration and verification data, statistical reporting, and documentation, as well as the efficiency of registration processes and compliance with established standard operating procedures. The incumbent is also expected to consistently uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity in the delivery of duties.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable for performing their responsibilities as outlined in their job descriptions and within their delegated authorities, in line with the UNHCR regulatory framework. This framework comprises the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions, and other accountability mechanisms. In fulfilling these obligations, the incumbent must demonstrate alignment with UNHCR’s core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and contribute to a safe, inclusive, and respectful working environment that ensures protection principles are consistently applied.
4. Qualifications and Experience
Education, Certificates, and/or Licenses
Education: 3 years relevant experience with a High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with a Bachelor's or equivalent or higher.
Field(s) of Education: International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights, International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology, International Law, or other relevant field.
Work Experience
Years of Experience: 3 years relevant experience with a High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with a Bachelor's or equivalent or higher.
Relevant Job Experience: Essential (Experience in working with UNHCR in protection and solutions), Desirable (Training in basic principles of international protection, Protection Learning Programme).
Functional Skills:
IT-Computer Literacy*
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
EX-Experience in an international organization (United Nations or similar)
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirement
Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda, and a very good working knowledge of regional languages. Knowledge of French will be an added advantage.
Key Competencies
Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Technological Awareness
Planning and Organizing
Managerial Competencies
Judgement and Decision Making
Cross-Functional Competencies
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
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.
Standard Job Description
Required Languages
,
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Other information
This position doesn't require a functional clearance
Remote
No