Community-Based Protection Associate

Deadline for Applications

May 19, 2026

Hardship Level

E (most hardship)

Family Type

Non Family with Residential Location

Residential location (if applicable)

Tunis, Tunisia

Grade

GS6

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-06-01

Standard Job Description

Community-Based Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Community-Based Protection Associate 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 Community-Based Protection Associate works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the Community-Based Protection Associate is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of PoC. The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.

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

• Assist functional units, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection strategy and operational procedures.
• Through relationships with PoC and network of partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
• Work with host communities to identify opportunities for national civil society involvement in improving the protection of PoC.
• Work with implementing and operational partners as well as with displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.
• Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
• Support participatory assessments by multifunctional teams and ongoing consultation with PoC.
• Assist in planning and monitoring of programmes and budgets, with an AGD perspective
• Build office capacity for community-based protection through training and establishing systems for community mobilization and participation of PoC.
• Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
• Ensure community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
• Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
• Contribute to the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR's work.
• Initiate AGD sensitive interventions at the appropriate level on community-based protection issues and to respond to protection concerns and incidents within the office, with external interlocutors, groups and individuals based on agreed parameters.
• Identify and select which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
• Intervene with authorities on protection.
• Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
• Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.
• 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 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

Development, Human Rights, International Law

International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Not specified.

Desirable

UNHCR learning programmes (PLP). Knowledge of MSRP.

Functional Skills

IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

*IT-Computer Literacy

UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

• PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies
• CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
• PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)

TR-Capacity Buidling

(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

The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong experience and skills in conducting protection assessments, supporting community development, and working as a community mobilizer/organizer and counsellor, particularly in the context of the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf. S/he should possess solid experience working in the fields of Community-Based Protection (CBP), Child Protection (CP), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Education, and Youth & Sport, as well as strong knowledge of community-based approaches and protection principles.

S/he should have proven experience in collecting, analyzing, and reporting on data related to protection gaps and concerns, as well as in providing training on community outreach and protection issues to teams and partners. Familiarity with online and digital tools is essential, and full computer literacy is required, including the use of Microsoft Excel. The candidate should demonstrate strong experience in collecting, using, and managing data related to community-based protection and development actions, and in applying this data to inform programming.

The incumbent should have demonstrated experience working in a demanding environment that requires establishing work plans and systems, following standard procedures, and meeting deadlines with high-quality outputs. S/he should preferably have experience in organizing and coordinating interventions to integrate protection safeguards and solutions-oriented approaches tailored to the needs of Sahrawi refugees near Tindouf.

S/he should have strong experience in training and coaching staff on Accountability to Affected Population (AAP), Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), Child protection (CP), and gender equality, including practical experience in conducting FGDs/participatory assessments and establishing and overseeing complaint and feedback mechanisms. The candidate should also have solid field experience in Community-Based Protection programmes, with a specific focus on camp and field settings.

Strong experience in community engagement is required, including managing community-based structures and community-related committees, as well as leading community programmes for refugees. The candidate should also demonstrate experience in coordination and collaboration with UNHCR staff, partners, NGOs, UN agencies, and other stakeholders.

The incumbent must possess excellent English communication skills and be an effective and clear communicator both orally and in writing. S/he should demonstrate the ability to make timely and sound decisions in rapidly changing situations, uphold the highest ethical standards, and work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment. The candidate must be able to perform effectively in a fast-paced work environment that requires meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work, along with a strong understanding and familiarity with the Sahrawi refugee situation.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)

,

,

Desired languages

,

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

Nature of Position

Living and Working Conditions

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies, TR-Capacity Buidling, UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

Education

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work - Other, Development Studies - Other, Human Rights - Other, International Law - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position is advertised internally. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance