Hardship LevelD
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS6
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2025-09-01
Deadline for ApplicationsJuly 31, 2025
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 Operational Context
UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to support States to ensure that everyone forced to flee can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).
In Zambia, UNHCR supports the Government of Zambia to provide an enabling protection environment that allows asylum-seekers, refugees and former refugees to be protected, be self-reliant and achieve durable solutions.
Zambia has adopted a comprehensive refugee response approach, as outlined in the New York Declaration (2016) and the Global Compact on Refugees (2018), which guide the countryโs refugee and asylum response. This framework promotes an all-of-society approach, emphasizing strong investment and international support to address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term socio-economic development solutions for forcibly displaced and local host communities. In fulfilling its mandate, UNHCR proactively pursues and advocates for sustainable responses that not only meet urgent needs but also foster long-term self-reliance and resilience. This approach integrates economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection to ensure present needs are met without compromising the well-being of future generations.
Zambia is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. The country's asylum and refugee response are governed by the Refugees Act of 2017, which provides the legal framework for refugee status determination, rights, and obligations of refugees, as well as their access to protection and assistance in Zambia. In addition, Zambia's National Refugee Policy and its Implementation Plan provide a structured approach to refugee management, promoting self-reliance, inclusion in national systems, and durable solutions in line with international and regional commitments.
In 2025, Zambia will receive a World Bank grant under the IDA 20 Window for Host and Refugee Communities to implementing the Refugee and Host Communities Project to enhance socio-economic opportunities for refugees and host communities. A key focus of the project is harmonizing laws in Zambia to facilitate implementation of the Refugee Policy and to facilitate refugee documentation, access to basic services, and self-reliance. As part of this effort, the project supports the rollout of new national ID cards for refugees across all three refugee-hosting districts, promoting legal recognition and inclusion within national systems.
As of 30 April 2025, Zambia hosts some 110,518 forcibly displaced persons (81,295 refugees; 11,199 asylum seekers and 18,024 former refugees and others of concerns) in three refugee settlements and other urban areas including Lusaka. UNHCR provides technical support and guidance to the Government on policy formulation, asylum and refugee management matters. Most forcibly displaced persons in Zambia are from Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Somalia.
The Government of the republic of Zambia (GRZ) coordinates asylum and refugee management through the office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and in close collaboration with other government departments and the inter- governmental steering committee established for this purpose, with the direct support of UNHCR.
UNHCR in Zambia has three field offices/units (one in Solwezi one in Kawambwa and one in Kaoma) and one Representational Office in Lusaka.
Desired Candidate Profile
The Community-Based Protection Associate must have relevant and demonstrated experience and skills in humanitarian or development work in field settings. The candidate must be experienced and skilled in conducting protection assessments, supporting community development, as a community mobilizer/organizer and counsellor. Experience in working in the fields of child protection and gender-based violence is required.
The candidate must be experienced in collecting, analysing, and reporting on data related to protection gaps and concerns, as well on providing training on community outreach and protection issues to teams and partners.
S/he must have demonstrated experience working in a demanding work environment that requires establishing workplans and systems, following standard procedures and meeting deadlines with quality work. Familiarity with online/digital tools is essential and full computer literacy is required, including the use of Microsoft Excel.
The incumbent must be experienced in collecting, using, and managing data that relates to community-based protection and development actions.
S/he will preferably have experience in organising and coordinating interventions to integrate protection safeguards and solutions approaches tailored to the needs of forcibly displaced populations or other vulnerable/marginalized groups. The incumbent must have demonstrated experience working and negotiating with government authorities and agencies, with non-governmental partners, and development actors. Candidates with prior experience working with forcibly displaced communities and an understanding of related challenges are encouraged to apply.
The incumbent must understand and be able to use risk-based approaches to work, particularly fraud mitigation and prevention. S/he will be required to report suspicions of fraud, exploitation, as well as document suspected or reported incidents of fraud by clients, colleagues, partners, or third parties.
The incumbent must have excellent English communication skills and be an effective and clear communicator both orally and in writing.
The incumbent must be able to demonstrate the ability to make timely and sound decisions in rapidly changing situations, the ability to uphold the highest ethical standards, and the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multiethnic environment. The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced work environment that requires meeting deadlines and high-quality work.
Nature of Position
The Community-Based Protection Associate (G6) works under the supervision of the Associate Durable Solutions Officer and will work in close coordination with the Protection Associate and the Head of Field Office, Kaoma. As part of the Kaoma Field Office Team, the Community-Based Protection Associate supports the office to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection response and interventions. Community-based protection (CBP) puts the capacities, rights and dignity of forcibly displaced and stateless persons at the centre of programming. It generates more effective and sustainable protection and solutions outcomes by strengthening local resources and capacity and identifying protection gaps through regular consultation.
The incumbent will assist UNHCR Field Office Kaoma to support partners, including government agencies such as the Commissioner for Refugees, the Departments of Community Development and Social Services, Education, Health and the Division of Resettlement, to provide effective protection, assistance and solutions for refugees, asylum-seekers and former refugees in the area of the settlement and beyond.
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has, in January 2024, launched a National Refugee Policy and Implementation Plan which includes important commitments towards local long-term solutions for refugees and Angolan and Rwandan former refugees in Zambia. These commitments are further reflected in Zambia's pledges to implement the Global Compact on Refugees during the 2023 Global Refugee Forum. Working in collaboration with a diverse range of partners, particularly government agencies and development actors in Zambia, the Community-Based Protection Associate contributes to UNHCRโs support to the government to implement the Refugee Policy. This includes leveraging UNHCRโs convening capacity to engage new partners, guiding government actions, and fostering collaboration with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including refugee communities and leaders, local municipal authorities, NGOs and civil society.
By focusing on sustainable responses, the Community -Based Protection Associate will contribute to building the resilience of the forcibly displaced and promoting their long-term inclusion in national services and local opportunities.
Specific responsibilities will include identifying the protection risks and solutions obstacles the forcibly displaced population face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families, and communities. This will involve conducting protection assessments, identifying and responding to protection concerns, and providing counselling and support services to communities, highlighting the specific protection and solutions needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
The incumbent will support the implementation of operational interventions, including monitor the protection situation in the field and identify emerging trends and challenges; document protection incidents and concerns; provide individual counselling and support, including to survivors of violence and trauma; refer cases to specialized services as needed, maintain accurate and confidential case records using online digital systems for the management of cases; conduct community outreach activities to raise awareness of rights and obligations; assist in planning and monitoring of programmes and budgets, with an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective; prepare regular reports on protection activities, case studies and statistical data; collaborate with the forcibly displaced and host communities, other UNHCR staff, partner organizations, and government authorities to ensure a coordinated and effective community-based protection response, including in the areas of education, psycho-social health, culture, health, livelihoods, child protection and prevention and response to GBV; build office capacity for community-based protection through training and establishing systems for community mobilization and participation of communities; support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures; act as an interpreter when required; participate in inter-agency coordination meetings; ensure UNHCR and partners compliance with UNHCR protection and related policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of all services; and perform other related duties as required.
The incumbent will also lead efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), support the strengthening of Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) including through training for staff and partners, and support efforts to further enhance outreach counselling initiatives jointly with partners. These initiatives aim to identify vulnerable individuals and maintain safe and accessible points for community members to voice concerns, seek assistance, and provide feedback directly to UNHCR and partners.
The role demands coordination of quality, timely, and effective solutions focussed responses to the needs of forcibly displaced populations but also the integration of protection safeguards across all operational sectors. S/he is expected to monitor and elevate protection standards, operational procedures, and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.
Additionally, the incumbent will contribute significantly to the implementation of the operationโs multi-year strategy, generate awareness of the specific situation of refugees and actively liaise with external authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. The incumbent must be fully conversant with anti-fraud, integrity and accurate identity data management policies, standards and operating procedures to ensure their full application at the operational level.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
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Desired languages
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Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCL-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
CertificationsCommunity Development/Social Work - Other, Development Studies - Other, Human Rights - Other, International Law - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
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Compendium
Additional InformationOnly short-listed candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for written test and/or oral interview.
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance