Protection Assistant

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNUNV National

Target Start Date2025-08-01

Deadline for ApplicationsJuly 11, 2025

Terms of ReferenceAssignment context:
In September 2024, building on the previous experience with the issuance of Humanitarian Visas for Afghan nationals, Brazil launched a new initiative of community sponsorship for Afghans – the “Resettlement, Admission, and Humanitarian Reception Program through Coplementary Pathways and Community Sponsorship for Afghan Nationals”.
The initiative aims to (i) improve access to protection and provide better conditions for local integration of Afghans, (ii) promote greater coordination between the actors involved in the reception arrangements, (iii) ensure better use of resources, and (iv) provide parameters for civil society organizations involved in the initiative. A call for applications was issued in October 2024, for civil society organizations interested in joining the community sponsorship programme. Selected organizations will be accredited to receive at least 700 new arrivals of Afghans already expected in 2025. The government of Brazil will accept project proposals from interested sponsors on a rolling basis throughout 2025, so that these numbers are expected to increase.
UNHCR has already started to work with the Brazilian authorities to provide technical assistance and capacity building to all actors involved in the community sponsorship. This has been done through technical support to the establishment of the programme, through the outreach and capacity building of civil society organizations who are interested in becoming sponsors, and through the development of specific operating procedures and guidelines for the identification and referral of individuals by UNHCR.

The position is part of the Field Office São Paulo unit and is directed supervised by the Durable Solutions Unit of the Office. The incumbent will support the office in providing support to the protection component of UNHCR’s support to Brazil’s community sponsorship programme for Afghan nationals within the São Paulo Office Area of Responsibility.

Task description:
Within the framework of delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of Office Field Office and/or his/her designated representative, the UN Volunteer will carry out the following tasks:

- Provide support on protection issues to refugees and other persons in need of international protection; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Assistance in the gathering of preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions, and social needs assessment.
- 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 for refugees and other persons in need of international protection as part of the protection strategy.
- Contribute to a country-level plan for indigenous refugees and other persons in need of international protection.
- Together with partners, Refugee-Led Organizations, refugees and other persons in need of international protection, identify needs concerning informative material for the provision of timely and accurate information to displaced persons and support its development and distribution.
- Foster the development and empowerment of refugee-led organizations and implement jointly activities for the benefit of refugees and other persons in need of international protection.
- Support the development and implementation of community-based protection strategies to strengthen the protection of refugees and other persons in need of international protection.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies regarding Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, including through capacity-building sessions and the development of informative material.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of GBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for refugees and other persons in need of international protection in 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.
- Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
- Support on the selection of refugees and other persons in need of international protection for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
- Support organization and participate in workshops, training programmes, monitoring visits and working groups with regards to protection of refugees and other persons in need of international protection.
- Provide support to ensure partnership agreements are implemented in a timely manner, are regularly monitored and reported on in accordance with established guidelines and procedures including in the framework for implementation with partners.
- In coordination with implementing partners, support and promote the implementation of initiatives aiming to ensure the protection of forcibly displaced persons.
- Draft routine documents, contribute to assessments, and participate in inter-agency meetings.
- Participate in the enforcement of integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.
- Perform other related duties as required.
In addition to the above, UN Volunteers are encouraged to join the mandate of UNV within the framework of its assignment and promote voluntary action through integration into communities in the development of your work.

As such, UN Volunteers must dedicate part of your work time to one of the following activities recommended:
• Strengthen your knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteering by reading relevant publications from both the UNV program and external, as well as playing an active role in the UNV activities (e.g. at UNV events)
commemoration of International Volunteer Day);
• Know and develop traditional and/or local forms of volunteering in the host country;
• Provide annual and assignment self-assessment reports on UNV actions, results and opportunities;
• Contribute articles/reviews of your experiences in the field and submit them to headquarters for inclusion on the website, publications, pamphlets/newsletters, press releases, etc. of UNV; • Help with the Buddy Program for new Youth Volunteers the UN;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of the Volunteering service in UNV line or promote the use of the service to individuals and relevant local organizations where technically possible.

Required education: Bachelor degree or equivalent

Area(s) of specialization (education): Social Assistance, Psychology, Business Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Laws.

Required experience: 3 years of relevant work experience

Required skills and experience:
Essential:
- Experience related to the protection of refugees and/or persons in need of international protection.
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Desirable:
- Good knowledge of the Brazilian public services and their functioning.

Languages: Fluency in English and Portuguese are required.
Fluency in Spanish is desirable.

Competencies and values: (the list below is indicative and the host entity has to adapt it based on its organizational values)
• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Communication
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management
• Team work
• Time management

The assignment will be in São Paulo, capital of São Paulo State. São Paulo is a family duty station and classified A (hardship). The living conditions in São Paulo are good as well as the access to health services. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance.

Additional information regarding the selection process, position, and working conditions will only be made available to pre-selected candidates. Information on entitlements at the duty station is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.
https://www.unv.org/.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status.

In the selection process for this UNV position, UNHCR aims to hire candidates from groups still underrepresented in its workforce in Brazil, namely black people, indigenous people, transgender persons and persons with disabilities. Refugees of all nationalities, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other status are highly encouraged to apply. Candidates will be treated equally regardless of their social status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity’s policy

Standard Job Description

Required Languages English

,Portuguese

,

Desired Languages Spanish

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

RemoteNo