Mission and objectivesThe Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate 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 ensure that everyone 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).
ContextThis UNV assignment is part of UNHCRโs response to the Ukraine refugee situation and in this context an increased operational engagement with the relevant national stakeholders in the area of community engagement, community empowerment and community-based protection. The assignment shall contribute to complementing inclusion of refugees from Ukraine, in line with the strategy of the Government of the Czech Republic.
Task DescriptionWithin the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Protection Officer or their designated mandated representative(s), the Protection Assistant will support UNHCR Czechia in its protection, assistance and solutions mandate in support to the government. The Protection Assistant will undertake the following tasks with UNHCR: โข Maintain regular communication with refugees and asylum-seekers in order to gain a better understanding of the refugee population, their concerns and priorities. โข Disseminating information on available services and their providers, on the rights and duties of refugees and asylum-seekers in Czechia, and information on solutions. Utilize diverse communication channels, including through established relations with refugee-led organizations and partners, and deliver informational webinars. โข Provide in-person information and counselling in the Ukrainian language on available services and assistance, including in relation to solutions. โข Provide targeted help to vulnerable individuals and refer individual cases to service providers where required, including on legal counselling, psychosocial support, GBV services, and other assistance. โข Undertake training on information provision and counselling, legal and social services, referrals and other available services. โข Promote and support community mobilization for organizing social, cultural and recreational events among refugee and host communities. โข Assist UNHCR in organizing participatory activities and awareness-raising sessions with persons of different age groups, gender and background. โข Regularly update, report and share information related to areas of work, utilizing agreed data collection methods to identify gaps, assess trends and developments. โข Contribute to the planning, monitoring and evaluation of any further community outreach activities. โข Contribute to age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in all of UNHCR Czechiaโs activities, paying attention to and flagging to the office the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups. โข Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Results/expected outputs: โข As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his/their functions, including: โข Ensure that relationship and communication of UNHCR with refugee communities and acting partners are smooth, and refugee needs are adequately identified and reflected in UNHCR protection programming โข Ensure that communication strategies with persons of concern are in place in a manner to enhance their access to such services such as education and health; โข Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment โข Provide in-person information and counselling in Ukrainian to refugees, including on solutions. โข Disseminate information, education and communication materials to refugees and refugee-led organizations. โข Provide targeted help to vulnerable individuals and refer individual cases to service providers where required, including legal counselling, psychosocial support, GBV services, and other assistance.
Competencies and valuesโข Professionalism โข Integrity โข Teamwork and respect for diversity โข Commitment to continuous learning โข Planning and organizing โข Communication โข Flexibility โข Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCRโs mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Living conditions and remarksApplication to these assignments is exclusively open to individuals residing in the Czech Republic, with stateless, refugee or similar protective status, including Temporary Protection. Applicant must be fluent in Ukrainian. As this is a Refugee UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteerโs service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). For information specific to your assignment please see below: Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): apx. CZK 42220.15 (incl. Well-Being Differential %30) Entry lump sum (one time payment): USD 400 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract) Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 3.5 days