Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS5

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

June 11 2025

Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant 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 Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant 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 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 Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (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 UNHCRs 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.
- 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.
- Assist in initiatives with host communities to involve national civil society groups in the protection of PoC.
- Support implementing and operational partners as well as 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.
- Support efforts to build the office capacity for community-based protection.
- Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
- Ensure community understanding of UNHCRs commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
- Collect data for monitoring of programmes and budgets from an AGD perspective.
- Draft and type routine correspondence documents and reports and maintain up-to-date filing systems.
- Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
- Assist in the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCRs 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 and with persons and communities of concern based on agreed parameters.
- Identify and recommend which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
- Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

- 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 G5- 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Development Human Rights International Law
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
UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules Regulations and Procedures
*IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners Government & Community
(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.

MCO Italy is looking for a candidate with excellent knowledge of the EU and Italian legal framework with reference to asylum migration forced displacement and GBV prevention and response associated with the ability to analyze legislation principles and practices to operationalize UNHCR positions and policies. Solid work experience in the protection of PSN and specific proven expertise in GBV-related matters are essential while additional experience in Child Protection is considered an asset. Previous experiences in partners and stakeholders management are considered an asset.

The desired candidate should have the ability to communicate clearly and concisely; drafting and reporting skills as well as fluency in both Italian and English are essential. A strong sense of teamwork and collaboration along with a problem-solving mindset is desired. Presentation capacity building and public speaking skills are desired while an excellent command of MS Office and other IT skills are appreciated.



Additional Information:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Italy.

English is the official working language of UNHCR in Italy. Only applications fully completed in English will be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Assessment of short-listed candidates might comprise of both an interview and a written test.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability gender identity marital or civil partnership status race color or ethnic and national origins religion or belief or sexual orientation. UNHCR has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. Successful candidates will be subject to mandatory UN Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment clearance check prior to receiving an offer.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application interview meeting processing training or any other fees).

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

In case of any queries please contact the Italy HR Team at

English

Italian

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station please visit this link: of Position:

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Italy oversees operations in Italy San Marino the Vatican City Malta and Cypruscountries situated at the nexus of Europe North Africa and the Middle East and characterized by varied asylum landscapes distinct legal frameworks and differing capacities for refugee protection.

This sub-region plays a pivotal role in migration and refugee movements into Europe particularly through the Central and Eastern Mediterranean routes. Irregular arrivals by sea and land secondary movements and complex protection needs place continued pressure on national asylum and reception systems. While numbers fluctuate the centrality of these countries to European migration dynamics remains consistent.

Italy and Malta in particular remain among the primary entry points to the EU for persons seeking international protection. Its geographic proximity to North Africa renders Italy a key actor in search and rescue (SAR) efforts and in receiving persons rescued at sea. Cyprus facing a growing number of asylum claims relative to its population and capacity has become a significant point of concern due to overcrowded reception facilities and the need for strengthened asylum procedures.

San Marino and the Vatican City though not primary asylum destinations are engaged partners in refugee protection through political advocacy moral leadership and resettlement or complementary pathways especially under community sponsorship and humanitarian corridors supported by faith-based organizations.

In this context the Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant (CBP) based in Rome will report to the CBP Associate under the overall supervision of the Senior CBP Associate while closely cooperating with other colleagues at the central level as well as regularly liaising providing guidance and coordinating with other UNHCR colleagues in the field on the Areas of Responsibility (AoR). The incumbent will perform the duties listed in the standard job description and serve as the focal point for GBV prevention risk mitigation and response based on applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policies and guidance promoting alignment with relevant minimum standards and codes of conduct. S/he will contribute to the design and implementation of the country-level CBP and GBV-specific plans as part of the overall protection strategy as well as assist in assessing and analyzing protection needs trends and gaps through multi-sectoral and protection-specific assessments and support the implementation of integrated responses to PSN with a particular focus on persons at risk or survivors of GBV. The incumbent will participate and contribute to the interagency coordination and joint actions with other UN and EU agencies as well as collaborate to targeted advocacy initiatives and provide specialized technical support to national institutions particularly the Department of Equal Opportunities (DEO) the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) to strengthen governance frameworks and enhance institutional ownership in addressing GBV risks affecting PwS and the related response.

S/he will work in MFT contributing to the technical guidance and coordination related to specialized partnerships ensuring also the appropriate liaison between partners representation at the national/central level and UNHCR field staff. Moreover s/he will assist the MCO management under the guidance of the Senior CBP Associate in fulfilling UNHCRs obligations duties and responsibilities on PSEA. The incumbent will also contribute to capacity building at all levels with various actors including social services staff reception staff health providers and others on GBV PSN and CBP in general. Furthermore s/he will have the shared responsibility to contribute to the implementation of Child Protection activities as well as to draft and update reports and relevant documents within the AoR and provide general support to the CBP team as required.

Living and Working Conditions:

Rome is a HQ Duty Station. Italy has a strong UN presence (more than 10 Agencies Programmes and Funds totaling more than 6000 staff) and is offering high standard of living conditions and relatively high cost of living.

There is no RC System hence no formal inter-agency coordination system other than the DO for Security related matters. FAO leads the UN team and collaborates closely with Rome based WFP and IFAD HQ.

The Italian authorities will issue a visa and residence permit to UNHCR international staff members. Before arriving at a new duty station finding an accommodation will be a priority. There are some limited facilities to access Duty Free privileges. Buying a new vehicle is a lengthy process while buying second hand is even more complex. The public transport system is relatively reliable and most colleagues have elected to reside in the office neighborhood.

A valid driving license issued by a European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) member state is automatically accepted in all other member states. People with EU/EEA-issued drivers license who take up residence in Italy are not required to exchange it for an Italian license.

Holders of a standard driving license issued from a non-EU/EEA country may drive in Italy using the foreign license for up to one year after obtaining residency.

Medical care is up to international standards.

UN International expatriates are covered by the medical insurance provided from their workplace. No additional medical coverage is required. A list of English-speaking doctors can be provided upon request by the FAO Medical Services.

There are several international schools in Rome. The academic year for schools in Italy is from September to June. Generally schools have long waiting lists and it is advisable to register your child at school as soon as possible. You should also find out about the specific admission requirements at the school. Transfer certificates from previous schools and academic records are usually required. Contracts are made between the school and private individuals regarding payments of school fees.

This means any deposits and commitments to pay fees are your responsibility and not the UNs.

Spouse employment can be challenging particularly in a post Covid-19 situation where the economy was affected.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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 Organizational awareness Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

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Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance