Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer (N)

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Budapest Hungary

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

August 3 2025

Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters where UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach UNHCR performs a dedicated coordination strategy development and advocacy function through the positions of P5/P4 Protection Cluster Coordination Officer and the supporting positions of P3 Protection Cluster Coordination Officer P2 Associate Protection Cluster Coordination Officer and/or P1 Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer normally reports directly to a higher-grade Protection Cluster Coordination Officer. The UNHCR Representative has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer supports UNHCR to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The position reinforces UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency functions by providing support to the role of Cluster Coordinator in ensuring UNHCRs leadership within a diverse protection community.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer is expected to support the work of the Protection Cluster through the provision of support in analysis organization and reporting. This includes the provision of active support as applicable to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result the incumbent supports an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability facilitation negotiation and conflict resolution skills in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer supports the Protection Cluster Coordinator in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age gender and diversity in the humanitarian response and early recovery activities.

The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer works closely with multi-functional Protection Cluster Support staff in the areas of data and information management needs assessment profiling registration reporting and advocacy.

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 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
- Support the Protection Cluster to ensure that protection informs and shapes the overall humanitarian response and that the protection response is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Teams common humanitarian action plan.
- Participate in meetings in line with the Principles of Partnership ensuring that cluster meetings are consultative and results oriented.
- Support coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities
- Support the coordination and conduct of Protection Cluster or Inter-Cluster level protection needs assessments including participatory assessments of affected populations.
- Provide inputs to development of common funding criteria resource mobilisation and prioritization within the Protection Cluster for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.
- Assist in the delivery of protection training activities for Protection Cluster members other local partners and relevant authorities.
- Contribute to initiatives building the protection capacity of the national and local government partners and civil society.
- Through Cluster-wide consultative processes provide input into the development of global protection policy and standards led by the Global Protection Cluster.
- Support reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
- Support and facilitate the Protection Cluster information management strategy and mechanisms.
- Contribute to Protection Clusters regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population response activities challenges and recommendations.
- Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
- Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster - for clearance by Senior management.
- Facilitate cluster meetings work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
- Facilitate negotiation with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members on the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law; International Law; Political Sciences;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Coordination Lrng Prog;

Tri-Cluster Knowl/Coord Skills;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law.

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
LE-Human Rights Law
LE-International Refugee Law
(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

Essential: The candidate is expected to have previous experience in protection response coordination and advocacy in an IDP context particularly working in direct engagement with partners government authorities and leading meetings with multiple stakeholders. The candidate must have excellent drafting and oral communication skills and be able to identify and report pressing issues.
Desired: Training and meeting facilitation protection analysis and familiarity with cluster tools will be an asset.

Operational context:

In complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters where UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach UNHCR performs a dedicated coordination strategy development and advocacy function. The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordination Officer reports to Associate Protection Cluster Coordination Officer supporting UNHCR to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach at the sub-national level covering Dnipropetrovska Donetska Zaporizka and Kirovogradska oblasts. The position reinforces UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency functions by providing support to the Cluster Coordinator in ensuring protection coordination at the sub-national level.

As a result the incumbent supports protection coordination in an environment that requires high standards of accountability and facilitation in which respect for the principles of partnership and collaboration and humanitarian principles are essential. The candidate will be expected to directly engage with partners and to ensure effective coordination and engagement for the implementation of Protection activities. For this it is expected that the candidate is familiar with legal assistance psychosocial support and community-based protection programming so as to effectively coordinate partners implementing these activities and establishes linkages with other sectors engaged in the response. The Assistant Protection Cluster Coordinator supports the Protection Cluster Coordinator in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms at sub-national level for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age gender and diversity in the humanitarian response in non-protection sectors. Familiarity with the Protection Cluster and other humanitarian coordination tools would be also an asset as the incumbent will be required to promote their use by partners at the sub-national level.

English

Ukrainian

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: International Law Bachelor of Arts: Law Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

HCR Coordination Learning Program - UNHCR TriCluster Knowledge/Coord Skills - Other

Competencies

Accountability Analytical thinking Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Organizational awareness Political awareness Teamwork & collaboration

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance