Community-Based Protection Associate

February 15 2026

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

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 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 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 UNHCRs 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 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 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.

Nature of the Position (Operational Context):

Over recent years Mexico has evolved from being predominantly a country of origin and transit for refugees and asylum-seekers to becoming a significant country of destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking international protection from within the region and beyond. The Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) has registered claims from more than one hundred nationalities. The exponential growth in the number of asylum applications - reaching a record high of over 140000 in 2023 followed by approximately 80000 in 2024 and around 40000 in the first half of 2025 - continues to pose major challenges to Mexicos asylum 2025 the northern region of Mexico has observed a 50% increase in the number of new asylum applications compared to the previous year. . UNHCRs strategy in Mexico aims to safeguard the asylum space by strengthening the institutional capacity of COMAR and ensuring efficient processing and adjudication of claims promoting access to alternative legal pathways for individuals with specific protection needs and supporting regularization alternatives for those not in need of international protection thereby safeguarding the integrity of the asylum system. Durable solutions is a key component of UNHCRs engagement with a particular focus on socioeconomic and cultural inclusion of asylum-seekers and refugees. Communication and awareness-raising initiatives are critical to ensure that information on asylum procedures and access to durable solutions reaches target populations effectively. Mexico is a relevant country in the regional context and is fully engaged in the MIRPS the Chile Plan of Action and other relevant processes.

The Sub-Office in Monterrey (SOMON) leads UNHCRs interventions across northern Mexico and directly oversees initiatives in the northeast of the country. SOMONs work focuses on identifying and supporting people who have been forcibly displaced ensuring their access to rights and essential services and promoting their local integration. These efforts are carried out in close coordination with state and local authorities as well as humanitarian actors operating at the community level. SOMON is currently implementing an Urban Strategy designed to strengthen collaboration with grassroots organizations refugee-led initiatives local governments and other key stakeholders. The strategy seeks to improve outreach to forcibly displaced people empower them through access to information and meaningful participation and enhance their access to services and programs available within their communities.

Desired Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate is a protection professional with strong experience in community engagement and participatory approaches within humanitarian contexts. S/he demonstrates a solid understanding of international protection principles Age Gender and Diversity (AGD) considerations and community-based protection methodologies ensuring that interventions are inclusive and responsive to the needs of persons of concern (PoC).

Community-Based Protection Strategy and Implementation: The candidate must be skilled in designing and implementing community-based protection strategies that leverage the capacities of displaced and host communities. Experience in conducting participatory assessments identifying protection risks and supporting community-owned initiatives addressing social educational psychosocial health and livelihood concerns is essential.
Experience in developing and implementing Communication with Communities initiatives is also essential.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination: The candidate should have proven ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with forcibly displaced people host communities civil society actors and government counterparts. S/he actively promotes community participation in decision-making processes and ensures that protection strategies reflect the perspectives and capacities of diverse groups including women children youth older persons persons with disabilities and marginalized populations.

Operational Support and Compliance: The candidate will support programme planning and monitoring with an AGD perspective contribute to data analysis and reporting and ensure compliance with UNHCRs protection standards and SOPs. Familiarity with GBV prevention and response child protection and accountability to affected populations is highly desirable.

Competencies and Skills: Strong interpersonal analytical and communication skills are essential. The candidate must demonstrate cultural sensitivity sound judgment and the ability to work effectively in field settings. Capacity-building experience and knowledge of community mobilization techniques are an asset.

Languages and Other Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is essential with the ability to communicate effectively and draft reports in both languages.

Important Information for Applicants:

Eligibility Internal Advertisement Only i.e. applications are open to:
- Internal candidates: staff members with an indefinite or fixed-term appointment in the same category as the position advertised staff members who at the date of the deadline for application are serving at the grade of the position or one grade below or above as well as any candidates serving at higher grades who fulfil the criteria as per the job advertisement.
- Former Staff (due to post abolition under special measures): Local FTA/IND contract holders whose posts were abolished due to structural changes and who were separated as of 01 January 2025 (last working day 31 December 2024). Other types of former staff members are considered candidates with UNHCR experience for any location. Eligibility period for application: May 2025 June 2026 vacancies.
- Candidates with UNHCR experience at the time of application: current staff members in other categories staff members on temporary appointment affiliate workforce and interns with at least 1 year of service and staff loaned/seconded. Former UNHCR locally recruited staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within 2 years of separation for males and 5 years for females).
- External candidates all other candidates who are not in the above groups. Former International staff/Former TA/AWF will be considered external when applying for any positions/category
Nationality / Right to Work Requirement: Only Mexican nationals or candidates holding permanent residency in Mexico are eligible. Applicants must attach proof of permanent residency at the time of application. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Mobility and Eligibility for Application: Staff members must normally serve a minimum of one year in their current assignment before applying for another position within the same category unless their post has been abolished.
Selection Process: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
Application Requirements: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Workday Career Profile is accurate and fully updated prior to applying. The evaluation will be based solely on the information provided in the application. Once submitted applications cannot be modified. Candidates under serious consideration may be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided.
Diversity and Inclusion: UNHCR is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and strongly encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender nationality sexual orientation religion ethnicity or disability status. All applications are treated with the strictest confidentiality and UNHCR is committed to providing equal career opportunities for all staff.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA): UNHCR maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA constitutes serious misconduct and may result in disciplinary action including dismissal. Concerns or suspicions can be reported confidentially to: or at or by confidential fax:.
Educational Requirements: UNHCR recognizes only qualifications obtained from institutions accredited in the World Higher Education Database (WHED) maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO. The database is available at: WHED A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. This includes salary allowances (where applicable) comprehensive medical insurance and participation in the UN pension scheme. Further details are available via the UN Office of Human Resources Management.

English

Spanish

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-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

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work - Other Development Studies - Other Human Rights - Other International Law - Other Political Science - Other Social Sciences - Other

Competencies

Accountability Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Managing performance Organizational awareness Planning & organizing Political awareness Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance