UN High Commissioner for Refugees
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, the position of Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer performs a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function. The Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer reports directly to the UNHCR Representative who has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency. At the same time, the incumbent effectuates UNHCR’s commitment to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency functions, embodied in the role of Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer, are critical in ensuring UNHCR¿s leadership within a diverse protection community. The Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer is expected to discharge UNHCR’s lead role in the Protection Cluster and to impartially represent the interests of the members of the Protection Cluster, including 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 Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer leads an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability and demonstrable leadership, coordination, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, and in which the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.
The Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer represents the Protection Cluster in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms. The Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer advocates for protection mainstreaming in the humanitarian response, leads the mainstreaming of early recovery activities in the Protection Cluster, and spearheads the integration of cross-cutting issues into the work of the Protection Cluster, especially age, gender and diversity.
The Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer works closely with and/or directly supervises a multi-functional UNHCR Protection Cluster Support team, including, but not limited to, the areas of 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 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 UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
– Chair cluster meetings and represent the Protection Cluster in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant interlocutors.
– Issue reports and make advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster.
– Make decision over format and frequency of meetings, designation of focal points and the establishment of sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
– Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.
– Allocate financial and other resources within the Protection Cluster, when required, such as regarding Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) or Common Humanitarian Funds (CHF). Perform other related duties as required.
Strategic Direction
– Ensure that the protection response is driven by a Protection Cluster strategy developed in a consultative process with external partners and is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian action plan.
– Convene and facilitate meetings in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster meetings are consultative and results oriented.
– Ensure coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities.
– Lead the design of transition strategies for the Protection Cluster: facilitate the development of a strategy for the cluster ensuring proper linkages with disaster risk reduction, relief, and recovery and development efforts.
Needs Assessment and Resources Mobilization
– Lead, coordinate and conduct within the Protection Cluster or at Inter-Cluster level protection needs assessments, including participatory assessments of affected populations.
– Provide strategic direction to development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the Protection Cluster for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes; Establish mechanisms for accountable and transparent financial resource allocation within the cluster.
Capacity Development
– Coordinate the delivery of protection training activities for Protection Cluster members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
– Coordinate initiatives to build the protection capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
Standards Setting
– Ensure adherence to IASC standard operating procedures for IDP profiling.
– Coordinate the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the Protection Cluster, including any work developed by sub-clusters or working groups.
– Ensure adherence of Protection Cluster activities to Guidelines on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming.
– Through Cluster-wide consultative processes, provide input into the development of global protection policy and standards led by the Global Protection Cluster.
Information Management
– Facilitate reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
– Ensure that the Protection Cluster has a functional information management strategy and mechanism.
– Ensure that the Protection Cluster produces regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population, response activities, challenges and recommendations.
Advocacy
– Identify core advocacy concerns for the Protection Cluster through a consultative process: develop joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy.
– Ensure a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
– Ensure the Protection Cluster¿s adherence to international human rights instruments, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as other relevant international and regional instruments; in cooperation with the Humanitarian Country Team support local interventions when violations of international protection standards and principles occur.
– Promote and strengthen national legislation relevant to internal displacement and durable solutions
– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
– Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law; Human Rights; International Relations;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
CCCM Cluster Coordination;
HCR Coordination Lrng Prog;
HCR Management Lrng Prg;
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
Emergency Mgmt Workshop;
Tri-Cluster Knowl/Coord Skills;
Prot in NaturalDisaster Situat;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
9 years of previous work experience preferably in working with Protection Cluster, IDP Operation or Country Operations applying the Cluster Approach.
Desirable
Not specified.
Functional Skills
PR-Country Operations applying the Cluster Approach
CL-Protection Cluster Coordination
(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
To work effectively in the role of Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer, the candidate should have the ability to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, integrity, leadership, coordination, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
The Snr Cluster Protection Coordination Officer should be able to engage with the donor’s Ambassadors, including regular drafting of advocacy notes, talking points, meeting presentations, and related material products.
This position also requires the capacity of the incumbent to deal with military officials/authorities (training on IHL, and participation in the civil-military coordination meetings).
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
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,
Desired languages
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Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:
Nature of Position:
UNHCR has been present in Nigeria since 1978 working with the Government of Nigeria, partners, and other United Nations Agencies to uphold the rights and wellbeing of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugee and IDP returnees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons. The Nigeria operation continuous to face a protracted humanitarian crisis linked to the ongoing insurgency in the Northeast.
Northeast Nigeria continues to suffer from severe humanitarian and development needs due to insecurity, poverty, and the effects of climate change. After 14 years of conflict, the scale and severity of the humanitarian crisis in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states remains significant. While security has improved in some parts of the BAY states, the situation continues to be unpredictable and volatile in areas outside Maiduguri in Borno State, in northern Adamawa State, and in parts of Yobe State. Since mid-2021, for instance, the Borno State Government has relocated some 160,000 IDPs from Maiduguri camps to remoter areas – others have been secondarily displaced, not least due to the exacerbating effects of climate vulnerability (notably flooding). Some IDPs have returned to their homes, especially in garrison towns; some have moved to villages built by the government with stabilization actors’ support; some have remained in Maiduguri; and some have ended up in host families and IDP camps closer to their area of origin, including in neighboring Adamawa State.
The estimated population of the BAY states in 2023 is about 16.6 million. Of this total population, 2.2 million, i.e., 13%, are internally displaced, whereas 2.1 million i.e., 12% of the total population, are IDP returnees as of April 2023. In sum, nearly a quarter of the BAY states population is directly affected by displacement. The cumulative impacts of armed conflict, recurring disasters and poor agricultural productivity drive food insecurity and protection risks, including gender-based violence, and most communities lack robust services, functioning institutions, and effective mechanisms to ensure access to livelihood-generating services – with agriculture based-livelihoods continuing to constitute the major occupation of IDPs. In the face of high competition for productive resources such as land and agricultural inputs, plus a lack of access to data (including on contamination by explosive ordnance), adaptation technologies and early-action information, IDPs, and not least children, boys and girls, are at pains to reintegrate, resettle and sustainably restart their livelihoods and generate income.
For a successful return and integration of IDPs across the BAY states, it is important to recognize their diverse preference as well as those of host communities. To achieve this, a coordinated and collaborative approach among all stakeholders is needed – but currently, there is no functional coordination mechanism at the federal or state levels to advance the operationalization of existing and newly developed policies and frameworks in a coordinated and inclusive manner, supported by humanitarian and development partners. Advocacy to support longer-term and sustainable solution pathways taking into account the intentions and needs of IDPs is highly crucial.
The 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview, coupled with the Humanitarian Response Plan are currently under review and will be out shortly, ahead of Jan 2024, and which will serve to indicate the growing needs of the affected populations and where more empahsies and prioritization will be placed for an interagency response.
Recognizing that the Federal Government of Nigeria bears the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians, the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (MoWASD) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) established the Protection Sector in northeast Nigeria in 2015.The Protection Sector has four Sub-Sectors, which are each led by relevant government ministries and co-led by UN/INGO agencies. The Child Protection Sub-Sector is led by MoWASD and co-led by UNICEF, the Gender-Based Violence Sub-Sector is led by MoWASD and co-led by UNFPA, the Housing, Land and Property Sub-
Sector is led by Ministry of Land and Survey and co-led by NRC, while the Mine Action Sub-Sector is led by Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement and co-led by UNMAS. In addition to the Sub-Sectors, there is a General Protection Technical Working Group as well as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Taskforce.
To work effectively in the role of Senior Protection Coordination Officer, the candidate should have the ability to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, integrity, leadership, coordination, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills. He/She should be able to lead and coordinate the inter-agency team (including the ability to resolve thorny issues that may inhibit smooth coordination) and should have previous extensive experience and knowledge of IDP populations/Cluster approach, mixed IDPs/Refugee/Returnee situations, and including a good understanding and grasp of the UN SG Action Agenda on Internal Displacement.
Living and Working Conditions:
Maiduguri is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. Spoken languages are English (official), Hausa, Fulani, and others. There is a big international humanitarian-development-peace nexus community in the NE.
Security: Continuous security challenges due to armed conflicts and terrorism in the NE and NEC security areas. Being a Level 5 High-Risk Duty station, mandatory adherence to all SRM measures is vital for safety and security of UNHCR personnel and/or assets and operations. Due to the prevailing security situation, host government curfew time in Maiduguri: 22:00 hrs. – 06:00 hrs. – curfew time in Humanitarian Hubs within Local Government Areas: 18:00 hrs. – 06:00 hrs.
Accommodation: UNHCR international staff appointed to Maiduguri must stay in UNHCR guesthouse which is well equipped with facilities. There are other UN Guesthouses, Compounds and Humanitarian Hub locations where staff can stay can be booked on: [email protected]
Travels: All movements in the city are conducted using armoured vehicles (AV). Maiduguri is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes flight from Abuja and is the capital and largest city of Borno State. Travelling to Abuja is possible only by air from Maiduguri airport in Borno State which is operational with daily commercial airlines operating throughout the week and UNHAS flights operating three days a week. Staff members use UNHAS helicopters for their movements to remote Humanitarian Hubs. Being a Level 5 High-Risk Duty station, mandatory adherence to all SRM measures is vital for safety and security of UNHCR personnel and/or assets and operations. Road Travels not recommended outside Maiduguri City area. Security Clearances – Security clearance (TRIP) at http://dss.un.org is mandatory to all states within.
It is always essential to have a UN ID card and when arriving to Maiduguri, a UNLP at the airport. At most settlement locations, arrival into and out of the settlement is recorded by officials and should not be deemed as odd when it happens. It is part of the security apparatus in place.
Food and entertainment: Food stuff and other groceries are readily available locally, including supermarkets. There is some degree of recreational sports facilities and some basic and limited number of restaurants around the town. There is a measure of nightlife in the town but limited. Basic clothes for everyday wear are available and there a range of other personal specific services such as hairdressers, babers, etc.
Hospitals and Schools are present but basic and not at international standards.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law
Certifications
CCCM Cluster Coordination – UNHCR, Emergency Management Workshop – UNHCR, HCR Coordination Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, Protection in Natural Disaster Situation – Other, Tri_Cluster Knowledge/Coord Skills – Other
Work Experience
Case Management: Returnees, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees
Competencies
Accountability (Good – 4), Analytical thinking (Good – 4), Change capability & adaptability (Good – 4), Client & results orientation (Good – 4), Collaboration (Good – 4), Communication (Good – 4), Integrity (Good – 4), Judgement & decision making (Good – 4), Negotiation & conflict resolution (Good – 4), Political awareness (Good – 4)
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Bi-annual Compendium 2023 Part B – October 2023
Additional Information
Functional clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
How to apply
For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).
Closing date of receipt of applications: 9 November 2023 (midnight Geneva time)
Closing date: 9 Nov 2023