The political landscape and operational context in Sudan changed substantially since April 2019. The Transitional Government has been working on improving structural challenges in different sectors including economic, rule of law, governance and human rights. These developments have been positive in supporting humanitarian access across the country including to the conflict affected areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

The Juba Peace Agreement will be a critical pointer for UNHCR’s work in Blue Nile, the final agreement and relative peace will encourage return of Sudanese refugees from the various refugee camps in the region but also initiate development activities for the existing population. UNHCR plays a vital role in the existing responses, increased role with the expected refugee returnees and as protection and shelter/NFI lead as part of the Two Areas Mechanism. Comprehensive short and long-term intervention by UNHCR and other partners is under planning.

In addition, after the outbreak of violent conflict in Benishangul-Gumuz Region in the Western Ethiopia towards the end of 2020, asylum seekers and refugees crossed the border into Blue Nile State. Asylum seekers and refugees fled their home country due to generalized violence and fear of persecution. As of June 2021, about 7,500 individuals had arrived in Sudan through different border entry points such as Dem Saad, Manchaleng, Yabacher, Menza, Shamfoz and Magano. UNHCR has mounted a response to the influx with operations at the border point while a camp has been established (Camp 6) near Village 6 for relocation of refugees; about 1,900 asylum seekers have been relocated so far.

Further UNHCR has ongoing CERF funded activities that support IDP and IDP returnees as part of a nationwide peacebuilding and stabilization initiative. In support of this initiative, UNHCR provides shelter assistance and CBI. UNHCR also leads the Protection Sector at the state level which will play an enhanced role in the future.

With the identified needs and in support of UNHCR’s role in Blue Nile, a new office has been established and will be fully fledged by November 2021

1. 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 UNHCR's 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 UNHCR’s 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.
• Perform other related duties as required.

1. Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

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.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

Development Studies,                         Human Rights                      Community Development /Social Work

Social Science,                                     Political Science                  International Law

(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-MS Office Applications

*IT-Computer Literacy

IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

UN-UN/UNHCR Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures

PR-Community-based Protection

PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community

PG-Experience with coordinating with Implementing Partners (Governmt/INGO/NGO/Corporate)

TR-Capacity Building

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

2. Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Performance

Cross-Functional Competencies

Stakeholder Management

Planning and Organizing

Political Awareness

Only short listed candidates will be notified.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Candidate Assessments may include a written examination followed by a Competency Based Interview.