Assistant Protection Officer

at  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR

NOA

Staff Member / Affiliate Type
National Professional Officer
Reason
Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment
Hardship Level
H (no hardship)
Family Type
Family

Residential location (if applicable)
Target Start Date
2025-03-10
Target End Date
2025-12-31
Deadline for Applications
February 10, 2025
Standard Job Description
Assistant Protection Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection, registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.
The Assistant Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC), ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that PoC are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of them. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.
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

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
• Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
• Conduct eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
• Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
• Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
• Contribute to a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy.
• Provide inputs for the development of protection policies and standards within the AoR.
• Implement and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
• Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
• Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
• Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other PoC.
• Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
• Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
• Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
• Assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
• Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
• Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
• Assist the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
• Assist the supervisor in enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
• Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
• 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
Not specified;
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles
Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills

• PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)

MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) 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
Operational Context
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is a global organization protecting people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, helping millions of people with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights, and helping them build a better future (see www.unhcr.org).
UNHCR in Latvia has a small presence in Riga, and works closely with Government authorities, civil society – including a number of partner organizations – as well as other relevant stakeholders to promote the rights and well-being of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. The UNHCR office in Latvia reports to the UNHCR’s Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries, which is based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Latvia used to receive a relatively modest number of asylum applications each year. Since August 2021, Latvia has faced an increase of arrivals of asylum-seekers and migrants coming via Belarus. Although the situation stabilized in 2024, it still requires attention with new arrivals mainly from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.
Additionally, in response to the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Latvia has received thousands of refugees from Ukraine including many who transited through the country and continued towards other countries. As of December 2024, almost 50,000 refugees from Ukraine have been registered as beneficiaries of temporary protection in Latvia, representing almost 3 per cent of the entire population. It is estimated that about 27,000 holders of temporary protection remain in Latvia. From the outset of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Latvian Government swiftly adopted the special law to offer effective protection and facilitate access of refugees from Ukraine to rights and services on equal footing with Latvian citizens. Despite the whole-of-society approach and tailored assistance focused on basic needs, inclusion, and services available for persons with specific needs, refugees from Ukraine are still facing challenges with decent employment, access to healthcare and inclusion in education in Latvia.
Following the large increase in the number of refugees due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, UNHCR stepped up its response and operations in Latvia. As of 2023, Latvia is included in the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation (RRP), complementing the government-led response. The plan is coordinated by UNHCR. Working in conjunction with government initiatives, eight RRP partners in Latvia have developed specific assistance and support programmes for refugees from Ukraine to implement throughout 2025-2026.
As of January 2025, in addition to refugees from Ukraine, Latvia has registered approximately 1,400 refugees from other countries, mainly Syria, Russia and Afghanistan.
There are two more groups of concern to UNHCR: 1) the “non-citizens” (approximately 180,000 persons), and 2) stateless persons determined in the Statelessness Determination Procedure (160 persons). In the specific context of Latvia, the “Non-citizens” enjoy the right to reside in Latvia ex lege and a set of rights and obligations generally beyond the rights prescribed by the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, including protection from removal.
Organizational setting and Responsibilities
UNHCR currently has temporary presence in Latvia and covers the country through the UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries located in Stockholm, Sweden. UNHCR assists asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless persons through partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGO).
The Assistant Protection Officer will be based in Riga and report to the Government Liaison Officer. The incumbent is expected to provide functional and administrative support to the Office on protection related issues, analysis of the situation of asylum-seekers and refugees, assist in analyzing national legislation and practice, protection monitoring, individual cases, organization of capacity development activities, and reporting.
The Assistant Protection Officer will support the Office with a range of protection activities to strengthen the reception system and improve communication with communities with particular attention to persons with specific needs. In this regard, the Assistant Protection Officer will conduct regular field visits to the border, reception, accommodation, and registration sites, organize needs/participatory assessments, meet and communicate with asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless persons, and support with other protection activities. To ensure the involvement of persons that UNHCR serves in decision-making that affect them, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with refugee communities, local authorities and NGO partners.
The incumbent may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on correspondence and/or protection issues as guided by the supervisor, the Government Liaison Officer.
Language requirements: Fluency in Latvian and English is essential. Knowledge of Russian, Ukrainian, and/or other UN languages is an asset.

Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Right Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles is an asset.

• No late applications will be accepted.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
• UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
• The applicant should be a citizen of Latvia at the time of applying for the position.
• Applicants may be subject to a written test as part of selection.

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.
The deadline for applications is 10 February 2025 (midnight, Central European Time).
Functional Clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation, MG-Project Management, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science
Certifications
Work Experience
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Other informatio

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
• Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
• Conduct eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
• Promote and contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
• Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
• Contribute to a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy.
• Provide inputs for the development of protection policies and standards within the AoR.
• Implement and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
• Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
• Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
• Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other PoC.
• Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
• Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
• Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
• Assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
• Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
• Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
• Assist the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
• Assist the supervisor in enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
• Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
• 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