Job Description

Deadline for Applications

January 7, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS IICA1

Target Start Date

2026-02-01

Terms of Reference

1. General Background

The Associate Protection Officer at UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP), under the overall guidance of the Senior Protection Officer, provides functional protection and solutions support and oversight to country operations in the Asia-Pacific region on international protection standards and operational procedures and practices. The Associate Protection Officer has a direct and specific focus on case processing – particularly refugee status determination (RSD) under UNHCR’s mandate, and preventing, identifying, and responding to fraud and corruption in the context of protection processes, in line with the obligations and requirements set forth in the RSD Procedural Standards and the 2024 Policy and Administration Instruction on Addressing Fraud Committed by Forcibly Displaced and Stateless Persons. Priority areas of support to case processing include RSD, resettlement, complementary pathways, local integration, voluntary repatriation. S/he provides advice and guidance on legal, procedural, operational and strategic support to ensure integrity of individual case processing in the region.

The Associate Protection Officer supports RBAP and country operations’ activities in these areas, which includes first line responsibilities in countries which fall under RBAP’s direct purview, maintaining close contact and coordination with other protection, assistance and solutions functional units and relevant partners, with a view of ensuring the requisite support is provided to coordinated approaches in the area of case processing, especially mandate RSD, and anti-fraud initiatives as relating to protection processes.
The incumbent contributes to building the overall capacity of country operations in the region in the priority areas of case processing and integrity, by providing advice and support to staff engaged in related activities, monitoring trends and conducting training and other capacity-development/strengthening activities to promote consistency in case processing, especially RSD, and integrity related procedures and decision-making. S/he contributes to developing and enhancing regional and global standards and policies, as necessary.
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.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

- Stay abreast of legal, political, security, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment in the region, including developments relevant to mandate RSD and national asylum/RSD systems, as applicable.

- Support country operations in the region to ensure compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity, and related protection standard operating procedures, in the delivery of protection services including: UNHCR’s Handbook on the Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status Under UNHCR’s Mandate (RSD Handbook), Guidelines on International Protection (GIPs), Procedural Standards for Refugee Status Determination under UNHCR's Mandate (RSD SOPs) and Aide-Memoire and Glossary of case processing terms and concepts applicable to RSD under UNHCR's mandate (RSD Glossary), 2024 Policy framework (Policy) on Addressing Fraud Committed by Forcibly Displaced and Stateless Persons and related Administrative Instructions.

- Working closely with senior protection colleagues in RBAP, provide prompt and accurate advice, guidance and operational support on issues concerning protection oversight, management of individual case processing, including RSD adjudication, fraud risk identification, prevention and response.

- In close coordination with AFFPs and focal points in country operations, identify any areas of systemic weakness, vulnerability and risk of potential fraud committed by forcibly displaced and stateless persons.

- Conduct eligibility interviews, draft RSD Assessment Forms and provide quality review of RSD Assessment Forms including for complex/sensitive cases, including cases which require exclusion analysis, in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.

- Provide capacity building, coaching and training on the inclusion criteria; principles/procedures related to exclusion; cancellation/revocation; international humanitarian law; human rights law; interviewing techniques and credibility assessment/establishing the facts; and legal drafting.

- Support country operations in the development of case processing and RSD strategies and ensure full and effective integration into the country level protection and solution strategy.

- Assist with developing/enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as required.

- Provide support to country operation in the region in the design and implementation of operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of case processing activities in line with relevant standards/policies, including UNHCR's AGD policy, ensuring the prioritisation of persons with specific needs.

- Monitor trends and systematically compile statistics related to case processing. Analyse key indicators of the quality and efficiency of decision-making in individual case processing to assess capacity and resource requirements of operations in the region.

- Evaluate and contribute to projecting staffing and financial needs in country operations in the region using the relevant Staffing Benchmarks, and support allocation of appropriate human, material and financial resources.

- Conduct support missions, as required.

- Assess training needs in country operations and assist managers to provide coaching/capacity building for UNHCR staff under their supervision, in coordination with DIPS, as appropriate.

- Maintain and manage a consultative process with operations and other stakeholders in the region.

- Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Quality, timely, and effective protection support is provided to country operations in line with relevant UNHCR protection standards and principles.

• Protection issues and incidents requiring UNHCR’s interventions are identified in a timely manner and necessary responses are taken.
• Regional compliance positively assessed (against RSD Handbook, GIPs, RSD SOPs, RSD Glossary, AGD policy, 2024 Fraud Policy/Admin Instructions).

• Implementation of effective capacity-building programs at regional and country operation level, based on quality review and participant knowledge assessments.

• Optimization of regional reporting mechanisms and trends monitoring reports, supporting data-driven decision-making across operations.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
Three years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree in the field(s) of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Specific learning programmes such as RSD LP, Management Learning Programme, Integrity Learning Programme, Interviewing for Protection Learning Programme (or Interview Learning Programme) and other UNHCR Learning Programmes relevant to RSD and Integrity.

b. Work Experience
(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)

Essential
Advanced demonstrated knowledge of international protection principles and the international legal framework. Professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law.
Direct working experience in RSD case processing and solid experience conducting eligibility and protection-related interviews (in person and remotely), analysing and drafting assessments on the protection situation and needs of refugees and asylum-seekers, and in respect of their eligibility for refugee status and/or prioritization for resettlement consideration Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. working directly with procedures and principles related to adjudicating individual asylum claims in RSD procedures.
In-depth knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law and ability to apply relevant legal principles in the RSD context, including exclusion decision-making.
Thorough knowledge of the "Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR's Mandate" and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR's mandate RSD activities. Experience in counselling asylum-seekers and individual case management. Experience in interviewing refugees and asylum-seekers in the context of RSD and resettlement. Experience and demonstrated skills in trainng and capacity development in RSD eligibility criteria and procedures, and international refugee law.
Direct working experience with UNHCR in the application of UNHCR procedures and guidance related to fraud committed by refugees, particularly as relating to the implementation and operationalization of UNHCR’s 2024 Policy on Addressing Fraud Committed by Persons of Concern.
Excellent research and analytical skills.
Excellent oral communication and written drafting skills.

Desirable
Experience in protection case management functions, including registration or resettlement, is highly desirable. Knowledge of application of UNHCR’s broader risk management framework. Experience in using and thus a strong understanding of UNHCR’s case management systems and software (proGres, PRIMES, etc.) is highly desirable.
Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures is highly desirable. Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures. Experience in supervising a team. Completion of the RSD Learning Programme and other UNHCR Learning Programmes relevant to RSD. Training and coaching experience. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.
Field experience, including in working directly with communities. Knowledge of or prior work experience with refugee populations in Asia and the Pacific.
Good IT skills including database management skills.

c. Key Competencies

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*LE-International Refugee Law
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
MG-Projects management
PR-PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-RSD Principles & Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
PR-Protection and mixed-movements
PR-Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operations & IDPs Status/Rights/Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
PR-Community-based Protection
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
EX-Field Experience

Language Requirements
Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:
Judgement and Decision Making
Empowering and Building Trust
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Planning and Organizing
Policy Development and Research