Job Description

Deadline for Applications

February 23, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

E (most hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Non Family with Residential Location

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA6

Target Start Date

2026-04-01

Terms of Reference

1. General Background:

The Community-Based Protection Associate is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Associate Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Associate, or another 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 fulfill this role, the Community-Based Protection Associate may be required to spend a percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of the refugees and asylum seekers. The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with refugees and asylum seekers that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming, and results form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the design of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with refugees and asylum seekers. In addition to community-based protection responsibilities, the incumbent will also serve as a key member of the case management team. S/he will support the identification, assessment, and follow-up of individuals at heightened risk, ensuring that case management procedures are applied in line with UNHCR standards and protection principles. The staff member will collaborate closely with protection partners and service providers to facilitate timely referrals, monitor progress on individual protection plans, and ensure that persons of concern receive appropriate and coordinated support. S/he will maintain accurate, confidential case records and contribute to the analysis of protection trends arising from casework to inform programming and advocacy.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

**Community-Based Protection**

- Stay informed of political, social, economic, and cultural developments affecting the protection environment and advise the Protection Unit accordingly.
- Analyze protection risks and capacities of women, men, children, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups, and provide evidence-based recommendations to guide protection planning.
- Ensure community understanding of UNHCR’s accountability framework and promote AGD-sensitive protection interventions.
- Support the development of tools, templates, guidance notes, and training materials for staff and partners.
- Support community engagement processes, including consultations, participatory assessments, and feedback mechanisms.
- Ensure timely input into donor reports, internal reporting, and protection dashboards.
- Lead the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) portfolio, including technical oversight of assessments, case management, assistance provision, accessibility initiatives, and partner engagement. Ensure that disability inclusion is integrated into community-based protection strategies.

**Case Management**
- Draft, implement, and monitor SOPs for protection and solutions activities and ensure adherence to protection principles in all case management processes.
- Manage complex individual protection cases, including interviewing, counseling, referral, and follow-up; maintain accurate and confidential case files.
- Lead Best Interest Procedures for children at heightened risk and prepare BIA/BID reports when required.
- Conduct and review protection needs assessments, including home and field visits, ensuring timely referral and prioritization of high-risk cases.
- Strengthen referral pathways with partners to ensure coordinated service delivery and quality assurance across the case management cycle.
- Monitor UNHCR partners' case management activities, review partner assessments, and ensure consistency with UNHCR standards; provide technical feedback and support capacity-building initiatives.
- Support identification and referral of cases for durable solutions and contribute to inter-unit coordination with Registration, RSD, and Resettlement teams.
- Operate the Protection Desk and ensure systematic processing of referrals received from relevant units.
- Provide technical guidance to partners and community structures on protection standards, case management, and community-based protection approaches.
- Monitor partner compliance with global protection policies and professional integrity standards and escalate concerns as required.
- Contribute to regular protection reporting, data analysis, and trend identification for the Protection Unit.

Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls:
The incumbent will be required to report weekly/monthly and otherwise as needed on their performance in the following manner:

- Contribute to UNHCR’s CBP reports within the operation.
- Provide input for external reporting.
- Create new reporting modalities on their area of responsibility within their TORs.
- In addition, the incumbent will be expected to continuously inform the office on gaps/needs within their work, maintaining contacts with key stakeholders, and reporting on emerging needs.

*Final Evaluation:
- The final evaluation will be carried out by the Supervisor towards the end of the contract to recommend a renewal for the following term based on budget availability.

4. Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Qualifications for G6 - 3 years relevant experience with a High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with a Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

a. Education:
Completion of secondary education is required, preferably complemented by post-secondary training or certification in Social Work, Psychology, Law, Human Rights, Development Studies, Sociology, or other relevant fields. A university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in a relevant discipline may be considered an asset.

b. Work Experience:

- For candidates with secondary education: At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in protection, community-based protection, case management, outreach, social work, or other related fields.

- For candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher: At least 2 years of relevant professional experience in the areas listed above.

c. Key Competencies:

Core Competencies
- Accountability – Takes responsibility for decisions, ensures reliability and integrity in all protection and case management actions.
- Communication – Communicates clearly and respectfully with persons of concern, colleagues, and partners; ensures accurate information-sharing.
- Teamwork & Collaboration – Works effectively with colleagues, partners, and community structures; supports a cooperative and inclusive working environment.
- Commitment to Continuous Learning– Keeps up to date with protection standards, case management practices, and UNHCR policies.
- Client & Result Orientation– Prioritizes the protection needs of persons of concern and focuses on achieving timely, high-quality outcomes.

Cross-Functional Competencies
- Analytical Thinking– Demonstrates strong analytical capacity when assessing protection risks, reviewing cases, and identifying trends.
- Planning & organizing – Manages time and workload efficiently; prioritizes complex case management tasks and maintains quality standards.
- Stakeholder Management– Builds and maintains strong relationships with partners, authorities, and community actors to support coordinated protection responses.
- Technological Awareness – Effectively uses case management and protection information systems (e.g., ProGres, PRIMES tools) to support decision-making.

Functional Competencies
- Protection Case Management – Demonstrates technical expertise in interviewing, assessment, documentation, referrals, BIA/BID, and follow-up.
- Community-Based Protection – Applies AGD principles, facilitates community engagement, and strengthens community self-protection capacities.
- Child Protection & Disability Inclusion– Applies specialized knowledge in assessing the needs of children and persons with disabilities and coordinating appropriate responses.
- Data Collection & Reporting– Ensures accuracy and confidentiality in data management; contributes to protection analysis, trends, and reports.

Desired Candidate Profile:
- Previous experience in Community-Based Protection with a UN agency, international NGOs, or local NGOs is considered an asset.
- Familiarity with UNHCR reporting and assistance platforms—such as RAIS and V4—is highly desirable.
- Experience working with refugee communities in Tripoli or similarly remote and underserved areas would be an advantage.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and related data tools is an asset.
- Experience in data collection is highly desirable, along with the ability to ensure data quality and reliability.

The shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake an eliminatory written test as part of the selection process.

In line with our commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.