Overview
The Associate Protection Cluster Coordination Officer ensures UNHCR's effective leadership of the Protection Cluster within the IASC coordination framework, assuming day-to-day coordination responsibilities, leading inter-agency engagement, and supporting joint protection analysis.
Tasks Summary
- Organize and facilitate meetings.
- Facilitate coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities.
- Facilitate the coordination and conduct of protection needs assessments.
- Provide inputs to common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization.
- Assist in the delivery of protection training activities.
- Coordinate initiatives to build protection capacity.
- Provide input into the development of global protection policy and standards.
- Support reporting and information sharing.
- Support and facilitate the Protection Cluster information management strategy and mechanisms.
- Ensure the Protection Cluster produces regular updates and briefing notes.
- Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
- Promote the Protection Cluster's adherence to international human rights instruments.
- Promote and help strengthen national legislation relevant to internal displacement and durable solutions.
- Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements.
- Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies.
- Facilitate negotiation with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members on prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Experience Requirements
- 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree.
- Excellent computer skills, particularly in data management.
- Technical expertise in registration, operational data management and individual case management.
- Knowledge of UNHCR data standards and procedures.
- Proven experience working with diverse humanitarian partners — including UN agencies, national authorities, local NGOs, and community-based organizations — in highly challenging and unstable operational environments.
- Experience contributing to protection coordination, including joint analysis, reporting, and supporting inter‑agency mechanisms.
- Experience engaging with government counterparts and supporting coordination with national structures.
- Previous exposure to one or more Protection AoRs (Child Protection, GBV, HLP, MHPSS, Mine Action) is an asset.
- Participation in UNHCR or inter‑agency protection learning programmes (Protection Mainstreaming, Coordination, AGD, PSEA) is desirable.
- Experience in advocacy and negotiation in contexts with access constraints, insecurity, and limited partner presence.
Qualification Requirements
- Law; International Law; Political Sciences; or other relevant field.
- HCR Coordination Lrng Prog; Tri-Cluster Knowl/Coord Skills.
