Overview
The Senior Protection Associate plays a central role in advancing UNHCR’s protection and solutions agenda in the Philippines, leading efforts to expand complementary pathways and supporting the Cities with Refugees initiative.
Tasks Summary
- 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 advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- 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.
- Assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection.
- Monitor and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- 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.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor with intervening with authorities on protection issues.
- Provide assistance to the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Experience Requirements
- 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
- Experience in refugee protection, asylum systems, statelessness, or human rights, preferably with government, UN, or NGOs.
- Hands-on experience with Complementary Pathways, including education or labor mobility, family reunification, or humanitarian admissions.
- Experience working with local governments on urban inclusion, service access, social protection, education systems, or local development planning.
- Knowledge of financial inclusion and economic inclusion frameworks, including engagement with private-sector or regulatory actors.
- Familiarity with registration, identity management, civil documentation, or data harmonization processes.
- Experience or training in responsible and ethical use of AI, digital inclusion, or emerging technologies in humanitarian or development contexts.
- Exposure to climate action, disaster risk reduction, or resilience programming, especially relating to displacement.
- Strong analytical, coordination, and partnership-building skills, including experience producing policy or technical guidance.
- Proven ability in capacity-building, facilitation, and supporting community participation and feedback mechanisms.
Qualification Requirements
- International Law; Political Science; or other relevant field.
- Advanced coursework in law, social sciences, international relations, development studies, public policy, data science, or related fields.
