Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA2
Target Start Date2025-09-01
Deadline for ApplicationsAugust 19, 2025
Terms of Reference1. General Background
Protection risks continue unabated with over 272 million people exposed to protection risks impacted by conflicts and disasters. Conflict, violence, and systematic breaches of international humanitarian law remain the main causes of protection needs, exacerbated by climate change, socio-economic shocks and food insecurity. At the end of 2024, some 74 million people were internally displaced due to armed conflict, generalized violence, human rights violations and disasters. Against this background, the humanitarian response system continues to be challenged to act faster and more effectively, particularly in protecting the human rights of crisis-affected people and to find lasting solutions to displacement and recurring emergencies.
The Global Protection Cluster is mandated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), governed by a Strategic Advisory Group, co-chaired by the GPC Coordinator and an operational NGO, and serviced by a multi-partner Operations Cell. The GPC brings together UN agencies, NGOs and international organizations working on protection-related themes in humanitarian response, including those with mandates and/or expertise in human rights, child protection, gender-based violence, housing, land, and property issues and Mine Action. With its focus on protecting the human rights of crisis-affected populations, which is core to and yet transcends humanitarian action, the GPC and its country protection clusters provide technical support and protection risks analyses to Humanitarian Country teams to support the roll out of the Centrality of Protection in the humanitarian responses. The work of the GPC covers three broad areas: i) Field operational support; ii) providing a global platform for protection, and iii) developing global standards and policy on protection.
The position of the GPC โ Advocacy and Policy is located in Geneva within the Durable Solutions and Protection Support Service of the Division of International Protection and Solutions (DIPS). As the GPC โ Advocacy and Policy, the incumbent will contribute to the GPCโs efforts on collective protection policy and advocacy across the spectrum from local humanitarian actors to high level humanitarian, diplomatic and political leadership. The incumbent will provide strategic advocacy and policy support to the Global Protection Cluster and will lead on the design and implementation of key project and initiatives in line with the GPCโs Strategic Framework. These efforts aim to influence and enhance policy and practices that contribute to greater protection of civilians in conflict and crisis situations. The role will strengthen collective protection advocacy by country clusters and the GPC for national, regional and global targets, carry out joint advocacy work with partners and alliances, design and lead advocacy campaigns, and advance, policy development and positioning, and effective engagement with key stakeholders.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The incumbent will work closely with the GPC Snr Coordinator to deliver on policy and advocacy priorities as part of the GPC Strategic Framework, support strategic collective advocacy for protection outcomes, leading on strengthened protection policies and the capacity-building of country protection clusters with a strong emphasis on the engagement and leadership of local and national NGOs in the said clusters.
- Capacity-building for effective collective Protection Advocacy
o Providing responsive field support to Protection Clusters and key partners (including N/INGOs, local organizations, UN agencies and other stakeholders on collective protection advocacy including through technical guidance, strategy development and capacity-building workshops, learning sessions, peer exchange, webinars and trainings.
o Supporting, mentoring and technical support to protection advocates across the humanitarian system, with a focus on country protection clusters, to take forward more impactful collective protection advocacy.
- Support to Global Protection Cluster Advocacy & Policy Engagement
o Develop, update and deliver an effective advocacy strategy within the GPCโs overall strategic priorities.
o Lead/co-lead planning and coordination of GPC advocacy products, strategic events (including high-level events) and engagements in conjunction with the GPC leadership, Protection Clusters and partners and in line with strategic influencing aims.
o In coordination with the GPCโs Snr Coordinator, represent the GPC externally and develop a strong network of relations with key humanitarian, diplomatic and political individuals and institutions.
o Guide and advance policy analyses, GPC positioning and policy engagement/change efforts in support of strengthened protection systems and action, in line with the GPCโs influencing
o Lead and support strategic partnerships and projects related to protection advocacy, negotiations, engagement and leadership, including protection negotiations and protection leadership.
o Support and review GPC reports and publications, , ensuring quality, alignment and impact.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
- Provide meaningful, in-depth support with protection advocacy strategies, products and capacity to at least 4-5 priority Protection Cluster operations in different countries/contexts.
- Provide responsive advocacy support, including with leadership on relevant briefings, submissions, products, events and engagements, to Protection Cluster staff and members, as needed and in coordination with the GPC Field Support Team.
- Develop and deliver priority trainings, workshops, webinars and with Protection Cluster operations and allies, including in-person trainings and online webinars and peer exchanges.
- Advance implementation of the GPCโs thematic advocacy priorities through leadership with relevant lobby trips, high-level events, advocacy products and partnerships.
- Support learning and reflection with Protection Cluster colleagues and members on 2 key priorities and develop related policy and advocacy products protection negotiations, protection advocacy and/or protection leadership topics.
- Liaison with the GPC Advocacy Reference Group, on collective advocacy efforts and partnerships in support of priority operations and 1-2 thematic advocacy issues.
4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
- Advanced University Degree in Law, International Human Rights Law, or related fields.
b. Work Experience
- Minimum 6 yearsโ experience in advocacy and protection response including experience in the development and implementation of humanitarian projects, IASC protocols and guidelines, tools and policies, capacity-building, performance and/or risk management.
c. Key Competencies
- Excellent strategic thinking, policy analysis, advocacy and project management skills
- Experience of working collaboratively with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- High level of familiarity with humanitarian coordination mechanisms, protection norms, standards and understanding of a holistic approach to protection, and the ability to incorporate these into operational and technical solutions.
- Excellent interpersonal and coordination skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and collaboration across institutional mandates, and lead on capacity-building with diverse audiences/stakeholders.
- Ability to break down complex concepts into understandable components.
- Excellent communication skills โ both written and oral presentation. Fluency in English, with other UN languages being an advantage.
- Flexible work attitude: proactive, ability to work independently and productively in a fast-paced environment, in different time zones, and to handle requests or issues as they arise
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Desired Languages
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Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
RemoteNo