Protection Assistant

Mission and objectivesThe Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org). As the UN-mandated agency to provide international protection to refugees, UNHCR leads the refugee coordination structure in support of the Government-led response, with the aim to complement, support and strengthen the national response to the refugee crisis, along with ensuring no duplication of interventions and complementarity of action.

ContextPoland’s eastern borders with Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine serve as the European Union’s external boundaries. Poland currently hosts over one million registered refugees. Among them, approximately 12% originate from temporarily occupied territories in the East of Ukraine, where forces of the Russian Federation are present. Poland is also home to approximately 600,000 Ukrainians who arrived before 24 February 2022, holding various forms of legal status and who are unable to return to Ukraine due to the ongoing war, pushing the total number of Ukrainians in Poland to over 1.6 million persons. Women and children continue to represent the majority of refugees in Poland, accounting for approximately 80% of the refugee population. UNHCR has been in Poland for 30 years (since 1992), working with national authorities on refugee-related matters. With the Ukraine emergency, UNHCR has substantially scaled up its presence and operations. It currently has a Country Office with a workforce of about 40 national and international staff. In line with the strategic priorities of the Refugee Response Plan (RRP), as endorsed by the Government of Poland, UNHCR Poland aims to build the human capital of Ukrainian refugees by ensuring refugees’ effective access to asylum, legal status and the rights that follow, facilitating access to, and supporting, national social protection systems and through reinforcing economic inclusion and self-reliance. UNHCR works closely with the Polish authorities to facilitate access to the national social protection system, including social welfare services, education, healthcare, mental health and psycho-social support, and special assistance for the most vulnerable refugees — for example, at-risk single women, children, persons with disabilities and older refugees. UNHCR also provides technical and policy advice to ensure systems are accessible to refugees, while promoting inclusive legislative via our legal work and senior-level advocacy. Access to national social protection systems is more than a safety net for the most vulnerable. When refugees can access healthcare, childcare, social benefits, and housing support in Poland, they are better equipped to rebuild their lives, and contribute to the local economy, and eventually to Ukraine when return is feasible.

Task DescriptionWithin delegated authority and under the supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer, the Protection Assistant will: • Provide technical support on the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees in national social protection programmes, and on aligning UNHCR assistance with these programmes, working closely with Multi-Functional Teams to translate this into planning in line with UNHCR procedures. • Support the social protection team in liaising with local authorities (e.g. voivodes, municipalities, social protection institutions) to advance the alignment and transition of assistance to government-led social protection programmes. • Support the implementation of UNHCR social protection partnerships with local NGOs through monitoring activities and field visits. • Update social protection roadmaps, fact sheets, guidance notes, and other relevant tools and documentation. • Support engagement with academic institutions and research initiatives to strengthen the evidence base of UNHCR and external stakeholders regarding the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees in social protection programmes. • Organize social protection–related knowledge management, learning, and capacity-building activities, including trainings and learning events. • Support advocacy efforts for inclusive and sustainable social protection systems. • Support the organization of donor visits (social protection related). • Perform any other related duties as required or assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies and values• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age;commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarksWarsaw, the capital and largest city of Poland, has a population of approximately 1.79 million (World Population Review, 2023). It's a vibrant and modern city with a rich history, diverse culture, and a thriving economy. The city offers a diverse cultural landscape with numerous museums, galleries, theaters, and green spaces for leisure and recreation. The climate features cold winters with temperatures below zero and warm summers ranging from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius. Safety in Warsaw is generally good, though occasional exceptions may occur, typical of any urban area. Compared to other European capitals, Warsaw is relatively affordable, attracting tourists and expatriates. Its efficient public transportation network includes buses, trams, and a reliable metro system. The city offers a variety of fresh and affordable food options, and families can find international schools and kindergartens for their children's education. Warsaw has two major airports, Warsaw Chopin Airport and Warsaw Modlin, providing domestic and international flight options. Quality healthcare is readily available through a mix of public and private hospitals and clinics. Real estate options in Warsaw are diverse, with recommended neighborhoods like Śródmieście, Wola, Mokotów, and Żoliborz. These areas are well-communicated and offer excellent transportation links, ensuring there's no problem reaching the country office. They provide convenient access to amenities and are ideal choices for those seeking a central and well-connected living environment in Warsaw. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos) and use the entitlement calculator (https://app.unv.org/calculator) for the most up to date information. Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): PLN 8096.66* Entry lump sum (onetime payment) USD: 400 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance * Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in the exchange rate. Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days