Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer (N)

November 16, 2025

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Nairobi (CO), Kenya

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-01-01

Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is a member of the Protection Unit in a Country Operation and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more 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 Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer 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 fulfil this role the Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (PoC). The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Be fully informed about community structures and the protection and security situation of the PoC and develop strong links with a cross-section of members of refugee/IDP/stateless communities, using an AGD approach.
- Through relationships with PoC and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to senior management.
- Ensure that the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC are reflected in the protection strategy, planning processes and operations plan addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
- Support a consultative process with government counterparts at local levels, partners and PoC to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, child protection, education and GBV, and solutions approaches.
- Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners and implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on all community-based protection related issues.
- Support the design, implementation and evaluation of protection centred and solutions oriented programming with implementing and operational partners guaranteeing that community-owned activities are integrated.
- Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures
- Promote confidence building and conflict resolution among PoC, authorities and host communities.
- Maintain protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with PoC, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, contribute the development of an AGD-compliant strategy on which the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded and covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
- Support the Operation's work to fully integrate the protection strategy into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
- Contribute to the Protection team's information management component which: provides disaggregated data on PoC and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary.
- Support the inclusion of participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches in strategies and plans in the Country Operation.
- Support community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
- Support PoC to develop structures that enhance their participation and protection.
- Contribute to the design of project submissions and the budget for endorsement by the supervisor.
- Intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues.
- Negotiate with local counterparts, partners and PoC.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights,
International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
Anthropology, International Law

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Some professional working experience.in the areas of community services, social work (e.g., gender, GBV programs, women's empowerment and protection, work with refugees) or/and human rights or related tasks in government, NGO or international organisation.

Desirable
Proven communication skills, both oral and written. Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches. Understanding of and demonstrated competencies in forced displacement and protection, particularly GBV prevention and response, child protection, education, gender equality, and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy.

Functional Skills
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
IT-Computer Literacy
DM-Database Management
PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations
PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming
PR-Gender Equality
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

1. Nature of the Position

The Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is a member of the Protection/Field Unit in FO- Wadi Halfa and reports to the head of unit, the Associate Field Officer. Under the overall direction of the Protection/Field Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, local authorities, partners and other stakeholders, the Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer works directly with communities of the forcibly displaced persons to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities and design Community-Based protection strategy/interventions built on consultation.
The incumbent supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery throughout. To fulfil this role the Assistant Community-Based Protection Officer is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday in the field to build and maintain networks within communities of the forcibly displaced. The maintenance of constructive relationships with the communities would that significantly impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results form the core of the work of the incumbent.
In collaboration with the local authorities including Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and Commission of Refugees (COR) and, together with other partners, the candidate joins the team to provide protection with focus on Community-Based protection and assistance to the Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) settled in the gathering sites as well as those/IDPs hosted by the host community in Northern state.
UNHCR Wadi Halfa Office covers Northern and River Nile States, it was established in June 2023 to response to the ongoing forced displacement caused by the current conflict that started in April 2023. Focusing on Northern State (the largest state in Sudan), which borders 2 countries, Egypt and Libya. Because of its proximity (considered safe), the State continues to receive and host forcibly displace persons from the conflict most affected states of Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan. The state hosts over 500,000 IDPs by Sept 2025 (DTM data) and more are expected to arrive due to the security situation in and North Darfur and Kordofan states.
Besides, the context also involves returns mainly from Egypt, Wadi Halfa is exit and entry point. The changes in conflict dynamics in central Sudan has resulted to increased return from Egypt, and by 31 October 2025, about 350,000 Sudanese nationals have arrived from Egypt since January. Majority of the returnees are from Khartoum with few others from Ad Jazira and Sennar. However, due to limitation in resources especially, the transport to places of return some of them remain in and around Wadi Halfa and Dongola mainly.
Besides the conflict induced displacement, Northern state is prone to yearly devastating natural disasters, the flooding always displaces, destroy major infrastructure, disrupt road mobility and access, buildings, sometimes loss of lives among other negative impacts. The destructive flooding considerably contributes to the suffering of the forcibly displaced and host population.
The increased arrival of FDPs and returnees (who also fall in similar situation with IDPs) led to inadequate or no assistance in various areas. The disparity is attributed to and exacerbated by the ever-reducing resource envelope beyond UNHCR Sudan operation capacity, impacting all offices including Wadi Halfa. The shrinking funding situation has equally impacted on activities of other humanitarian agencies.
Against this background of limited resources, the operation continues to record increasing concerns about inadequate services from the communities of the displaced. Consequently, the operation strategy is to enhance community participation in matters pertaining to their lives. The incumbent, therefore, must exhibit relevant skills for enhanced community involvement/ownership through coordination with relevant stakeholders especially IDPs led organizations, host community, and leaders of the community, working directly with the community to identify opportunities, risks, and capacitate the existing community mechanisms/structures in order to protection their families and the community at large.

2. Desired candidate profile

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of community-based protection approaches, protection and durable solutions concepts.
• IDP experience in the tri-cluster (Protection, Shelter and NFIs/Site management) and collaboration multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the local context and familiarity with Northern Sudan operation especially with mixed movement.
• Capacity building skills and knowledge especially of community structures, including proven competencies in preparation of and delivering presentations and training facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge/skill in quality report writing and drafting.
• Demonstrated experience working with forcibly people in a humanitarian and/or recovery setting.
• Familiarity with community-based protection mechanisms.
• Understanding of the state social protection system and how community-based protection connects with it.
• Experience working on supporting IDPs arriving to gathering sites and supporting them to find a durable solution.
• Abilities to develop ideas and concepts to advance on IDP protection and solutions through community-based protection.
• Positive attitude to teamwork, and good communication skills.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Database Management, IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming, PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming, PR-Gender Equality, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Bachelor of Arts: Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts: Cultural Studies, Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts: International Development, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Social Work, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

this is a national position

This position doesn't require a functional clearance