Protection Associate, Cotonou

## Protection Associate, Cotonou - Organization:UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - Office:UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Cotonou Description of assignment title:Protection Associate Assignment country:Benin Duty stations:Cotonou Work location:On UN premises Expected start date:02/01/2027 Duration:12 monthsLong-term benefits and allowances Sustainable Development Goal:10. Reduced inequalities Host entity:UNHCR BEN Volunteer category:Associate UCoS from Apr2026 Work schedule:Full-time Number of Assignments:1 Mission and objectives: - UNHCR’ mission is to ensure the international protection and seek durable solutions for asylum seekers and refugees even and stateless persons. UNHCR objectives in the operational context are: 1- strengthening the national asylum system, including building national capacity to respond to emergencies, strengthening RSD procedures, and guaranteeing rights; 2- ensuring the socio-economic and legal inclusion of refugees and stateless persons in national development systems and programs; 3- promoting solutions - The context is marked by a continuous influx of asylum seekers from Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. UNHCR estimated the refugee and asylum-seeking population at 42.973 at the end of March 2026, including 13.974 asylum seekers awaiting registration. 56% of this population are women and 75% women and children, Due to the worsening security context in the north, the number of internally displaced persons has more than doubled these last three years, to reach more than 30.000 people. Increasing attacks on soldiers and civilians are more and more registered. - The operational context is also the one of a strong legal framework but with limited implementation capacity. With the support of WHR of The World Bank through the COSO Project, the Ministry of the Interior, with UNHCR support, will proceed on the biometric registration and documentation of the asylum seekers waiting for such services. - As around 90% of our refugee population is based in the northern part of the country. Our focus is to develop strategies to make community-based protection effective in the north within a logic of strengthening local protection structures with the involvement and participation of refugees in these structures. - The incumbent will support the operation to broaden access to the territory and to asylum procedures. He will also contribute to strengthen the local social protection units where asylum seekers and refugees are referred to seek protection and assistance. - Under the direct supervision of the Senior Inter-agency coordination Associate, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: - - 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 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. - - Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. - - Contribute to a regional-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy. - - Contribute to a regional -level education plan as part of the protection strategy. - - Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. - - Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. - - Monitor, and intervene 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. - - 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 in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases. - - Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with glob-al 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. - - Perform other related duties as required - During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback. - Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment. Additional eligibility criteria: - This assignment is funded by the Government of Switzerland. Only candidates who have been pre-selected by Switzerland (cinfo) are eligible to apply. Assignment requirements - French, Level: Fluent, Required - English, Level: Fluent, Required Required education level: - Master's degree in law, human rights, political science or any relevant related field. Competencies and values: - Adaptability and Flexibility - Commitment and Motivation - Commitment to Continuous Learning - Judgement and Decision-making - Planning and Organizing - Respect for Diversity - Technological Awareness Skills and experience: - Demonstrated interest and/or experience (ideally one year) in - • Human rights’ law and Refugee, IDP, and statelessness persons protection - • Interviewing skills - • Complementary pathways - • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; - • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) based programming - • Community-based protection - • IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software - • Database Management Area(s) of expertise: - Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Safety and security, Disability, other social inclusion aspects