There were 1,554 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 412,925 in the last 365 days.

Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Associate Field Officer (Protection): Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Application Deadline: January 27th 2015

Applications must be emailed to JPOCoordinator@state.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the date indicated in order to be considered. Thank you.

How to Apply:

Please note that PRM-sponsored JPO positions are open to U.S. Citizens only.

Applicants must submit a completed United Nations Personal History form (UN P-11) via email to JPOCoordinator@state.gov by the deadline noted above. The UN P-11 form is available for download from the UNHCR website at http://www.unhcr.org/recruit/p11new.doc. PRM will accept the UN P-11 form without a signature. If desired, you may also submit a resume or curriculum vitae and letter of interest. Please specify the position for which you are applying in the Subject line of the email (i.e. Associate Protection Officer – Kabul, AFGHANISTAN). You must send a separate email and application for each position for which you are qualified and wish to be considered. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions on the PRM website.

PRM Notes:

• For more information about UNHCR’s operations at this post, please visit the UNHCR website at www.unhcr.org.

• University degree in (International) Law, with at least 2 years of relevant experience. Advanced degree strongly preferred for participation in the JPO program.

• Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience required with a Master degree or four years with a Bachelor degree; experience in refugee work or humanitarian work desirable.

• Strong working knowledge of a second UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian) in addition to English is highly desirable for participation in the JPO program.

• The JPO job description and related information attached are provided by UNHCR.

• JPO contracts are initially issued for one (1) year and then renewed. American JPOs are expected to serve a complete (2) two-year JPO term.

Associate Field Officer (Protection)

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Job Description (JPO)

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Title: Associate Field Officer (JPO)

Sector: Protection

Location: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Duration of the assignment: 1 Year renewable (total of 2 years)

SUPERVISION:

Supervisor: Gaitrie Ammersing, Field Officer (Protection)

Title of other international staff members in same duty station: Head of Sub Office, Programme Officer

Content and methodology of the supervision:

Supervisors create an open and constructive environment, providing individual guidance/coaching and on-the-job training to the JPOs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducting regular camp visits and protection monitoring, including visits to surrounding areas; identifies protection problems and gaps and ensures, in close coordination/collaboration with camp authorities, law enforcement agencies and local government officials, protection of refugees is in accordance with UNHCR Mandate and international standards;

• Working in close coordination with the Community Services team to identify vulnerable groups and individuals, in particular women and children, to develop concrete initiatives and ensure that their specific protection needs are addressed;

• Intervening with local camp/administrative authorities and communicating with partners on protection related issues;

• Following up on individual cases in need of Best Interest Determination (BID) and legal assistance, including ensuring and monitoring representation at court level and providing advice and guidance to local lawyers;

• Organizing and facilitating trainings and workshops for camp authorities and different governmental and judicial bodies on refugee law, human rights and SGBV;

• Supervising data management, including but not limited to statistics, data entry, data mining, refugee registration and documentation issues; prepares weekly/monthly reports on the protection situation in the camps and surrounding areas;

• Tracking and monitoring of new arrivals from the country of origin and of ‘irregular’ movements (departures of refugees from Bangladesh) and reporting of such movements, within the scope of UNHCR’s protection and monitoring capacity, to UNHCR Offices and relevant partners in the region;

• Assisting the Field Officer (Protection) in the preparation of weekly/monthly reports on the protection situation and protection activities in the camps;

Resettlement (temporarily on hold pending governmental approval for resumption)

• Identify resettlement cases in accordance with the criteria set out in the Resettlement Handbook and in line with the office SOP, policies and priorities of the Office;

• Conduct resettlement interviews and Best Interest Determinations for potential resettlement cases in Cox’s Bazaar and Dhaka, as needed;

• Complete Resettlement Registration Forms (RRF) for identified cases and ensuring that photographs, signatures and all supporting documents are available;

• Participate in some or all aspects of streamlined resettlement processing undertaken by the office including planning, preparation and logistics follow-up;

• Conduct counseling and manage expectations.

Voluntary Repatriation (if possible during the assignment period):

• Conducting refugee intention surveys with families/individuals cleared by the Government of The Union of Myanmar for repatriation;

• Providing country of origin (CoO) information to potential returnees;

• Identifying and referring volrep applicants with special needs for follow-up in the country of origin;

• Conducting monitoring and interviews with potential returnees to ensure their decision to repatriate is made on a well-informed basis and to ascertain the voluntary nature of the return;

• Supervising the completion of Voluntary Repatriation Forms;

• Participate in some or all aspects of streamlined voluntary repatriation processing undertaken by the office including planning, preparation and logistics follow-up.

• Performing other duties as required.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

• The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.

• The protection strategy incorporates a thorough age, gender and diversity (AGD) analysis and reflects the Organization’s global, regional and country level priorities.

• The Participation of persons of concern is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches.

• Protection incidents are immediately identified and addressed.

AUTHORITY:

• Intervene with authorities on protection issues.

• Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.

• Decide priorities for reception, interviewing and counseling for groups or individuals.

• Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

• Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Qualifications: University degree in law, preferable with specialization in international law;

Experience: Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience required with a Master degree or four years with a Bachelor degree;

Skills:

- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;

- Strong protection and counseling skills;

- Ability to work independently using own initiatives;

- Ability to communicate and influence diplomatically and effectively at all levels;

- Proficiency in English with excellent report writing skills;

- Computer literate – Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel;

- Previous experience working in a multi-cultural environment is desirable;

- Team player.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES, which illustrate behaviors that are essential to achieving deliverables described above, and that are critical to successful performance. All jobs require the staff to abide to the Values and Core competencies of UNHCR.

- Empowering and Building Trust (M001)

- Judgement and Decision Making (M003)

- Analytical Thinking (X001)

- Stakeholder Management (X008)

- Change Capability and Adaptability (X009)

TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS:

Training components:

The JPO will receive on-the-job training and will be facilitated to attend national and regional protection training workshops, subject to exigencies of work and funding availability.

The JPO will have to undertake all mandatory online training courses on security, code of conduct, harassment in the workplace, IPSAS and others. UNHCR’s internet-based learning platform also offers a variety of other facultative courses. The Office encourages staff to participate in the various available distant (online) learning courses such as the Protection Learning Programme (PLP) and Operations Management Learning Programme (OMLP).

Learning elements:

The JPO will develop a hands-on approach to managing a refugee caseload in a camp setting.

In addition, he/she will learn specialized functions in protection such as case management, resettlement, RSD, SGBV. They will also learn core functions.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

UNHCR established its presence in Bangladesh in the early 1990s to assist with an influx of refugees from Northern Rakhine State in Myanmar. Although the vast majority (some 95% from the initial influx) returned to Myanmar by the end of 1994, many returned to Bangladesh in the ensuing years.

The main refugee population in Bangladesh consists of the Rohingya from Myanmar, with an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 currently residing in Bangladesh. However, as the Government has not allowed registration of new refugees since the 1990s only about 30,000 of these are registered, and UNHCR is confined by the Government to working with this population.

These 30,000 refugees reside in two official camps, Nayapara and Kutupalong in the district of Cox’s Bazaar, in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh near the Myanmar border. Nayapara and Kutupalong are a one and two hour drive from the Cox’s Bazaar office, respectively.

These camps represent one of the most protracted refugee situations in the world, with 60% of residents born in the camps. Unfortunately, a durable solution remains elusive: repatriation is not an option since persecution against Rohingya is ongoing in Myanmar; the Government of Bangladesh will not allow the refugees to integrate; and resettlement was halted (by the Government) in 2010.

UNHCR and various stakeholders are working to find a long term comprehensive solution. In the meantime, UNHCR and WFP as well as partner NGOS, provide care and maintenance for the refugees in the two camps. The current program focuses on community mobilization, education, skills and life skills training to enhance self-reliance. Improving legal and physical protection in the camps, including combating SGBV and other forms of abuse and exploitation, is also an important component of the Protection Unit’s work.

The 200,000 to 500,000 unregistered Rohingya who live outside the camp receive very little assistance. Some 70,000 live in makeshift sites near the official camps while the rest reside in villages throughout the district of Cox’s Bazar and in some of the neighboring districts. Although UNHCR does not currently have access to this population, some NGOs are able to provide some basic assistance, mainly health/nutrition and water/sanitation, to part of the unregistered refugee population.

As a result of the challenges facing both the registered and unregistered refugees, there has been an increase in irregular maritime movements out of Bangladesh in recent years. UNHCR is monitoring this development closely both in Bangladesh and across the region.

In early 2014, the Government released a new strategy to address the unregistered population. Although the details remain unclear, UNHCR is hopeful that this strategy will lead to an increase in protection and humanitarian assistance for this population, and that UNHCR will play a role.

In addition to the Rohingya, there is a small urban refugee population (approximately 200) comprised of refugees of various nationalities, with the majority coming from Myanmar (non-Rohingya ethnicity). As Bangladesh is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not have an asylum legislation procedure in place, UNHCR in Dhaka conducts individual RSD for the ‘urban’ asylum seekers.

Information about living conditions:

There are three UNHCR international staff members in Cox’s Bazaar. The staff members live in rented apartments in Cox’s Bazaar town, not too far from the office. The average monthly rent is in the range of 200 – 500 US dollars excluding electricity and other possible charges. Water is free but electricity cost is between 950-3,500 Takas per month (1 USD = 80 BDT). Given the frequency of power cuts, small generators are usually made available to staff at a rental cost of USD 40 per month.

Vacant apartments are always available though the choices are limited and the standards vary depending on the tenants’ preference. A normal apartment building has 24-hour security, the cost of the guards are normally shared amongst the tenants of the building or to be arranged locally. Most apartments are unfurnished. Water supply is quite reliable. Safe drinking water is available from local suppliers.

Cable TV and recently internet service provider is now available in Cox’s Bazaar. It costs monthly 500 BDT for cable TV and 1,500-3,000 for internet although the speed is not fast and often disrupted.

The cost of labor is very low in Bangladesh. Housekeepers are available in the range of 3,000-10,000 BDT. Some staff members also provide food for their domestic staff if they are working on a full day basis. Food is comparatively expensive, e.g. 1 kg of fish costs 200-500 BDT, an egg costs 4.50, beef is 180 BDT. Vegetables are cheap. A gas cylinder (15 kg) costs 2,000 BDT.

Cox's Bazaar is a seaside town and a top tourist destination for Bangladeshis, especially during the dry season (October to April), on the weekends (Fridays and Saturdays), and Eid holidays. It boasts one of the longest uninterrupted beaches in the world. The sea beach at Cox’s Bazar lacks some basic infrastructure (amenities, professional lifeguards, etc.). Foreigners, esp. women, are usually surrounded by crowds of curious onlookers. The town is small and crowded, with many hotels mushrooming to cater for the visitors. Its municipal services (incl. garbage collection) are not well developed. The drainage system is poor. Local restaurants are available and inexpensive; some of the bigger hotels also cater a variety of international cuisines (Indian, Thai, Chinese, European). Shops, groceries for basic household and food items are available.

The climate is tropical and the humidity is quite high, esp. during the monsoon season (May-September). Mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and other insects are common to the environment. Malaria is rare in the town but common in the surrounding rural areas. Weather in summer can be uncomfortable and it is essential to have air conditioners and fans in the apartments, which makes living in Cox’s Bazar more costly.

Medical facilities are available in Cox’s Bazaar, i.e. Government and private hospitals, but most of them are sub-standard. There is a US-funded charity clinic/hospital not far from the town for basic health care, regular check-ups, lab tests and minor surgery. Chittagong (about 4 hours by road) or Dhaka (an hour’s flight) provide better medical care, even for minor complaints.

There are very few entertainment facilities. Foreigners have access to the tennis court of the Officers’ Club. On the UNHCR compound, there is a semi-outdoor badminton court which staff can use. Bigger hotels have publicly accessible swimming pools.

There are daily domestic flights between Cox's Bazar and Dhaka. Flights are not always reliable, esp. off-season, with last-minute cancellations or considerable delays. The alternative - international - airport with more regular flights is in the port city of Chittagong (2nd largest city in Bangladesh; four hours’ drive from Cox’s Bazar).

July 2014