Associate Child Protection Officer (UN Volunteer Jobs)

Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Application Deadline: 8th September 2025

Key Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Science, or related fields + 3+ years of child protection experience.

About UNHCR

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCR’s mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct the supervision of the Senior Community Based Protection Officer – Protection, the UNV will undertake the following functions:

• Individual child protection case work according to best interests procedures; conducting best interests assessments (BIA), best interests determinations (BID) and family tracing/reunification in accordance with relevant UNHCR protection standards and IASC guidance, ensuring appropriate case tracking and follow-up of child protection cases.
• Support staff and partners in the strengthening of a functioning Best Interests system: identification, assessment, referral, response and assistance, monitoring and documenting of cases of children at risk.
• Support the organization of and trainings in Best Interests Procedures and Child Protection.
• Contribute to effective child protection reporting and information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
• Contribute to the systematic application of participatory, community and rights-based approaches, ensuring that children, adolescents and youth are included (as appropriate) in participatory assessments and community-based protection initiatives.
• Contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities, including children, adolescents and youth to assert their rights and to strengthen community-based child protection initiatives.
• Participate in the updating, implementation and monitoring of child protection related SOPs.
• Support the implementation of the child protection aspects of the Country Protection Strategy and programming in relation to individual case management but also participatory evaluations, setting up of alternative care arrangements, strengthening of child protection mechanisms and establishment of youth programming.
• Support other child protection activities and initiatives in coordination with colleagues in the operation.
• Contribute to the implementation of UNHCR framework for the protection of children, and specifically the child protection strategy in the Country.

Specifics to sub/field offices work if support is needed and requested:

• Support/establish working BID panel and best interests system in close collaboration with staff and partners.
• Follow-up and support on child protection cases and BID/BIA case management, including referrals for family tracing and response to specific needs.
• In collaboration with colleagues, promote and find durable solutions for children (and their families).
• Support participatory, AGD-sensitive analysis to form the essential basis for UNHCR’s work.
• Intervene with authorities on child protection issues.
• Contribute to national/sub-national (child) protection (including sectoral/cluster) strategies, project submissions and budgets.
• Support other Child Protection related activities.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Age: 18 – 80
• Required experience: 3 years
• Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
• Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Desirable
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Science, International Refugee or Human Rights Law, Political Sciences or related areas required; or equivalent knowledge preferred.

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.

Skills and experience

Minimum 3 years of work experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity, individual case work (managing interviews, conducting assessments, counselling, case advocacy and management, identifying solutions, etc.). International experience required.

Desirable Qualifications and Skills:

• Knowledge of UN policies and procedures;
• Knowledge / awareness of UNHCR’s Framework for the Protection of Children and Education and SGBV strategies;
• Knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches;
• Knowledge / awareness of cross cultural issues, especially in the context of child protection;
• Knowledge / awareness of gender issues and how to apply rights and community based approach to identify and respond to specific needs;
• Previous experience in child protection is a great advantage;
• Previous experience in working with communities;
• Skills in conducting trainings and exercises with large groups of people (e.g. trainings, participatory evaluations);
• Excellent drafting and analytical skills;
• Excellent interviewing and counselling skills;
• Ability to manage information, in a confidential manner, and to use database management systems;
• Ability to conduct individual and group assessments and to identify protection risks, to liaise with partners and pro-actively find solutions.

Other

Computer skills: Office Package (excellent knowledge of Word, good knowledge of Excel and Power Point) and Internet browsing.

How to Apply

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online at the link below:

Apply Here

Deadline: 8th September 2025

Brown Alex Tuesday, 26 August 2025 Jobs NGO