Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Nairobi (CO), Kenya

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-07-01

Assistant Representative - Protection

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Representative- Protection is the senior protection manager in a Country Office and reports to the Representative. A member of the senior management team, the incumbent has direct or reviewing supervisory responsibility for protection staff who may include community services, registration, resettlement and education. He/she has country-wide functional supervisory responsibility for protection staff and provides protection oversight and guidance to the information and programme management functions.

The Assistant Representative- Protection transposes UNHCR's Global Strategic Priorities into a comprehensive protection strategy adapted to the country context. He/she is guardian of protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at country level and represents the UNHCR to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

The Assistant Representative- Protection is relied upon by the Office to plan, manage and guide country-wide protection delivery to forcibly displaced and stateless persons and to promote and gain support for UNHCR's protection agenda externally. This includes ensuring that operational responses in sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. He/she ensures that persons and communities of concern are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them and that their interests are effectively represented to authorities, protection and assistance partners and to the broad network of donors and stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

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
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and security developments that have an impact on the protection environment and protection delivery capacity and advise the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR's operations.
- Manage a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and forcibly displaced and stateless persons to develop and implement a comprehensive protection strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS; and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
- In operations applying the Cluster Approach, ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
- Ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and in respect of UNHCR's mandate, the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
- Ensure that necessary resources are allocated to address protection gaps.
- Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application and ensure that sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities mainstreaming protection.
- Design, deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
- Oversee the provision of expert legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors and ensure that legal assistance and documentation is accessible to forcibly displaced and stateless persons
- Oversee Eligibility and Status Determination operations ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Oversee the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for protection /solutions processes and systems.
- Promote and supervise the delivery of effective measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Develop and implement a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy. Ensure the provision of quality and protective education with an emphasis on learning outcomes and lifelong learning opportunities forging partnerships with the Ministry for Education, UNICEF and other partners as appropriate.
- Develop and implement a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Ensure that appropriate interventions are undertaken by the Office, or intervene directly, in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection-related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Ensure with governments and partners that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration, and where appropriate, resettlement are sought and provided to the largest possible number of forcibly displaced and stateless persons
- Oversee the development and implementation of a results-based advocacy programme in consultation with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Advocate with authorities and stakeholders for access to and respect for the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless persons and their access to services.
- Ensure the Protection Sector or Cluster strategy has an effective information management component to provide disaggregated data on forcibly displaced and stateless persons and their problems; and researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
- Build the protection capacity of national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis forcibly displaced and stateless persons through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and forcibly displaced and stateless persons to assert their rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.
- Contribute to a communications strategy to generate external support for UNHCR's operations and the Protection Sector/Cluster.
- Provide effective supervisory and managerial oversight, direction and guidance of the protection function.
- Design and establish effective protection staffing structures in Offices ensuring staffing configurations, profiles and competencies are commensurate with protection challenges.
- Approve the comprehensive protection strategy for endorsement by the Representative and Regional Office or Headquarters.
- Chair strategic or operational protection meetings, including Protection Cluster meetings in applicable operations and represent the protection sector/cluster in inter-agency mechanisms.
- Issue advocacy statements on behalf of UNHCR or the Protection Cluster in applicable operations. Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
- Clear documents and reports prepared by the Protection Unit / Section.
- Take decisions on individual cases.
- Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and partners on protection funding priorities in inter-agency funding appeals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of protection standard operating procedures.
- Approve expenditures under the UNHCR protection budget and direct transparent and accountable financial and other resource allocation within the Protection Cluster in applicable operations.

- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Humanitarian Law; International Relations; Law;
Political Science; International Refugee Law; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Learning Prog;

HCR Management Lrng Prg;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
- minimum 11 years of previous work experience in progressively responsible functions in an organisation or institution that administer/manage and assist a large number of asylum seekers, refugees and Displaced persons, preferably within the UN.
- Thorough knowledge in International refugee law, its applications under different circumstances; ability to analyse and advocate the application of various regional refugee instruments for the benefits of the forcibly displaced and stateless persons to UNHCR. Field experience, preferably in the context of UNHCR, in repatriation and resettlement of refugees.

Desirable
- Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.
- UNHCR specific learning/training activities (i.e. Management Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme).

Functional Skills
*PR-International Humanitarian Law
*PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
*PR-Managing large influx of forcibly displaced and stateless persons
*PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
FO-Operational activities in hardship duty stations
*PR-Application of various regional refugee instruments
(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.

ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES:
• Solid UNHCR experience in protection, with proven capacity at field and country level and a strong regional perspective to convincingly manage a diverse and skilled protection team and to represent UNHCR in high-level protection discussions
• Demonstrated skills in protection advocacy, prevention, solutions, community based protection with strong engagement of local actors and GBV, and a good understanding of issues related to returns and repatriation and of solutions, both for IDPS and refugees.
• Very strong analytical and drafting skills, leading UNHCR advocacy efforts; and a good understanding of how to use data for protection purposes.
• Experience with inter-agency dynamics, both humanitarian and development.
• Experience in working collaboratively with government counterparts and other stakeholders in a highly evolving environment.
• Deep knowledge of UNHCR policies and standards, particularly in the area of Mixed Migration and IDPs

DESIRABLE
• Given the sensitivities on the ground and the diverse team, the incumbent should also possess strong interpersonal, networking, negotiating and diplomatic skills.

,

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The incumbent will lead UNHCR’ protection response in Sudan for close to 900,000 refugees, 9 million IDPs and growing numbers of returnees. S/he will be expected to provide sound advice to the Representative and Heads of Offices on all protection issues, working closely with the Senior Protection Cluster coordinator to position UNHCR as the lead protection agency in a very challenging context. Given the scope of the crisis, the incumbent will play a key role in advising the Humanitarian Coordinator and Country Team on the inter-agency protection response, with a wide range of interventions from prevention, advocacy and solutions. S/he will also be UNHCR’S main protection interlocutor for government partners, navigating a difficult context characterized by a shrinking protection space as a result of the armed conflict in the country. S/he will coordinate a large range of partners, and in particular engage and empower local responders and partners. In addition, s/he will coordinate closely with programme and fundraising colleagues and identify opportunities for protection funding, in close cooperation with other UN agencies.

The environment in Sudan has undergone a profound shift since armed conflict erupted on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). |The protection context has deteriorated sharply in Sudan since the start of the armed conflict in April 2023, leaving the country in a highly volatile state with overwhelming humanitarian needs. The conflict has severely worsened living conditions, aggravated longstanding intercommunal and ethnic tensions, and generated grave protection risks, including killings, sexual violence, forced recruitment, abductions, looting, and large-scale displacement.

As of May 2026, Sudan hosts close to 9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), with over 7 million newly displaced since the conflict began. An additional 4.4 million people have fled across borders into neighbouring countries. Current inter-agency displacement figures exceed the combined total of the previous four years, underscoring the scale of the crisis both within Sudan and across the region. According to the inter-agency Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), the number of people in need increased from 15.8 million in November 2022 to 30.4 million in January 2025, largely driven by the ongoing conflict.

Despite the insecurity, Sudan continues to host a significant refugee population. As of 31 December 2025, the country shelters 859,974 refugees, primarily from South Sudan (73.8%), Eritrea (16%), and Ethiopia (8%). Sudan remains a key asylum country, receiving 84,038 new arrivals in 2025 from these same countries. 66% percent of refugees reside in camps, while 34% live in out‑of‑camp settings. The refugee population is 51% female and 49% male.

In areas where security has improved, displaced Sudanese have begun returning. To date, approximately 3 million people have returned to their areas of origin—81% (about 2.46 million) from internal displacement and 19% (about 567,000) from abroad. Most returns have occurred in Khartoum and Aj Jazirah, driven primarily by improved security, despite widespread destruction of shelters and limited access to essential services.

Throughout the conflict, UNHCR remains committed to staying and delivering inside Sudan. International and national staff continue to operate from eight locations across the country, providing protection and assistance to forcibly displaced populations both as part of emergency response and regular programming.

For operational coordination, the Sudan operation is structured around four main corridors:

• Western Corridor – covering the Darfur and Kordofan regions; access remains significantly constrained.
• Eastern Corridor – covering Kassala and Gedaref; fully accessible with no major operational constraints.
• Southern Corridor – covering White Nile and Blue Nile states; generally accessible, though periodic security incidents cause temporary disruptions.
• Northern Corridor – covering Wadi Halfa, Omdurman (Khartoum), and Port Sudan, where the Representation Office is located.

Additionally, a back office in Nairobi provides limited operational support functions

The incumbent will report to the Representative.

Living and Working Conditions:

Khartoum is a hardship duty station with challenging living and working conditions. Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in 2023, daily life in the city has been significantly affected by insecurity, damaged infrastructure and limited availability of basic services. The climate is hot and dry for most of the year, with average annual temperatures around 30 to 32°C and peaks reaching approximately 40 to 42°C during the hottest months, particularly from April to June. The rainy season is short, usually from July to September, with generally limited rainfall, although heavy downpours may occur. Electricity and water supply remain unreliable, and staff should be prepared for frequent interruptions. The United Nations is gradually re-establishing its operational presence in Khartoum. International personnel are accommodated in United Nations-managed guesthouses, including UNHCR and other agency facilities, as secure private housing is currently unavailable. Medical support is provided through the United Nations clinic and doctors; however, health services in the city remain limited, and staff should be prepared for a constrained operating environment.

The security situation in Khartoum remains complex, volatile and high-risk. Although there is no sustained front-line fighting inside the city at present, the situation can change quickly due to the proximity of active conflict areas and the continued risk of aerial incidents, including drone strikes. Movement is further affected by the presence of unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war in urban areas. Criminality, including opportunistic and organized crime, has increased. Staff are therefore expected to maintain a high level of security awareness and fully comply with all United Nations Department of Safety and Security requirements. Movement in Khartoum is strictly controlled. A curfew is in place from 23:00 to 05:00, and travel within the city requires coordination through United Nations security systems. Travel permits and identification checks are common, and public transport is not recommended. All official and personal movements must follow applicable security procedures and advisories.

Khartoum is managed as a non-family duty station under hardship conditions, with a four-week rest and recuperation (R&R) cycle applied in line with the operational context. International staff are required to reside in United Nations-approved accommodation and comply with Residential Security Measures. Completion of BSAFE training and TRIP registration is mandatory before deployment. Staff members should demonstrate cultural sensitivity and remain ready to adapt to changing security requirements, including possible relocation, hibernation or other contingency measures.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Refugee Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance