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

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Dakar, Senegal

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Protection Cluster Coordination Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters where UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach, UNHCR performs a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function through the position of Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer and the supporting positions of Protection Cluster Coordination Officer.

These latter P3 level positions normally report directly to the Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer. The UNHCR Representative has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency.

The Protection Cluster Coordination Officer supports UNHCR to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The position reinforces UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency functions by providing support to the role of Protection Cluster Coordination Officer in ensuring UNHCR's leadership within a diverse protection community.

The Protection Cluster Coordination Officer is expected to facilitate the work of the Protection Cluster through the provision of analysis, organization and reporting; and to impartially represent the interests of the members of the Protection Cluster. This includes the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the incumbent supports an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.

The incumbent supports the Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms, for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age, gender and diversity in the humanitarian response and early recovery activities.

S/he works closely with and may, depending on the Office structure, directly supervise multi-functional Protection Cluster Support staff in the areas of data and information management, needs assessment, profiling, registration, reporting and advocacy.

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
- Facilitate the development of a Protection Cluster strategy following a consultative process with partners and stakeholders. Support the Protection Cluster to ensure that protection informs and shapes the overall humanitarian response and that the protection response is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan.
- Organize and facilitate meetings in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster meetings are consultative and results oriented.
- Facilitate coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities.
- Support the design of transition strategies for the Protection Cluster: facilitate the development of a strategy for the cluster ensuring proper linkages with disaster risk reduction, relief, and recovery and development efforts.
- Facilitate the coordination and conduct of Protection Cluster or Inter-Cluster level protection needs assessments, including participatory assessments of affected populations.
- Provide strategic inputs to development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the Protection Cluster for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.
- Establish mechanisms for accountable and transparent financial resource allocation within the cluster.
- Facilitate the delivery of protection training activities for Protection Cluster members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
- Coordinate initiatives to build the protection capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
- Ensure adherence to IASC standard operating procedures for IDP profiling.
- Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the Protection Cluster, including any work developed by sub-clusters or working groups.
- Ensure adherence of Protection Cluster activities to Guidelines on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming.
- Through Cluster-wide consultative processes, provide input into the development of global protection policy and standards led by the Global Protection Cluster.
- Support reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
- Support and facilitate the Protection Cluster information management strategy and mechanisms.
- Ensure that the Protection Cluster produces regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population, response activities, challenges and recommendations.
- Identify core advocacy concerns for the Protection Cluster through a consultative process: Facilitate joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy.
- Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
- Promote the Protection Cluster's adherence to international human rights instruments, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as other relevant international and regional instruments; in cooperation with the Humanitarian Country Team support local interventions when violations of international protection standards and principles occur.
- Promote and help strengthen national legislation relevant to internal displacement and durable solutions.
- Facilitate cluster meetings and represent the Protection Cluster in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant interlocutors.
- Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster - for clearance by Senior management.
- Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
- Facilitate negotiation with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members on the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.
- Monitor the allocation of financial and other resources within the Protection Cluster, when required, such as with regard to Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) or Common Humanitarian Funds (CHF).

- 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 P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law; International Law; Political Sciences; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Coordination Lrng Prog;

Tri-Cluster Knowl/Coord Skills;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law plus minimum 6 years relevant professional experience of which 2 years in the field.

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
PR-Protection in natural disaster situations
(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:
• Experience related to advocating for respect of human rights of civilian population, advocacy against restriction of movement of population, etc.
• Experience supervising colleagues, as s/he will manage the day-to-day work of the Protection Cluster Coordination team and will support the field-based Protection clusters in Kaya, Dori, Fada, Bobo Dioulasso, Ouahigouya
• Experience working as Protection Cluster Coordinator or in a position with strong coordination and advocacy agenda, sufficient experience to settle matters between the displaced populations and the host communities and coordination with UN agencies, international and local NGOs
• Experience in complex IDP operations or country-operations applying the Cluster Approach alongside a solid protection background and in leading strategic processes involving multiple actors in the context of emergency, preparedness and transition to development in an evolving environment
• Solid understanding of IASC principles and the Humanitarian Reset process.
• Proficiency in French language

Desirable Attributes:
• Experience in the area of transitional justice
• Strong field protection and solutions experience in IDP contexts
• Capacity to provide training to humanitarian actors, judges, lawyers and other stakeholders.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to this position

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

The Protection Cluster Coordination Officer will supervise the Protection cluster activities within the operation (Ouagadougou, Kaya and Dori).

In a complex humanitarian and mixed situation such as Burkina Faso. The Protection Cluster Coordination Officer reinforces UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency by providing support to the role of Protection Cluster Coordination Officer in ensuring UNHCR’s leadership with a diverse protection community.

UNHCR's operation in Burkina Faso includes as of 31 December 2025, 42,962 refugees and asylum seekers who had to flee their country of origin because of the socio-political crisis that prevail since February 2012. The majority of refugees live with the community and in the site of Ouezin in the Sahel region. Others are living in border areas and in the two biggest cities of Burkina.

Due to insecurity, people in Burkina Faso have been uprooted from their homes due to the presence of terrorist groups, increased criminality and ongoing counterterrorism operations which expose the civilian populations to violence. The number of people moving inland continue to increase particularly in the Liptako, Soum and Kuilse regions. As of 31 March 2023, their number amounted to 2 062,588 displaced. At the end of 2025, the government also reported that more than one (1) million IDPs have returned to their areas of origin and need solutions-oriented support.

The security situation in northern Burkina has led to cross-border movements of several Burkinabe. More than 95% of the IDPs are living in host community households, who are no longer able to absorb the continuous and multiple displacements.

Living and Working Conditions:

Burkina Faso has basic infrastructures, including in the health sector. In Ouagadougou, there are more than 20 health clinics and hospitals, but only nine are recommended by the UN System.

Epidemics and other disease outbreaks are common in the operational area.

Ouagadougou is a non-family duty station and education is generally in French, however there is also a US English school. Currently, international appointed staff members are not authorized to bring their families to Burkina Faso. Banking services available include more than five international banks among which two are recommended by the UN System (United Bank of Africa and Ecobank).

Hot and dry desert environment with high daylight temperature fluctuations.

In the field, due to security-borne restrictions, the office has built some well-organized guest houses where all staff are advised to reside during field missions (in FU Djibo, FO Dori, Fada N’Gourma). However, UNDSS-approved hotels are available in Ouagadougou as well as in other major towns across the country. Housing in Ouagadougou is mainly individual houses and are easily available. Electricity is very expensive, and a backup generator is recommended.

Ouagadougou is a D duty station with an 8-week R&R cycle. The R&R location is in Ghana.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Refugee Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

HCR Coordination Learning Program - UNHCR, Tri_Cluster Knowledge/Coord Skills - Other

Competencies

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