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

Accra, Ghana

PR4

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Senior Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In the Bureaux, the Senior Protection Officer works under the direct supervision of the Bureau Deputy Director or Head of Bureau Protection Service or Senior Protection Coordinator. In the Field, the incumbent normally reports to the Representative, Deputy or Assistant Representative (Protection) or Head of Sub Office as appropriate. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff whose work may include RSD, community-based protection, registration, resettlement, internal displacement, complementary pathways, and education, among other areas. In HQ, the incumbent may report to a Chief of Section or Deputy Director and may lead a Unit and/or supervise other protection staff.

The incumbent acts as a key advisor to senior management and leads the development of a comprehensive protection strategy under the area of responsibility (AoR). S/he represents the Organization to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine.

The Senior Protection Officer plans, leads and coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern under the AoR. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all sectors are shaped in a protection optic, are consistent with and promote respect for relevant international law and UNHCR's doctrine, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. Another important element of the incumbent¿s functions is to ensure that forcibly displaced and stateless persons of all age, gender and diversity groups are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying and implementing appropriate solutions to their problems. To undertake this role effectively, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the operation or the Bureau (including programme; PI and external relations; IM) and with DIP, communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions.

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
- Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues.
- Stay abreast of legal, political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Manage a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and forcibly displaced and stateless persons to develop and implement a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation and/or gender identities (LGBTI persons), persons living with HIV/AIDS; gender equality and Gender Based Violence (GBV) 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 all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
- Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian response plan as well as with the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Three Year Strategy on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways.
- Promote relevant International, Regional and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct and ensure that all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities in mainstreaming protection.
- Promote the implementation of the AGD policy, including UNHCR's updated commitments to women and girls, and design, deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
- Develop, implement and monitor community-based protection strategies and ensure systematic application and integration of participatory and community-based approaches in protection and solutions planning, programming and strategies.
- Support the establishment of feedback and response systems and the incorporation of feedback received from forcibly displaced and stateless persons into programme design and adaptation.
- Guide the operation in the development and implementation of robust prevention, identification, and responses to fraud within protection processes and procedures, including registration, RSD, and resettlement, ensuring the integrity of interventions across all protection activities.
- Oversee the management of individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to forcibly displaced and stateless persons ; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents to forcibly displaced and stateless persons (including women and others in need of civil documentation in particular birth certificates).
- As designated Data Protection Focal Point, assist the data controller in carrying out his or her responsibilities regarding the Data Protection Policy (7.2 DPP).
- Oversee eligibility and status determination in the Operation(s) under the AoR, ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and implement strategies and measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Develop and implement an education plan as part of the protection strategy within the AoR as relevant.
- Develop and implement a child protection plan as part of the protection strategy within the AoR, ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Monitor and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Work to safeguard the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the context of mixed movements as relevant.
- Coordinate the preparation of, implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Ensure that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement and complementary pathways are sought and provided to the largest possible number of forcibly displaced and stateless persons including undertaking, supporting, and/or overseeing resettlement and complementary pathways activities, including implementation of the GCR Three Year Strategy.
- Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection-related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Develop and implement a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectoral and/or cluster partners.
- Ensure that the Protection Sector or Cluster has an effective information management component that provides disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Research, collect and disseminate relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
- Develop the protection capacity of national and local authorities, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all forcibly displaced and stateless persons through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-development initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and civil society to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.

- 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.

For positions in Bureaux

- Support the Regional Bureau and Country Operations to reflect the protection and solution angle in support of forcibly displaced and stateless persons with regional processes.
- Support Country Operations in the development of strategies to build and further develop national asylum/RSD systems with a view to ensuring their fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity, favourable protection environment and solutions.
- Assist UNHCR management at country level to comply with policies and commitment on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse measures.
- Support Country Operations and ensure they meet their complementary pathways objectives and resettlement quotas.
- In close collaboration with DIP, (a) contribute to the development of background and general normative, policy, and legal positions, in compliance with UNHCR's global protection policies and standards; (b) contribute to the development of strategies at the regional and country level on the usage of law and policy approaches, including legislative and judicial engagement and UN human rights mechanisms and/or regional ones and other protection frameworks, and integrated human rights standards in protection strategies and advocacy; and (c) coordinate and review UNHCR¿s country reports to the UN human rights mechanisms.
- Engage in relevant international and regional fora and forge regional partnerships to advocate for key protection and mandate issues, and engage in cross-cutting protection-related matters, including mixed movement, internal displacement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses, as well as Statelessness in cooperation with DIP and where relevant RSD.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law, International Law, International refugee Law,

International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law,

Refugee and Forced Migration, Political Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Management Learning Programme
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law, including experience in working directly with Field Offices. Very good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles, and of UNHCR¿s protection strategies and policies. Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting.

Desirable
Diverse field experience. Good IT skills including database management skills.

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Refugee Coordination Model
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
LE-Judicial Engagement
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
(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:
• extensive senior-level experience in international protection in field operations; including in complex emergency and mixed movement contexts and in shrinking operational environments
• strong expertise in legal protection and asylum systems including access to territory and asylum system capacity building
• proven leadership and people management capacities;
• experience in strategic planning and multi-year programming;
• strong interagency coordination and protection cluster experience as well as demonstrated experience working with governments and national systems with excellent advocacy and diplomatic engagement skills
• Fluency in French
• proven experience in Route-Based Approaches

Desirable attributes:
• Experience in localization strategies;
• Experience in civil-military coordination;
• Experience in nexus programming;
• familiarity with the Sahel context and regional displacement dynamics;

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Niger Operational Context

The UNHCR Representation Office in Niger operates in one of the most complex and volatile humanitarian environments in the Sahel region. Since the establishment of the operation in 2012, the forced displacement situation has significantly evolved due to persistent insecurity, mixed population movements, climate-related shocks, and regional instability affecting Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Libya, and Chad.

As of 2026, Niger hosts and protects close to one million forcibly displaced persons, including refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and other persons of concern. The operational environment is characterized by:

• escalating protection risks linked to non-state armed groups;
• increasing mixed movements and cross-border mobility;
• recurrent climate-induced displacement;
• shrinking humanitarian access in several operational areas;
• growing pressure on already fragile national protection systems.

The operational context has also been profoundly impacted by the financial contraction affecting the humanitarian sector globally, including significant reductions in donor contributions. In response, UNHCR Niger has undergone successive restructuring exercises involving:

• reduction of staffing capacities;
• downsizing of field presence;
• reduction in the number of implementing partners;
• progressive localization and nationalization of leadership positions.

While these transformations align with institutional localization objectives and cost-efficiency measures, they have simultaneously increased operational and strategic protection risks. Several field offices now operate with minimal protection staffing capacities, while nationalized structures require strengthened technical oversight and strategic guidance to ensure consistency, quality, and adherence to international protection standards.

In parallel, the operation is entering a new strategic phase centered around:

• implementation of a Route-Based Approach (RBA) to mixed movements;
• transition toward strengthened national asylum and protection systems;
• enhanced localization and sustainability strategies;
• reinforcement of humanitarian-development-peace nexus programming;
• protection mainstreaming across all operational sectors.

Against this backdrop, the Senior Protection Officer position becomes critical to ensure coherent protection leadership, strategic oversight, operational quality assurance, and effective support to field operations and national counterparts.

Nature of Position:

The Senior Protection Officer (SPO) reports directly to the Deputy Representative (Protection) and serves as the principal technical advisor on protection matters for the operation.

The incumbent provides strategic leadership and technical supervision across all protection domains, including:

• legal protection;
• asylum and refugee status determination (RSD);
• mixed movements and Route-Based Approach programming;
• protection monitoring;
• statelessness;
• durable solutions, including resettlement and complementary pathways;
• protection cluster coordination;
• community-based protection;
• child protection;
• GBV prevention and response;
• education;
• data, identity management and analysis (DIMA).

The SPO plays a central role in ensuring protection centrality across operational sectors and throughout the multi-year planning process. This includes ensuring that all operational responses integrate protection safeguards and accountability to affected populations.

Given the evolving operational model and reduced field capacities, the incumbent is expected to provide strengthened technical oversight and direct support to field offices, ensuring harmonized protection delivery and consistent application of UNHCR global standards across the country operation.

The incumbent will further lead or support:

• development and implementation of the operation’s multi-year protection strategy;
• operationalization of the Route-Based Approach;
• strengthening of national asylum and protection systems;
• localization and capacity strengthening of national actors;
• protection coordination with government counterparts, UN agencies, NGOs and regional actors;
• strategic protection analysis and policy development;
• emergency protection preparedness and response.

The SPO represents UNHCR at senior technical level with government authorities, humanitarian and development actors, donors, civil society, and affected communities.

Given the increasingly complex operational and security environment, the incumbent must possess strong leadership, strategic vision, operational agility, and demonstrated ability to manage complex protection portfolios in volatile contexts.

Socio-political Context and Living Conditions:

The security level in Niger ranges from Level 3 (Moderate) to Level 5 (High), with Agadez classified at Level 3; Niamey, Maradi, Zinder, Dosso, southern Tahoua, and Diffa at Level 4 (Substantial); and Tillabéri and northern Tahoua at Level 5 (High).

In Niamey, due to actual terrorist threat of kidnapping and armed attacks against convoy in south of Niamey Region, any mission should move under armed escorts between 8:00 a.m to 17:00 p.m. Despite tension around its borders, with military operations taking place regularly, Niamey remains reasonably stable, due to criminality staff members are discouraged from walking in the streets, taking taxis, staying out late at night and visiting public places alone. Almost no red zone exists but in fact staffs should reside in certain perimeter around the assembly or concentration point. Pertaining to civil unrest and disturbances, the situation can be volatile and unpredictable in Niamey. In addition, the public unrest, materialized by meeting/ marches, regular sit-ins and roadblocks has become recurring. Personal security arrangements are highly recommended over the security measures set up. There are authorized travel times, weekly radio control and security advisories broadcasts. Security Clearance is required and can be requested via TRIP at https://dss.un.org. Requests for clearance should be submitted 7 days prior travel.

In residential areas in Niamey, there is almost no red zone, but international staff must reside within a certain perimeter, preferably in areas located maximum 30 minutes from the office. In addition, the United Nations system has established a curfew measure between 10.00 pm and 5.00 am to mitigate risk to personnel.

UNHAS flight services are available to most field locations. Missions by road to field locations travel under armed escorts depending on the context, the area and according to the assessment by the administrative authority, either the governor or the prefect of the location. Travel for missions by land takes place between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The request for armed escort is submitted 7 days in advance and the request for Security clearance must be positively approved before any mission. Rampant crime constitutes a substantial security challenge and affects the civilian population in certain locations of the country, and those who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A weekly radio check (every Thursday for UNHCR) and security advisory communiqués are disseminated by UNDSS/SFSO UNHCR.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, 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