Protection Officer - IDPs

January 26, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

FamilyUNOPS IICA2

2026-03-01Title: Protection Officer - IDPs
Duty station: Homebased
Section/Unit: IDP Unit, Division of International Protection and Solutions
ICA Level: IICA-2
Corresponding level: P-3
Duration: from 01/03/2026 to 31/12/2026

1. General Background

The position is located in the Division of International Protection and Solutions (DIPS) and reports to the Head of the IDP Unit. Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Section for Coordination and IDPs and the Deputy Director, the Protection Officer plays a key role in external engagement, inter-agency coordination, and advancing solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The IDP Unit focuses on external engagement on internal displacement, advancing UNHCR’s thought leadership and operational advantage in protection and solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs). It also provides support and guidance to more than 30 UNHCR IDP operations worldwide and engages at the global level with governments and other stakeholders, as well as national and local authorities in countries affected by internal displacement to strengthen advocacy and policy efforts on the protection of IDPs.

As of July 2025, the Unit assumed the function of UNHCR internal convenor and leader on internal displacement and is the organization’s focal point for external engagement on internal displacement, particularly on the SG Action Agenda, Solutions Champions and Solutions Hub.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The post incumbent will play a key role in the work of the small and dynamic IDP Unit (currently composed of three staff) within the Division of International Protection at UNHCR.

The incumbent will contribute to shaping global policies and practices on internal displacement by developing guidance and tools, including drafting, editing, and reviewing issue briefs, technical guidance, and other key documents. Working closely with UNHCR IDP operations and Regional Bureaus, the incumbent will guide and support colleagues in field operations, providing advocacy support both to specific operations and at the global level. The incumbent will be the unit’s main focal point for support to the field operations, both through individualized guidance and through webinar, peer exchanges and other capacity building activities. As such, the incumbent will provide logistical and coordination support for workshops and events, ensuring their successful execution and meaningful participation.

Additionally, the incumbent will support research and the development of internal and external materials to reinforce UNHCR’s thought leadership on key IDP protection areas, such as IDP participation and protection in urban contexts. The role will also encompass knowledge management and communication, including disseminating information, managing online platforms, creating communications assets, and tracking trained staff.
The role might also include supporting the IDP Unit’s collaboration with the IDP Protection Expert Group (IPEG) and the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, offering opportunities for direct involvement with high-level experts.

This position offers a unique opportunity to engage in impactful work at a global level, directly contributing to the protection and support of internally displaced persons worldwide.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

The work of the post incumbent will be evaluated on annual basis, as per standard evaluation process and objectives set with the supervisor at the onset of the assignment.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education
Years of Experience / Degree Level
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; International Refugee Law; International Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian Law; Refugee and Forced Migration Studies; Political Sciences or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Internally Displaced Persons (Induction)
IDP Law and Policy
Managing IDP operations
Durable Solutions for IDPs
Coordination in Situations of Internal Displacement

b. Work Experience

Essential
Minimum 4 years of relevant and diverse professional experience in UNHCR IDP operations, including experience in working directly with Field Offices and internally displaced people. Good knowledge of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting.

Desirable
Good IT skills including database management skills.

c. Key Competencies

The ideal candidate will bring substantial field and inter-agency experience, with a particular emphasis on internal displacement contexts. They should have hands-on experience supporting or leading operations across the full displacement cycle, and a strong record of engagement with UN agencies, international organizations, and coordination structures in IDP settings.

Core technical expertise:
The candidate should demonstrate deep and diverse experience across a range of IDP operations, with the ability to draw on lessons learned and apply good practices in varied contexts. They must be able to provide constructive, context-adapted guidance grounded in operational realities. Strong experience in capacity-building—particularly in designing and delivering webinars and similar learning activities for diverse audiences—is essential.

Policy and normative knowledge:
A solid understanding of the relevant legal, policy, and institutional frameworks is required. This includes UNHCR and IASC guidance, the IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for IDPs, the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, as well as the mandates and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur and the Special Adviser on Solutions. Knowledge of UNHCR’s programme cycle and resource management framework is desirable, as is experience contributing to the development of tools, guidance, or communities of practice.

Analytical, strategic, and communication skills:
The role requires strong analytical capacities and strategic thinking, combined with a sound grasp of UNHCR’s protection mandate and engagement in IDP situations. The candidate should have a proven track record in drafting high-quality analytical documents, policy briefs, talking points, and reports tailored both to senior UN officials, donors, government counterparts, and UNHCR field colleagues, partners and other stakeholders. They must be able to distill complex legal and policy information into clear, actionable messages and recommendations.

Collaboration and interpersonal skills:
Close collaboration with HQ divisions, regional bureaux, and external partners—UN agencies, NGOs, donors, and academics—is integral to the role. The incumbent must bring excellent interpersonal, presentation, negotiation, and coordination skills, and be comfortable engaging actors across humanitarian, development, and political spheres.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is essential. Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is considered an asset.

Commitment to diversity:
DIPS values diversity and strives to foster an inclusive work environment. Applications are strongly encouraged from qualified candidates, including individuals with lived experience of displacement and persons with disabilities. Gender and geographic diversity will also be considered in team composition.

Location and Conditions

This is a full-time assignment with 40 working hours per week and the successful candidate will be homebased.

Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may differ based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

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.

Standard Job Description

Protection Officer

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

The incumbent acts as an advisor to senior management in, when not responsible for, designing 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 Protection Officer coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern under the AoR. S/he ensures 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 Division of International Protection and Solutions DIPS, 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 and report as relevant on legal political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Engage relevant national authorities and structures in identifying and expanding opportunities in view of developing or strengthening national asylum/RSD systems.
- Facilitate 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, seek to ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
- Support senior management to ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian response plan where applicable, 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 I 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.
- Support the operation to develop and implement robust prevention, identification, and responses to fraud within protection processes and procedures, including registration, RSD, resettlement and complementary pathways, ensuring the integrity of interventions across all protection activities.
- Assist UNHCR management at country level to comply with polices and commitment on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse measures.
- Oversee and manage 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 and undertake eligibility and status determination within the AoR ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and implement effective strategies and measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness within the AoR.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of an education plan as part of protection strategy within the AoR as relevant.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of 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 and/or overseeing resettlement and complementary pathways activities.
- Contribute to the coordination of the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Ensure that the Protection Sector or Cluster has an effective information management component which: provides disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; 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 all forcibly displaced and stateless persons through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-building 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.

- 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.

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 within 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 regional and country level to comply with polices 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 DIPS, (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) support coordination and review of UNHCR's country reports to the UN human rights mechanisms.
- Engage in relevant international and regional fora and contribute to forging 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 DIPS and where relevant RSD.

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; International Refugee Law;
International Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian Law;
Refugee and Forced Migration Studies; Political Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 4 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. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. 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-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
LE-Judicial Engagement
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
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.

Required Languages

English

,

,

Desired Languages

French

,

Spanish

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Protection Cluster Coordination, LE-Judicial Engagement, Policy Guidance, PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection mainstreaming, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Education

Bachelor of Arts: International Humanitarian Law (Required), Bachelor of Arts: International Human Rights Law (Required), Bachelor of Arts: International Law (Required), Bachelor of Arts: International Refugee Law (Required), Bachelor of Arts: Law (Required), Bachelor of Arts: Political Science (Required), Bachelor of Arts: Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (Required)

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

Yes