Protection Associate

August 27, 2026

D

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Budapest, Hungary

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-09-01

Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate also ensures that PoC are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

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 cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
- Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

- 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

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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.

Desired Candidate Profile

• The desired candidate should have a solid understanding of the UNHCR mandate, as well as experience in working with protection programmes in mixed environments and responding to the protection needs of IDPs, war-affected people, returnees and other populations UNHCR works with and for. Familiarity with and/or an educational background in social work, legal aid, community mobilization and institutional capacity-building is a strong advantage.
• The desired candidate should have practical field experience in protection response and be committed to promoting the meaningful participation of IDPs and other populations UNHCR works with and for in UNHCR programmes.
• S/he should have experience engaging with relevant state institutions, preferably those working in the areas of social protection and community planning. Experience working with national legal and policy frameworks related to reception, stabilization, adaptation, integration and durable solutions, particularly in relation to access to services and housing, is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of the Cluster system, in particular UNHCR-led Clusters and areas of responsibility related to Protection, CCCM and Shelter/NFI, is required.
• Experience in coordination with multiple stakeholders, including government authorities at different levels, UN agencies, NGOs, community-based initiatives, partners and development actors, is a strong advantage.
• The desired candidate should have strong analytical, drafting, reporting and presentation skills. Proven interest and/or experience in protection analysis, protection monitoring and advocacy is an advantage.
• The desired candidate should demonstrate the ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgement and proactively communicate significant protection concerns and operational developments.
• S/he should demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build constructive working relationships with government counterparts, partners, colleagues and affected populations.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and English, both oral and written, is required.

Ukrainian

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English

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

 

General Operational Context

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Ukraine since 1994 and substantially increased its presence and response after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The geographical presence within Ukraine has significatively expanded to deliver the emergency response. The country office is located in the capital, Kyiv, and sub- and field offices are currently located in Dnipro, Kyiv, L’viv, Odesa and Kharkiv.

 

The war in Ukraine has caused death and suffering on a dramatic scale. In 2026, with an estimated 10.8 million people in need, humanitarians aim to reach 4.1 million of the most vulnerable, prioritizing those experiencing the most severe conditions. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced, while around 5.9 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded across Europe and beyond. Some 75,000 people, including some of the most vulnerable, notably older people and people with disabilities, live in collective sites spread across the country. Ukraine also hosts asylum-seekers and refugees and is home to thousands of people who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.

 

The massive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with the energy sector being particularly targeted has made life extremely challenging for millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and has severely disrupted access to electricity, water, heating as well as critical services, including healthcare, education and social protection. Humanitarian access continues to be hampered, particularly in frontline areas as well as to areas under temporary occupation of the Russian Federation. Civilians remain exposed to serious risks to their physical security and integrity, particularly in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The risk of GBV, including sexual violence, continues to prevail, alongside family separations, loss of housing and properties, as well as identity and civil documentation. Populations displaced or otherwise affected by the war live in situations of deprivation, following the loss or damage of their housing, loss of income, and often become dependent on an overstretched social protection system. 

 

The Government of Ukraine maintains a strong lead role in responding to the needs of its population and UNHCR supports the Government and its central and local institutions to provide protection, shelter/housing, cash and in-kind assistance to displaced and other people impacted by the war. Currently, UNHCR has MOUs with four-line ministries, the Pension Fund of Ukraine, the First Lady’s foundation as well as the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), 20 regional state administrations and agreements with 12 partners to deliver assistance and support the localization of the response. Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR operates as part of the Inter-agency humanitarian response, working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading two Clusters - Protection and Shelter and NFI Cluster, including the multi-sectoral coordination in transit centers and collective sites. The strategic orientation of UNHCR’s response is to reach people, particularly those with specific vulnerabilities, who remain in frontline and heavily affected areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced people and those who have remained in their homes, or returned, with protection advice, housing support, livelihoods advice and cash assistance to enable their recovery and attainment of durable solutions.

 

Protection needs to be truly at the center of this response, as the highest critical needs of the population caused by the international armed conflict are in the area of protection. Since Ukraine is a highly sophisticated country with a strong government leadership and well-established administrative, social protection and digital systems, it is essential to design and deliver UNHCR’s protection programs in a way which simultaneously addresses immediate needs and supports the further development of sustainable and inclusive national protection systems.

 

With the EU having voted to confirm Ukraine’s accession to the EU at the end of 2023, Ukraine will also embark on a series of substantial and long-term reforms in numerous sectors, including justice and home affairs, which presents an opportunity to contribute to strengthened and more inclusive protection, asylum and statelessness reduction systems. Working closely with government authorities, local community representatives and partners from the embassies, UN, civil society and international financial institutions, amongst others, is thus key to ensuring that UNHCR’s response is closely aligned with and complementary of national and local strategies and recovery plans.

 

As the war continues, new urgent humanitarian needs are created every day, alongside protracted ones and peoples’ and communities’ efforts to recover and rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Among the IDPs and refugees from Ukraine, the majority express a hope and desire to return to their homes as soon as the security situation allows. The protection needs of the population thus need to be analyzed and addressed both from a humanitarian as well as from an early recovery and durable solutions perspective, with UNHCR playing a leading role in this work.

 

Nature of Position:

UNHCR Field Unit Lviv currently covers eight oblasts in Western Ukraine: Lvivska, Chernivetska, Ivano-Frankivska, Khmelnytska, Rivnenska, Ternopilska, Volynska and Zakarpatska. The geographical coverage of the Field Unit may be amended in response to operational needs and evolving priorities.

 

The Protection Associate supports the implementation of UNHCR’s protection response across the Field Unit’s area of responsibility, with a strong field orientation and a particular focus on protection needs of IDPs, returnees and other war-affected populations, while contributing to the broader protection response for refugees, asylum-seekers and persons at risk of statelessness as relevant. The position contributes to the identification and analysis of protection risks and needs, protection monitoring and response, and the implementation and follow-up of protection activities, including through regular field missions and engagement with displaced, war-affected populations and local communities.

 

The incumbent works closely with the National Protection Officer, other Protection and Durable Solutions colleagues, Senior Field Officer, Head of Office, Field and Programme colleagues, as well as relevant government authorities, UNHCR implementing and operational partners, international and local NGOs, community-based and IDP-led initiatives and development actors. The position contributes to coordination, reporting and protection analysis and supports a coherent approach to protection, durable solutions and early recovery within the Field Unit’s operational area.

 

The position requires a sufficient level of thematic autonomy in carrying out assigned responsibilities, while maintaining regular communication with the supervisor and ensuring timely sharing and escalation of significant protection concerns, emerging trends and operational developments. The incumbent is expected to promote age, gender and diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, accountability to affected populations (AAP) and meaningful participation through community-based and participatory approaches.

Living and Working Conditions:

Ukraine is currently designated as a non-family country location, with Dnipro and Kharkiv classified as “E” duty stations with 4-week R&R cycle, whereas Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv are classified as “D” duty station with 6-week RR Cycle and Budapest being a designated R&R location for all duty stations. English is not widely spoken, access to hard currency is possible from local banks (rents are normally paid in USD). International staff rent private apartments in the cities of their duty stations. The quality of life is of average European standard, with relatively solid infrastructure. However, the volatile security situation, which includes frequent missile and drone attacks that trigger air raid alarms, requiring immediate move to the shelters (frequently during nights) affects the living and working environment on everyday basis resulting with sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, affecting the staff welfare and wellbeing. In addition, due to massive attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure there are frequent and prolonged electricity cuts, coupled with lack of generators in private multistorey buildings and apartments, which may also affect elevators, heating, water, and possibly sewage systems, leading to an overall unpredictable and at times difficult living conditions, especially in winter. Due to the state of war, there is a country wide curfew in place from 00:00-05:00 every night. Also, all airports are closed, and air-traffic is not available, resulting in travel within and in and out from/to Ukraine being done mainly by car and  trains, supported by official shuttle for Poland and Moldova border crossing. Average train ride combined with shuttle by road from Kyiv to Poland, Hungary or Moldova airports ranges from 11-17 hours with train tickets selling very quickly.

Security: 

 

The war in Ukraine remains ongoing. Russian Federation (RF) Armed Forces continue to occupy Crimea and significant parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, with recent advances near Pokrovsk and deeper into Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Approximately 19% of Ukraine’s territory is under RF control.

 

The front line remains the primary zone of kinetic military operations, particularly in the east (Donetsk and Luhansk), southeast (Zaporizhzhia), and areas north of Kharkiv. Heavy fighting continues around Pokrovsk, where RF forces are attempting to encircle Ukrainian positions, and in Zaporizhzhia, where breakthroughs have occurred under cover of poor weather.  RF forces are conducting large-scale missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including the use of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and combat drones. These attacks increasingly target civilian areas and critical infrastructure, such as energy facilities, transport hubs, and residential buildings. Emergency power outages are now routine due to sustained strikes on the energy grid, creating severe hardship as winter sets in. Commercial air travel remains suspended, with road and rail as the only viable transport options.

 

Deliberate attacks on humanitarian convoys have occurred. On 14 October 2025, a clearly marked UN inter-agency convoy delivering aid to Bilozerka (Kherson region) came under artillery fire and drone strikes by RF forces. Two World Food Programme trucks were destroyed by drones, despite visible UN markings. Fortunately, no staff were injured, but this incident reflects a broader pattern of increased risk to humanitarian personnel. Since the full-scale invasion, humanitarian workers have faced violence, and some have been killed and injured in Ukraine, primarily in front-line areas. UN facilities and assets have also been damaged in strikes on urban centres, and humanitarian access remains severely constrained. Front-line shifts and intensified hostilities have led to extremely high access constraints in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts. Mines, UXOs, and ongoing military operations further restrict movement.

 

The UN Security Management System (UNSMS) continues to apply the Security Risk Management (SRM) process. Current risk levels range from High to Very High, and in some areas with active hostilities. Across all SRM areas where UNHCR operates, the projected risk level remains High. Applicants for positions in Ukraine must be prepared for a highly dynamic and hazardous security environment where unexpected events occur frequently. Key considerations: Air raids are frequent, requiring staff to shelter for extended periods. Power, heating, and water outages are common, especially during winter. Disruptions to essential services (shops, banks, restaurants) may occur. Curfews apply nationwide; private travel by international staff is prohibited. All mission travel requires authorisation and completion of mandatory BSAFE, SSAFE, and IFAK training, plus security clearance.

 

The UNHCR Field Security Unit (FSU) works closely with UNDSS and other UNSMS partners to ensure program delivery within acceptable risk parameters. Contingency planning remains critical to support UNHCR’s mandate of providing protection and assistance to people in need. Given the evolving operational and security environment, maintaining robust security preparedness is essential.
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance