Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant

August 4, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential LocationUNOPS LICA5

2026-09-01Doolow District is located in the Gedo Region of Jubaland State in southwestern Somalia, bordering Ethiopia and situated near the Kenyan frontier. Its strategic location along major trade and migration routes has made Doolow an important commercial centre and one of the key humanitarian hubs in southern Somalia. Doolow town serves as a gateway for cross-border movement, humanitarian operations, and assistance delivery throughout Gedo Region.
The district's economy is primarily based on livestock production, small-scale agriculture along the Dawa River, cross-border trade, and remittances. However, recurring droughts, flooding, insecurity, and economic shocks have significantly weakened livelihoods, increasing vulnerability among both host communities and displaced populations.
Doolow hosts one of the largest concentrations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jubaland. Population displacement into the district has been driven by recurrent drought and climate-related shocks, riverine and flash flooding, conflict and insecurityin Gedo and neighboring regions, loss of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods, and secondary displacement from other parts of Somalia.
The district remains one of UNHCR Somalia's critical operational locations due to its high concentration of displacement-affected populations and its strategic role in advancing durable solutions. The operation is increasingly focused on moving beyond emergency assistance toward resilience, local integration, and sustainable solutions for displaced and host communities.
UNHCR maintains an operational presence in Doolow as part of its broader Somalia Programme. The operation focuses on Protection of forcibly displaced persons , Community-based protection and empowerment, Provision of shelter and core relief items, Support durable solutions and resilience-building initiatives, Coordination of protection and displacement responses with government and humanitarian partners, Advocacy for access to basic services and inclusion of displaced populations in local development plans. https://www.unhcr.org/where-we-work/countries/somalia
Job Specific Context
The Snr Community-Based Protection Assistant will be based in UNHCR Field Office Doolow and will support the implementation of UNHCR's community-based protection strategy through direct engagement with Forcibly displaced persons refugees and host communities. The incumbent will work closely with community structures, outreach volunteers, implementing partners, government counterparts, and other protection actors to strengthen community participation, identify protection risks, and facilitate access to protection and assistance services.
The position requires frequent field presence to conduct protection monitoring, participatory assessments, focus group discussions, community meetings, and awareness-raising activities. The incumbent will support the identification and referral of individuals with specific needs, including women and girls at risk, children at risk, older persons, persons with disabilities, survivors of violence, and other vulnerable individuals requiring specialized interventions.
The Snr Community-Based Protection Assistant will contribute to enhancing accountability to affected populations by supporting community feedback and complaint mechanisms, promoting two-way communication, and ensuring that community concerns are systematically documented and addressed. The role also involves supporting peaceful coexistence initiatives, strengthening community-basedprotection networks, and promoting inclusion, self-reliance, and resilience among persons of concern.
The incumbent will maintain strong working relationships with local authorities, implementing partners, community leaders, and service providers to facilitate coordinated responses to protection concerns. Regular data collection, reporting, and analysis of community feedback and protection trends will be required to inform evidence-based programming and operational decision-making.
The incumbent is expected to demonstrate sound judgment, strong communication and facilitation skills, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to UNHCR's Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach and protection principles.
The Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant plays a critical role in ensuring that communities of concern are empowered to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives and that community capacities are leveraged to strengthen protection outcomes and durable solutions.
Job Highlight
Supports the implementation of community-based protection activities by engaging directly with refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities to identify protection risks, strengthen community participation, and facilitate access to protection services. Conducts protection monitoring, community outreach, participatory assessments, and referrals for individuals with specific needs while promoting accountability to affected populations (AAP), inclusion, and social cohesion. Works closely with community structures, partners, and local authorities to enhance community capacity, support protection interventions, and ensure that the voices of affected populations inform UNHCR programming and decision-making.
Role Purpose
Under the supervision of the Head of Field Office, support the implementation of community-based protection activities by promoting meaningful participation of refugees, displaced persons, and host communities in identifying and addressing protection concerns. The position strengthens community engagement, protection monitoring, referral pathways, accountability to affected populations, and community resilience, while ensuring that protection interventions are inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the needs of persons of concern in line with UNHCR protection principles and the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approachSupport the implementation of community-based protection programmes and activities in accordance with UNHCR protection strategies and priorities.
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Conduct regular community outreach, participatory assessments, and protection monitoring to identify protection risks, needs, and community capacities.
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Strengthen engagement with refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees, IDPs, and host communities to ensure meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
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Facilitate the identification, referral, and follow-up of persons with specific needs to appropriate protection and assistance services.
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Support the establishment and functioning of community structures, outreach volunteer networks, and other community-based protection mechanisms.
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Promote the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach and ensure inclusion of women, children, youth, older persons, and persons with disabilities in protection activities.
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Collect, document, and analyze community feedback, concerns, and protection trends to support evidence-based programming and advocacy.
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Support Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) by facilitating feedback and complaint mechanisms and ensuring community concerns are addressed appropriately.
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Organize and facilitate community meetings, focus group discussions, awareness campaigns, and information dissemination activities.
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Build the capacity of community leaders, committees, volunteers, and partners on protection principles, PSEA, inclusion, and community-based protection approaches.
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Foster peaceful coexistence and social cohesion initiatives between persons of concern and host communities.
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Maintain effective coordination with government counterparts, implementing partners, community representatives, and other stakeholders to strengthen protection responses.
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Prepare timely and accurate reports, case referrals, activity updates, and protection monitoring documentation.
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Contribute to the integration of protection considerations across sectors, including education, health, livelihoods, shelter, and WASH programmes.
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Ensure adherence to UNHCR protection standards, policies, and procedures while maintaining confidentiality and protection-sensitive approaches.
Expected Key Results
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Enhanced community participation and empowerment of persons of concern
Improved identification and referral of protection cases and individuals with specific needs.
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Effective community feedback and accountability mechanisms in place.
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Timely protection monitoring and quality reporting informing programme decisions.
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Strengthened community-based protection networks and community structures.
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Increased social cohesion and community resilience.
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Improved access to protection services and assistance for vulnerable populations.
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Protection interventions effectively implemented in line with AGD and community-based protection principles.
IV. Skills (Select maximum of 9 skills from the list)
Technical Skills
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Community-based protection programming and implementation.
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Protection monitoring, risk identification, and case referral.
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Conducting participatory assessments, focus group discussions, and community consultations.
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Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and community feedback mechanisms.
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Knowledge of Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) principles.
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Data collection, analysis, and report writing.
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Capacity building and facilitation of training sessions.
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Stakeholder coordination and partnership management.
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Understanding of refugee protection, human rights, and humanitarian principles.
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Knowledge of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and protection mainstreaming.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
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Strong verbal and written communication skills.
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Excellent community engagement and facilitation skills.
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Ability to build trust and maintain positive relationships with diverse communities.
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Active listening and conflict-resolution skills.
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Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.
Analytical Skills
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Ability to identify protection trends, gaps, and community needs.
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Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
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Ability to analyze community feedback and propose practical solutions.
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Attention to detail in documentation and reporting..
Computer Skills
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
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Experience with data management and reporting tools.
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Knowledge of protection information management systems is an asset.
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Familiarity with Kobo Toolbox, ActivityInfo, ProGres, or similar platforms is desirable.
Personal Competencies
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Teamwork and collaboration.
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Accountability and professionalism.
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Integrity and confidentiality.
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Adaptability and resilience in challenging field environments.
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Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and humanitarian values.
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Results-oriented approach with strong client focus.
VI. Qualifications
Education
A university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Human Rights, Law, Social Work, Community Development, Development Studies, Political Science, or a related field.
Experience
Minimum of 5–8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in protection, community-based protection, forced displacement, humanitarian assistance, human rights, or community development.
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Demonstrated experience working with refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities.
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Experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring community-based protection programmes.
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Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, community mobilization, and participatory approaches.
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Experience working with UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, or government institutions is highly desirable.
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Field experience in emergencies, displacement, or humanitarian settings is an asset.
VII. Language requirements Proficiency level Required/Desired
English
C 1: Advanced
Somali
C1: Advanced

 

Standard Job Description

Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the Senior Community-Based Protection Assistant is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (PoC). The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent. S/he also supports the designing of a community-based protection strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with PoC.


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
- Assist functional units, the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection strategy.
- Through relationships with PoC and network of partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
- Assist in initiatives with host communities to involve national civil society groups in the protection of PoC.
- Support implementing and operational partners as well as displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.
- Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
- Support participatory assessments by multifunctional teams and ongoing consultation with PoC.
- Support efforts to build the office capacity for community-based protection.
- Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
- Ensure community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
- Collect data for monitoring of programmes and budgets from an AGD perspective.
- Draft and type routine correspondence, documents and reports and maintain up-to-date filing systems.
- Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
- Assist in the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR's work.
- Initiate AGD sensitive interventions at the appropriate level on community-based protection issues and to respond to protection concerns and incidents within the office and with persons and communities of concern based on agreed parameters.
- Identify and recommend which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
- Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

- 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 G5- 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Development, Human Rights, International Law
Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.

Desirable
UNHCR learning programmes (PLP). Knowledge of MSRP.

Functional Skills
UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
*IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
(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

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies, UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

Education

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work - Other, Development Studies - Other, Human Rights - Other, International Law - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No