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About UNHCR: Organizational/ Operational Context: The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has been facing a multitude of challenges as a result of protracted and ongoing conflict and insecurity (40 years) and frequent natural disasters drought/floods, now exacerbated by COVID-19. Some 42 percent of the population were facing severe acute food insecurity in early 2021, while nearly half of the population lived below USD 1 a day. Poverty and food insecurity are highest in rural areas, with women, children, the elderly, female-headed households and persons with disabilities the most vulnerable. COVID-19 is exacerbating this situation and under a worst-case scenario monetary poverty may have increased to 72 percent. UNHCR Afghanistan’s population of concern includes refugees, refugee returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and members of the host communities. There are 72,000 refugees living primarily in Khost and Paktika Provinces as well as in urban areas in Kabul, Herat and Kandahar. In addition, since 2002, UNHCR has facilitated the voluntary return of over 5.2 million registered Afghan refugees through the Voluntary Repatriation programme from Pakistan, Iran, and other countries. Moreover, there is an estimate 4.9 million IDPs in Afghanistan largely driven by conflict, insecurity, and natural disasters. Due to the intensification of conflict across the country, already 194,018 persons (28,868 households) have been displaced in 2021 (as of 17 June 2021). Against the backdrop, UNHCR has been working to complement and support the Government in addressing the need of IDPs through its coordinator role in the Afghanistan Protection and ES/NFI Clusters as well as the provider of last resort. In particular, during emergency phases, UNHCR conducts joint needs assessments with other humanitarian actors and coordinates its responses. In addition, UNHCR is one of the key actors conducting Community-Based Protection Monitoring (CBPM) to assess the protection needs and concern of the IDPs and other POCs. In addition, for IDPs identified as most vulnerable, UNHCR provides assistance through its Persons with Specific Needs Programme (PSN) and Cash for Protection Programme (CFP). Under the “Whole of Community Approach” and to realize the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus, UNHCR also concentrates its effort to support durable solutions for IDPs, primarily in the Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARRs). In the PARRs, IDPs benefits from a range of services and projects, including, among others, education, health, shelter, youth empowerment, livelihood opportunities, WASH, and infrastructure. Work Description – General The Community-Based Protection Associate is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Senior Protection Officer, or to senior Protection staff. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR units, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders the Community-Based Protection Associate performs his/her duties and responsibilities. The Community-Based Protection Associate works directly and in coordination with partners with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and 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 Community-Based Protection Associate is required to pay regular field visits to concerned areas in Herat and other western region provinces (Ghor, Badghis and Farah), building and maintaining networks within communities of 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. To maintain a flexible approach to respond to the evolving and fast-changing protection environment, the position entails a roving element whereby the staff may be requested to transfer to areas where additional staffing resources are needed. The Community Based Protection Associate will also closely work with the reintegration unit to evaluate the protection environment in the PARR areas and project that will be implemented under the ‘Co-PROSPER’ strategy. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the Community-Based Protection Associate 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 may have direct supervisory responsibility for part of the protection and/or support staff and 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 Community-Based Protection Associate is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of 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.

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