JOB DESCRIPTION

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Yaounde, Cameroon

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-07-23

August 8, 2025

Protection Cluster Coordination Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters where UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach, UNHCR performs a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function through the position of Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer and the supporting positions of Protection Cluster Coordination Officer.

These latter P3 level positions normally report directly to the Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer. The UNHCR Representative has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency.

The Protection Cluster Coordination Officer supports UNHCR to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The position reinforces UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency functions by providing support to the role of Protection Cluster Coordination Officer in ensuring UNHCR’s leadership within a diverse protection community.

The Protection Cluster Coordination Officer is expected to facilitate the work of the Protection Cluster through the provision of analysis, organization and reporting; and to impartially represent the interests of the members of the Protection Cluster. This includes the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the incumbent supports an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.

The incumbent supports the Senior Protection Cluster Coordination Officer in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms, for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age, gender and diversity in the humanitarian response and early recovery activities.

S/he works closely with and may, depending on the Office structure, directly supervise multi-functional Protection Cluster Support staff in the areas of data and information management, needs assessment, profiling, registration, reporting and advocacy.

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
– Facilitate the development of a Protection Cluster strategy following a consultative process with partners and stakeholders. Support the Protection Cluster to ensure that protection informs and shapes the overall humanitarian response and that the protection response is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team’s common humanitarian action plan.
– Organize and facilitate meetings in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster meetings are consultative and results oriented.
– Facilitate coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities.
– Support the design of transition strategies for the Protection Cluster: facilitate the development of a strategy for the cluster ensuring proper linkages with disaster risk reduction, relief, and recovery and development efforts.
– Facilitate the coordination and conduct of Protection Cluster or Inter-Cluster level protection needs assessments, including participatory assessments of affected populations.
– Provide strategic inputs to development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the Protection Cluster for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.
– Establish mechanisms for accountable and transparent financial resource allocation within the cluster.
– Facilitate the delivery of protection training activities for Protection Cluster members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
– Coordinate initiatives to build the protection capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
– Ensure adherence to IASC standard operating procedures for IDP profiling.
– Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the Protection Cluster, including any work developed by sub-clusters or working groups.
– Ensure adherence of Protection Cluster activities to Guidelines on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming.
– Through Cluster-wide consultative processes, provide input into the development of global protection policy and standards led by the Global Protection Cluster.
– Support reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
– Support and facilitate the Protection Cluster information management strategy and mechanisms.
– Ensure that the Protection Cluster produces regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population, response activities, challenges and recommendations.
– Identify core advocacy concerns for the Protection Cluster through a consultative process: Facilitate joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy.
– Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
– Promote the Protection Cluster’s adherence to international human rights instruments, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as other relevant international and regional instruments; in cooperation with the Humanitarian Country Team support local interventions when violations of international protection standards and principles occur.
– Promote and help strengthen national legislation relevant to internal displacement and durable solutions.
– Facilitate cluster meetings and represent the Protection Cluster in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant interlocutors.
– Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster – for clearance by Senior management.
– Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
– Facilitate negotiation with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members on the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.
– Monitor the allocation of financial and other resources within the Protection Cluster, when required, such as with regard to Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) or Common Humanitarian Funds (CHF).

– 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 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; Political Sciences; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Coordination Lrng Prog;

Tri-Cluster Knowl/Coord Skills;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law plus minimum 6 years relevant professional experience of which 2 years in the field.

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
PR-Protection in natural disaster situations
(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.

The incumbent should:
• Have experience working in high-risk duty stations
• Have working experience in mixed situation.
• have experience in leading at national level, the protection sectoral HNRP [Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan] process.
• have proven ability to analyze complex situations and sound protection issues with strong communication skills, including written and verbal proficiency in French
• have experience in supporting the implementation of UNHCR’s Tri-cluster approach at national level.
• have experience in collaborating with development actors
The knowledge of similar experience of the humanitarian context of CAR will be added value.

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French

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Nature of Position:

In this current context of humanitarian funding cuts and humanitarian and protection cluster reset, the CAR operation is seeking a Protection Cluster Coordinator with a solid experience of complex coordination architectures in IDP and mixed displacement situations, fragile environments including security, protection, and solutions challenges.

In the context of streamlining of so called AOR’s into the Protection Cluster, there is need for experience in protection sectoral areas such as GBV, Child Protection, community-based protection, solutions and sustainable responses) or related fields with a proven track record of managing complex humanitarian operations. The incumbent leads and manages diverse stakeholders, including Government officials, humanitarian partners, donors, collaboration with development actors and local communities and fostering a collaborative work environment with other clusters.

Living and Working Conditions:

The country is landlocked and surrounded by countries with security problems (Chad, DRC, Sudan, and Cameroon). Volatile socio-political situation, social unrest, and grievance in Bangui with frequent civil servants strikes causing interruption of public services due to years of unpaid salaries. Power cuts are causing insecurity in town. The security situation across the country is still a concern as crimes (theft, abduction, armed robbery, carjacking, murder, illegal detention of weapons and illegal checkpoints/taxation, torture and sexual violence) continue throughout the country because of endemic poverty, easy access to weapons and the weak capacity or absence of judicial authorities in many areas.  However, the deployment of the FACA (Forces Armee nationals) in Bangui led to an improvement of the overall security situation. A curfew is established by the UN system from 10pm-5am. The country is totally dependent on Cameroon seaport for supplies. There are 4 airlines that operate to/from Bangui. As an example, travel time from Douala to Bangui for a truckload averages 4 days to a week due to bad roads and roadblocks.

There are very limited medical infrastructures and services do not function properly. A UN clinic provides basic medical care for UN personnel. The entire country is a High-Risk non-family duty station-D with 6 weeks R&R cycle. The entire International Professional staff and IUNVs are eligible for R&R.

A few hotels cleared by DESS are available. Private accommodations are available for expats. A few supermarkets are also available selling all sorts of goods. Vegetables and fruits are also available on the local market.

Although ATM are available ( 5 ATM in town)  and VISA is accepted in Bangui, most of the payments for example in hotels or markets are done in cash

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Refugee Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

HCR Coordination Learning Program – UNHCR, Tri_Cluster Knowledge/Coord Skills – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance