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UNHCR-Protection Officer (GBV/CP)-P3-Gambella/Nyienyang, Ethiopia
Gambella, NyienyangPosition Title: Protection Officer (GBV/CP)
Receiving Agency: UNHCR
P Level: P3
Location: Gambella/Nyienyang, Ethiopia
Duration: 6 months
Language: English
The new arrivals are largely staying in open spaces, riverbanks, and public buildings in Tiergol, Kankan, Muon, Tormorok, and surrounding locations, where they face critical shortages of shelter, food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and basic health services. Many reported having faced multiple incidents of displacement and conflict in South Sudan, involving the loss and death of immediate family members. Discussions with new arrivals and with UNHCR South Sudan indicate that these refugees are not expected to return in the near term. The response faces significant physical access and logistical constraints, including security and political dynamics in the region, restricted humanitarian access, and fuel shortages.
UNHCR, in collaboration with the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, implementing partners, and other humanitarian actors, is responding to this new influx as well as supporting the ongoing emergency, site development, shelter, and infrastructure interventions in Luakdong Refugee Settlement, Tormorok Reception Area, and other priority locations in the Nuer Zone. On 30 March 2026, an L2 emergency was declared for the South Sudan situation, reflecting the scale, urgency, and complexity of the response.
This assignment is guided by the Blueprint for Emergency Protection Response – Gambella, Ethiopia: New South Sudanese Refugee Influx from Akobo (March 2026 onwards), which provides the strategic framework for UNHCR’s protection interventions in the Gambella response, including detailed guidance on Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response.
The Officer will strategically focus on supporting the capacity of both partners and colleagues to deliver quality CP and GBV support to help ensure that the safety, dignity, and rights of South Sudanese refugee new arrivals, particularly women, girls, children, unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), and other vulnerable groups, are protected through community-based, survivor-centered, and age- and gender-sensitive programming in the Nuer Zone of Gambella Region. The Officer will join an established in-country team to support the expansion of operational capacities, with a strong focus on skills transfer and sustainable capacity strengthening. The assignment is designed to ensure that responsibilities, systems, and technical expertise can be progressively transitioned to national teams within the six-month deployment period.
Establish and strengthen accessible, inclusive, and quality Child Protection (CP) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services in reception centres and camp settings through risk assessments, case management, psychosocial support, safe spaces, referral systems, community-based protection mechanisms, frontline workforce capacity building, awareness raising, and provision of essential protection supplies, while ensuring accountability to affected populations and adherence to age, gender, diversity, and survivor-centred principles.
Objective 2: Strengthen Inter-Agency Coordination and Protection Systems for CP and GBV Emergency Response
Lead and strengthen inter-agency coordination, referral pathways, information management, and multi-sectoral collaboration for Child Protection and GBV programming to ensure harmonized, timely, and effective emergency protection responses, including joint planning, SOP development, preparedness, monitoring, advocacy, partner capacity strengthening, and integration of protection mainstreaming and GBV risk mitigation across all humanitarian sectors.
Key responsibilities include:
Cross-Cutting Responsibilities
Child Protection
Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response
Education
Professional Experience
Essential requirements
Technical Competencies
Personal Characteristics
Ability to work in insecure, remote field locations with limited infrastructure and under tight deadlines
Receiving Agency: UNHCR
P Level: P3
Location: Gambella/Nyienyang, Ethiopia
Duration: 6 months
Language: English
Operational Context
Since early March 2026, escalating hostilities around Akobo in Jonglei State, South Sudan, have triggered a rapid and large-scale cross-border refugee influx into the Gambella Region of Ethiopia. On 6 March 2026, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) issued an evacuation order for civilians, UN agencies, and NGOs from Akobo County ahead of planned military operations. This led to mass displacement, with over 100,000 South Sudanese refugees crossing primarily at Tiergol Thakyak and other points into the Nuer Zone of the Gambella Region.The new arrivals are largely staying in open spaces, riverbanks, and public buildings in Tiergol, Kankan, Muon, Tormorok, and surrounding locations, where they face critical shortages of shelter, food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and basic health services. Many reported having faced multiple incidents of displacement and conflict in South Sudan, involving the loss and death of immediate family members. Discussions with new arrivals and with UNHCR South Sudan indicate that these refugees are not expected to return in the near term. The response faces significant physical access and logistical constraints, including security and political dynamics in the region, restricted humanitarian access, and fuel shortages.
UNHCR, in collaboration with the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, implementing partners, and other humanitarian actors, is responding to this new influx as well as supporting the ongoing emergency, site development, shelter, and infrastructure interventions in Luakdong Refugee Settlement, Tormorok Reception Area, and other priority locations in the Nuer Zone. On 30 March 2026, an L2 emergency was declared for the South Sudan situation, reflecting the scale, urgency, and complexity of the response.
This assignment is guided by the Blueprint for Emergency Protection Response – Gambella, Ethiopia: New South Sudanese Refugee Influx from Akobo (March 2026 onwards), which provides the strategic framework for UNHCR’s protection interventions in the Gambella response, including detailed guidance on Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response.
Aim of the Mission
The purpose of this standby partnership assignment is to deploy an experienced Protection Officer covering GBV and Child Protection to provide technical leadership, coordination, and operational support for supporting and setting up specialized GBV activities (prevention, risk mitigation, and response) as well as Child Protection interventions in the emergency area—entry points (Tiergol, Tormorok, Thakyak, Kankan, Muon), reception centers (Muon and Matar), and Luakdong refugee camp—in line with UNHCR’s Emergency Protection Response Blueprint.The Officer will strategically focus on supporting the capacity of both partners and colleagues to deliver quality CP and GBV support to help ensure that the safety, dignity, and rights of South Sudanese refugee new arrivals, particularly women, girls, children, unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), and other vulnerable groups, are protected through community-based, survivor-centered, and age- and gender-sensitive programming in the Nuer Zone of Gambella Region. The Officer will join an established in-country team to support the expansion of operational capacities, with a strong focus on skills transfer and sustainable capacity strengthening. The assignment is designed to ensure that responsibilities, systems, and technical expertise can be progressively transitioned to national teams within the six-month deployment period.
Mission Objectives
Objective 1: Train and support UNHCR Staff and Partners to Deliver Integrated and Survivor-Centred Child Protection and GBV Services in Emergency SettingsEstablish and strengthen accessible, inclusive, and quality Child Protection (CP) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services in reception centres and camp settings through risk assessments, case management, psychosocial support, safe spaces, referral systems, community-based protection mechanisms, frontline workforce capacity building, awareness raising, and provision of essential protection supplies, while ensuring accountability to affected populations and adherence to age, gender, diversity, and survivor-centred principles.
Objective 2: Strengthen Inter-Agency Coordination and Protection Systems for CP and GBV Emergency Response
Lead and strengthen inter-agency coordination, referral pathways, information management, and multi-sectoral collaboration for Child Protection and GBV programming to ensure harmonized, timely, and effective emergency protection responses, including joint planning, SOP development, preparedness, monitoring, advocacy, partner capacity strengthening, and integration of protection mainstreaming and GBV risk mitigation across all humanitarian sectors.
Responsibilities
The GBV and Child Protection Officer will work under the supervision of the UNHCR Senior Protection Officer in close collaboration with RRS, implementing partners, and other protection actors. Key responsibilities include:
Cross-Cutting Responsibilities
- Lead rapid Child Protection and GBV risk and capacity assessments in the reception centres, in the camp, and at the entry points to inform emergency programming and prioritize life-saving interventions.
- Enhance the capacity of UNHCR staff or partner staff to identify Child Protection and GBV cases at the entry points.
- Establish a solid coordination mechanism for Child Protection and GBV in the reception centres and the camp, in line with the existing coordination structures (Protection Working Group, rapid response task forces).
- Participate in advocacy efforts for access, de-linking of registration from life-saving assistance, and upholding the civilian character of asylum.
Child Protection
- Support the rapid identification and registration of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) and children at risk at Tiergol, Tormorok, Thakyak, Kankan, Muon, and other arrival points, using tools such as the Risk Identification Tool, Kobo Toolbox, and biometric data cross-checking.
- Design and implement short-term Child Protection response activities, including case management for UASC and children at risk, family tracing and reunification, Best Interests Determination/Assessment (BID/BIA), placement in vetted foster care or community-based/group care arrangements (following UNHCR Guidelines on Alternative Care), and provision of psychosocial support.
- Set up a Child Protection mobile team to identify the most urgent cases, provide Psychological First Aid, and refer the cases to the existing Child Protection services.
- Establish and support child-friendly safe spaces; strengthen community-based protection networks and committees (with at least 50% female participation) for ongoing risk monitoring and referral.
- Mainstream child protection across sectors (WASH, shelter, health, education) and develop referral pathways with up-to-date service information.
Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response
- Conduct GBV risk assessments, safety audits, and mainstreaming across all sectors; provide training to partners, local authorities, and security personnel on GBV response and survivor safety.
- Design and implement short-term GBV prevention and response activities, including safe spaces, case management, and psychosocial support.
- Provide immediate technical guidance on integrating survivor-centered approaches into PSEA mechanisms and ensure SEA survivors have access to GBV services.
- Set up a GBV mobile team to identify the most urgent cases, provide Psychological First Aid, and refer the cases to the existing GBV services.
- Establish at least two Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) offering psychosocial support, recreational activities, GBV awareness raising activities, and case management.
- Support GBV case management and referral pathways (including medical, legal, and psychosocial services) using the GBV Information Management System (GBVIMS), PRIMES, or other existing tools; ensure survivor-centered, confidential, and ethical approaches.
PROFILE
ExperienceEducation
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in social work, psychology, law, gender studies, social sciences, international development, or a related field. A combination of relevant professional training and experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
Professional Experience
- Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in GBV and/or child protection in humanitarian emergencies, preferably with UNHCR, other UN agencies, or international NGOs.
- Demonstrated field experience in emergency protection responses, including rapid needs assessments, case management for UASC and GBV survivors, establishment of safe spaces, and community-based programming in resource-constrained or access-restricted settings.
- Proven experience in coordination, capacity building, and working with government counterparts (e.g., refugee authorities) and diverse partners in refugee contexts.
- Experience in the Horn of Africa or similar complex emergency settings is an asset.
Essential requirements
Technical Competencies
- In-depth knowledge of UNHCR’s GBV Policy (2020), Guidelines on Alternative Care for Children, Best Interests Principle Guidelines, and relevant inter-agency standards (e.g., CP Minimum Standards, GBVIMS, IASC GBV Guidelines).
- Strong technical skills in survivor-centered and child-friendly case management, risk identification tools, referral pathway development, and protection mainstreaming/PSEA.
- Excellent analytical, reporting, and communication skills (including in high-pressure emergency environments); ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Proficiency in English (oral and written); knowledge of local languages (Nuer, Amharic, or Arabic) is an asset.
- Proficiency in standard computer applications (MS Office, Kobo Toolbox or similar data tools).
- Commitment to UNHCR’s principles of accountability to affected populations, age-gender-diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, and localization.
Personal Characteristics
Ability to work in insecure, remote field locations with limited infrastructure and under tight deadlines
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.