Protection Associate

November 18, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

FamilyUNOPS LICA6

2027-01-01Title: Protection Associate
Location: Skopje, North Macedonia
Duration: 6 months, with possibility for extension
Contract Type: UNOPS Local Individual Contractor Agreement
Level: LICA-6
Start date: 01 January 2027

Operational Context:

UNHCR has maintained a presence in North Macedonia since 1992 and enjoys a longstanding and constructive partnership with the Government, which has consistently supported the organization's mandate, including during the 2015 refugee emergency and throughout the subsequent transition from emergency response to longer-term systems strengthening.

North Macedonia remains an important transit country along the Western Balkans route for refugees and migrants travelling in mixed movements towards Europe. While the number of asylum applications has decreased in recent years, the country continues to experience high rates of onward movement, posing challenges for the effective functioning of the asylum system and the provision of protection and assistance. At the same time, North Macedonia continues to provide temporary protection to refugees fleeing Ukraine and remains engaged in finalizing durable solutions for long-standing refugee populations, including refugees from Kosovo.

Within the framework of the UNHCR Representation for Central and South-East Europe and in line with the Regional Strategy for the Western Balkans, UNHCR supports the Government in strengthening a protection-sensitive asylum system that is aligned with international refugee law and the European Union acquis as part of the country's EU accession process. The Office works closely with national authorities, UN agencies, civil society organizations, EU institutions and other partners to improve access to territory and asylum procedures, enhance reception conditions, promote alternatives to detention, strengthen refugee inclusion and self-reliance, and advance durable solutions. UNHCR also supports national efforts to prevent and reduce statelessness through legal reform, capacity development and improved identification and data collection mechanisms.

UNHCR's interventions are implemented within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and contribute to the implementation of the UN Common Pledge on Inclusion. The Office adopts an evidence-based approach to protection programming, relying on protection monitoring, assessments, community engagement and data analysis to identify protection risks, inform advocacy and strengthen access to rights and services for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons and other persons under UNHCR's mandate.

Against this backdrop, the Protection Associate contributes to the implementation of UNHCR’s protection strategy by supporting protection monitoring, legal and policy analysis, case management, reporting, and coordination with national authorities and partners. The incumbent plays an important role in supporting advocacy on inclusion of refugees, supporting implementation of the UN Common Pledge 2.0 and the Government’s GRF mirror pledge. This will be done through advocacy and engagement aimed at advancing inclusion and integration policies and practices for refugees and other foreigners with regulated stay. The role also supports the delivery of protection interventions that strengthen the asylum system, promote access to social protection, foster inclusion and self-reliance, contribute towards strengthening of the multisectoral institutional capacity-building and ensure compliance with international protection standards. Furthermore, the Protection Associate contributes to evidence-based planning and programming through the use of tailored, context-specific assessments to identify protection risks, integration challenges, and service gaps, thereby informing strategies and interventions that enhance access to rights and services for all persons served by UNHCR in the country.

Desired Candidate Profile:

Essential Attributes:

• The ideal candidate demonstrates a good understanding of international refugee protection principles, international and national legal frameworks, and UNHCR protection standards.

• Experience supporting protection activities, including case management, protection monitoring, reporting, coordination with government counterparts and partners, or work with asylum seekers, refugees or other vulnerable groups.

• The candidate should have good drafting, communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues, authorities and external stakeholders.

• Experience in collecting and analysing information, maintaining databases and preparing reports.

• The successful candidate should be proactive, adaptable and able to manage multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail. Good computer skills, technological awareness, stakeholder engagement skills and sound judgment are important.

Desirable Attributes:

• Previous experience with UNHCR/UN or any refugee related areas will be considered an asset.

• Completion of specific trainings relevant to functions of the position (completion of UNCHR mandatory learning programmes shall be considered an asset).

• Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.

• Innovation and creativity.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Certificates and/ or Licenses: International Law, Political Science or other related field is desirable.

Functional Skills:

• IT-Computer Literacy
• CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
• PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Desirable job experience:
• Protection Learning Programme

Language Requirements:

• Knowledge of English (B2) as the UN working language of the duty station and Macedonian (B2) is required.

Remuneration:

In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

LICA-6 salary range: NET EUR 2,634 - NET EUR 3,073

Benefits:

Annual leave: UNOPS LICA personnel will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).

Health insurance plan:

UNOPS LICA personnel in North Macedonia will be enrolled in the medical insurance plan provided by CIGNA.

Applications:

All applications must be submitted online in Workday. Email applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applicants must be nationals of North Macedonia OR in the possession of a valid North Macedonian residency and work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted.

Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.

Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The Protection Associate will report to the Assistant Protection Officer. The Protection Associate 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 Protection Associate will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

All UNHCR affiliates 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 UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, affiliates are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional and cross-functional 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.

- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

- Perform other related duties as required.

Key Competencies:

Core Competencies:

Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Cross-Functional Competencies:

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management    

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

Macedonian

,

English

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No