Associate Protection Officer Job at UNHCR Uganda in Kampala

Join UNHCR Uganda as an Associate Protection Officer in Kampala

Are you a dedicated humanitarian professional passionate about protecting the rights of refugees and displaced persons in Uganda? The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking an experienced Associate Protection Officer to join our team in Kampala. This is a critical role within Uganda's leading refugee response operation, offering the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of populations of concern.

Key Responsibilities

• Report to the Protection Officer/Senior Protection Officer and potentially supervise protection staff in areas like community-based protection, registration, resettlement, and education.
• Provide functional guidance on all protection and legal matters, including statelessness, the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), age, gender, diversity (AGD), and accountability to affected populations (AAP).
• Coordinate quality, timely, and effective protection responses to meet the needs of refugees and other persons of concern in Uganda.
• Mainstream protection methodologies and integrate safeguards across all operational sectors, including Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response, disability inclusion, and housing/land/property (HLP) issues.
• Contribute to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represent UNHCR externally on protection doctrine and policy.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with communities of concern, local authorities (including Ugandan government counterparts), and protection partners.
• Ensure affected communities are involved in decisions that impact their rights and solutions.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in Law, International Law, Political Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant professional experience in protection roles, preferably within the Ugandan or East African humanitarian context.
• In-depth knowledge of international refugee law, human rights doctrine, and protection principles.
• Proven experience in community-based protection and working with vulnerable groups.
• Excellent coordination, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of local Ugandan languages (e.g., Luganda, Swahili) is a strong asset.

Benefits of Working with UNHCR Uganda

• Competitive United Nations salary and benefits package, including hardship allowance.
• Comprehensive medical insurance and pension plan.
• Significant opportunity for professional growth and career development within the UN system.
• Work in a multicultural and internationally recognised organisation at the heart of Uganda's refugee response.
• Contribute meaningfully to one of the world's largest refugee-hosting nations.

How to Apply: If you are committed to protection work and meet the above requirements, apply through the official UNHCR careers portal by the closing date. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.