UNOPS Community-Based Assistant

Deadline for Applications

July 8, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

U (unclassified)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

No designation

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA4

Target Start Date

2026-08-01

Terms of Reference

TERMS OF REFERENCE

(Individual Contractor Agreement)

Title: UNOPS Community-Based Protection Assistant

Project: UNHCR

Duty station: Lago Agrio, Ecuador

Section/Unit: Protection

Contract/Level: Local Support, LICA 4

Duration: From 01 August – 31 December 2026

Supervisor: Natasha Montero, Head of Fiel Unit Lago Agrio

1. General Background

UNHCR in Ecuador aims to deliver protection, assistance and solutions to a variety displaced people such as asylum-seekers and refugees in partnership and close collaboration with national authorities as well as nongovernmental organizations and local communities. The operation is coordinated at the national level by the Country Office in Quito. In addition, UNHCR has Field Offices in Guayaquil and Tulcán, and Field Units in Esmeraldas, Manta, and Lago Agrio.

Ecuador is a destination and transit country for persons in need of international protection. Over the past two decades Ecuador has been hosting more than 78,000 recognized refugees (historical number, of which the majority are Colombians) and has become a main destination and transit country for Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Ecuador receives the fifth largest number of Venezuelans after Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil, with just over 440,000. Since 2023, the increasing insecurity across Ecuador has had a significant social and economic impact, affecting refugees, migrants and locals alike and mining UNHCR’s protection and inclusion strategy. This downturn deepened human rights gaps which will adversely affect refugees and migrants, the vast majority of whom work in the informal sector, lack a social safety net and cannot cover their basic needs, such as rent and food and are prone to discriminatory attitudes.

Lago Agrio is located on the border with Colombia; therefore, most refugees and asylum-seekers originate from Putumayo, Huila, Caquetá, and Cauca. Among the main challenges are access to documentation, health services, livelihoods, and security, within a context of geographic isolation of the province due to damage to the main roads connecting to Quito. The Field Unit assists a significant number of women survivors of sexual violence, as well as children and young persons at risk of forced recruitment. Consequently, knowledge in these areas is considered an asset.

The attached Vacancy Announcement is issued to recruit a Community -Based Protection Assistant for the Lago Agrio Field Unit.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Community-Based Protection Assistant is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the incumbent works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. S/he 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 Assistant is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (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.

3. Duties

- Through relationships with PoC and network of partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.

- Support implementing and operational partners as well as displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.

- Assist in working with host communities to involve national civil society groups in improving the protection of PoC.

- Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.

- Support participatory assessments and ongoing consultation with PoC.

- Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.

- Ensure community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.

- Collect data for monitoring of programmes and budgets from an AGD perspective.

- Draft and type routine correspondence, documents and reports and maintain up-to-date filing systems.

- Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.

- Assist in the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR’s work.

- Identify and recommend which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.

- Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

- Perform other related duties as required.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Years of Experience

- 1-year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

b. Field(s) of Education

- Not applicable.

c. Certificates and/or Licenses

- Development Studies, Human Rights, Community Development /Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, International Law

d. Relevant Job Experience

Essential

- Not specified

Desirable

- UNHCR learning programmes (PLP).

e. Functional Skills

- *IT-MS Office Applications

- *IT-Computer Literacy

- UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

- UN-UN/UNHCR Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures

- IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

- PR-Community-based Protection

- PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies

- CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community

f. Language Requirements

- Knowledge of English is desirable

5. Competency Requirements

a. Core Competencies

- Accountability

- Communication

- Organizational Awareness

- Teamwork & Collaboration

- Commitment to Continuous Learning

- Client & Result Orientation

.

b. Cross-Functional Competencies

- Stakeholder Management

- Planning and Organizing

- Political Awareness

5. Submission of applications

A. English Desirable. Level intermediate.

B. Shortlisted candidates may sit a technical test.

A) Foreign candidates, to be considered eligible for this position, must have a temporary or permanent residence in Ecuador that allows them to carry out work activities in the country.

B) If recommended, the candidate must submit a current and updated RUC Unique Taxpayer Registry and a voluntary contribution certificate to the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security IESS. Voluntary IESS securities will be covered by the staff member. The salary offered is in net terms.

C) If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your application according to the following instructions:

i. CANDIDATES WITH ACCESS TO THE WORKDAY: In order to apply, you must first create your profile in the WORKDAY system.

ii. EXTERNAL CANIDATES: Candidates who do NOT have access to the WORKDAY system should submit their application through UNHCR's official site for applications:

https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html

WHEN CREATING A CANDIDATE PROFILE IN WORKDAY, PLEASE USE CAPSLOCKS FOR LAST NAME AND NO SPECIAL CHARACTERS (Ñ OR ACCENTS)

CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.

NOTE

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

Standard Job Description

Community-Based Protection Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Community-Based Protection Assistant is a member of the Protection Unit and may report to the Protection Officer, Community-Based Protection Officer, or another more senior staff member in the Protection Unit. Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with other UNHCR staff, government, NGO partners and other stakeholders, the incumbent works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. S/he 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 Assistant is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (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.
Duties
- Through relationships with PoC and network of partners, stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the PoC and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
- Support implementing and operational partners as well as displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.
- Assist in working with host communities to involve national civil society groups in improving the protection of PoC.
- Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
- Support participatory assessments and ongoing consultation with PoC.
- Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
- Ensure community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
- Collect data for monitoring of programmes and budgets from an AGD perspective.
- Draft and type routine correspondence, documents and reports and maintain up-to-date filing systems.
- Act as an interpreter in exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
- Assist in the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR's work.
- Identify and recommend which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
- Enforce compliance of implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

- 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 G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Development, Human Rights, International Law
Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
UNHCR learning programmes (PLP). Knowledge of MSRP.
Functional Skills
UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
*IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
(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.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies, UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

Education

Certifications

Development Studies - Other, HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, Human Rights - Other, International Law - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other

Work Experience

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No