Job Opening: Senior Protection Assistant (JR2450080)

Location: Nicosia, Cyprus

Staff Member / Affiliate Type: UNOPS LICA5

Deadline to Apply: 20 November 2024

General Background:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”) is the agency entrusted by the United Nations General Assembly with the mandate to provide international protection to refugees and, together with Governments, to seek permanent solutions to the problems of refugees. Article 35 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and Article II of the 1967 Protocol requires states parties to cooperate with the office of the UNHCR in the exercise of its supervisory responsibilities. UNHCR’s supervisory responsibility has been reflected in European Union law, including by way of a general reference to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees in Article 78 (1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (“TFEU”), as well as in Declaration 17 to the Treaty of Amsterdam, which provides that “consultations shall be established with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees … on matters relating to asylum policy”. Within the framework of UNHCR’s supervisory responsibility, the UNHCR country office in Cyprus seeks a Senior Protection Assistant to identify and support support vulnerable populations across Cyprus, including in the reception centres.

Cyprus continues to experience complex challenges in supporting forcibly displaced persons, particularly with regard to reception conditions for asylum seekers. Despite a decrease in new arrivals, the climate has grown increasingly hostile toward forcibly displaced persons, creating significant hurdles for non-governmental organizations to deliver essential services. This negative shift coincides with a noticeable change in the profile of forcibly displaced persons, who now present more vulnerabilities, especially given the limitations in housing and employment access. The rise in destitution, specifically among Syrian asylum seekers, underscores the need for immediate systemic improvements, as individuals unable to secure basic needs are often at risk of exploitation—sexual and employment—for survival. Survivors of gender-based violence, persons with specific needs, single women, and unaccompanied children, as well as children in the community, are particularly at risk and require tailored solutions to address their unique vulnerabilities.

There is an on-going reception crisis for the past years. Access to work has been restricted for the maximum possible period, leaving asylum seekers dependant on benefits for nine months. The level of assistance provided is insufficient and at 50% below the poverty line. Housing availability remains a pressing issue, as landlords increasingly refuse to rent to asylum seekers, leaving many with limited options. Compounded by delays in accessing welfare support due to administrative barriers, many asylum seekers or newly recognized international protection beneficiaries face extended periods without financial assistance, at risk of homelessness and destitution. This situation has particularly impacted newborns and families of asylum seekers with undecided appeals, leaving them in a precarious position. Asylum seekers with specific needs are altogether excluded from special needs assistance, including disability schemes. Additionally, systemic inefficiencies further complicate access to critical services. Growing reports of xenophobic incidents highlight an urgent need to address discrimination within service delivery systems, which disproportionately affects survivors of GBV, single women, and children, who are often reluctant to report incidents due to fear of further marginalization.

Access to meaningful integration pathways remains limited, especially for young asylum seekers transitioning to adulthood. The absence of targeted support services for individuals aged 18-21 leaves this age group vulnerable to exploitation, emphasizing the need for psychosocial support and peer programs. Survivors of GBV, single women, and unaccompanied children also require specific support, such as safe spaces and legal counseling, to prevent further harm. Additionally, recent changes to national policies and procedural barriers, including on access to naturalization and long-term residence, have significantly strained forcibly displaced persons’ ability to fully integrate into Cypriot society, leading to widespread feelings of exclusion. Effective integration requires coordinated policy reform, community-based support, and resources that address the distinct needs of various groups, particularly those who seek stability and long-term inclusion.