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HOUSSAM MOUSTAFA
DAMASCUS
Summary
Experienced Protection Officer with 18+ years in UNHCR across Syria, Lebanon, Libya, and Poland. Proven track record in border monitoring, legal protection programming, community-based protection, RSD, IDP response, and team leadership. Consistently rated "exceeds expectations" in all performance appraisals. Holds a Master's in Financial Management, bringing strong analytical, budgeting, and partner oversight capabilities to protection programming.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
8
8
Certification
Work History
Protection Officer
UNHCR Sub-Office Damascus, Syria
02.2025 - 08.2025
- Established and sustained protective presence at Jdidet Yabus border crossing (Lebanon-Syria), building trusted relationships with border authorities to enable safe, dignified, voluntary return of Syrian refugees during active conflict transition
- Led legal unit transformation, aligning protection programs with strategic objectives, incorporating contemporary legal developments, and expanding network of collaborating partners
- Represented office in inter-agency coordination on returnee issues, including Syrian returnees committee and cross-border coordination with Lebanon, facilitating high-level visits including EU delegations
- Managed legal unit staff, introduced performance monitoring systems, and delivered targeted training on legal developments and civil documentation processes
- Oversaw installation of solar power systems at border crossing arrivals/departures halls, improving operational capacity and solidifying partnerships with local authorities
Community-Based Protection Officer
UNHCR Sub-Office Krakow, Poland
02.2024 - 08.2024
- Trained UNHCR protection monitors and NGO partners on humanitarian principles — addressing critical gaps where humanitarian actors struggled with neutrality (avoiding favoritism toward one community), impartiality (assisting civilians regardless of affiliation), and distinction between civilians and front-line fighters
- Led Community-Based Protection Unit covering five Voivodships, overseeing UNHCR-funded community centers in Krakow and Wroclaw
- Built synergies between legal partners and refugee-led organizations to mitigate misinformation risks during uncertain legal framework changes in Ukraine context
- Strengthened Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) by managing complaint and feedback mechanisms, training partners on community feedback systems and outreach activities
- Established strong collaboration with refugee-led NGO working with families of persons with disabilities, surfacing critical challenges including access to documentation
IDP Protection Officer
UNHCR, Libya
04.2021 - 10.2023
- Led IDP Unit, implementing UNHCR protection strategy for internally displaced persons and returnees across Libya
- Conducted protection monitoring interviews (5,000+ through partners), identifying vulnerabilities and protection risks to enable evidence-based programming
- Led rollout of ASSIST database for IDP populations (4,238+ households enrolled) — system did not exist prior to arrival
- Ensured centrality of protection across Core Relief Item distributions and Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), applying protection and vulnerability assessments to verification and selection criteria
- Coordinated 'Sport for Peace' program with Libyan Scouts, providing guidance and monitoring to ensure quality outcomes
- Represented UNHCR in protection sector working groups and under UNSDCF coordination structure (outcome 1 chair for IDPs)
Associate Protection Officer (Community-Based Protection)
UNHCR Country Office, Syria
03.2017 - 04.2021
- Oversaw country-wide community-based protection network: 130+ community centers, 33 satellite centers, 112 mobile units serving IDP, returnee, and refugee populations
- Managed 2,800+ outreach volunteers who identified protection cases and referred for response
- Supervised 835+ community-led initiatives and 51 youth-led initiatives, engaging 15,000+ persons from displaced and host communities
- Developed operational guidance and tools including community center tracking system, hotline feedback tool, closure/relocation guidelines, and ORV performance evaluation framework
- Led education portfolio: achieved 107,529+ students in accelerated learning programs, 39+ schools rehabilitated, 18,389+ vocational training recipients, 1,291+ small business start-ups
- Secured Personal Protective Equipment for 130 community centers during COVID-19 — from needs assessment and budgeting to procurement coordination and distribution
Associate Protection Officer (RSD)
UNHCR Country Office, Syria
04.2012 - 03.2017
- Managed daily RSD workflow ensuring compliance with RSD Procedural Standards
- Reviewed 200+ complex RSD cases annually at first instance, appeal, and reopening levels
- Served as data management focal point: ensured proGres data integrity, developed systematic weekly/monthly reporting, produced inputs for SitReps and Annual Statistical Reports
- Served as inter-unit focal point: strengthened referral systems and inter-unit workflow across protection units
- Trained new and existing caseworkers on RSD procedures, proGres data entry, and substantive legal decision-making
- Managed RSD unit operations during multiple evacuations (2012–2013), taking overall responsibility with international staff supervising remotely
Registration Associate / Senior Registration Assistant
UNHCR Country Office, Syria
02.2007 - 04.2012
- Supervised registration quality control and reception services at Douma Registration Center
- Established Voluntary Repatriation individual case management system from scratch, including group counseling sessions and travel coordination to Iraqi border
- Built capacity of registration team to handle VolRep cases alongside new and renewal registration
- Trained national UNV staff on registration processing and VolRep procedures
Education
Master's Degree - Financial Management
Arab Academy For Banking And Financial Sciences
Damascus, Syria06-2006
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Damascus University
Damascus, Syria06-2002
Skills
Humanitarian Principles Training & Operationalization
Emergency Field Operations & Security
Protection Monitoring & Data-Driven Programming
Community-Based Protection at Scale
Certification
- Workshop on Emergency Management (WEM) 2015
- SSAFE (Safe and Secure Approaches to Field Environment) 2015
- Advanced Security in the Field 2014, 2018
- Basic Security in the Field 2.0 2014
- BSAFE 2019
- Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) 2018
- Protection Learning Curriculum (PLC) — P3 functional clearance 2011+
- Protection Induction Programme (PIP) 2014
- Community-Based Protection Training of Trainers (ToT) 2018-2019
- Operational Data Management Learning Programme (ODMLP) 2013
- Training on Emergency Registration (TER) 2017
- Management Programme LearnLab 2012
Languages
Arabic
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Elementary (A2)
Timeline
Protection Officer
UNHCR Sub-Office Damascus, Syria
02.2025 - 08.2025
Community-Based Protection Officer
UNHCR Sub-Office Krakow, Poland
02.2024 - 08.2024
IDP Protection Officer
UNHCR, Libya
04.2021 - 10.2023
Associate Protection Officer (Community-Based Protection)
UNHCR Country Office, Syria
03.2017 - 04.2021
Associate Protection Officer (RSD)
UNHCR Country Office, Syria
04.2012 - 03.2017
Registration Associate / Senior Registration Assistant
UNHCR Country Office, Syria
02.2007 - 04.2012
Master's Degree - Financial Management
Arab Academy For Banking And Financial Sciences
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Damascus University
Field Deployment Readiness
- Willing to work in conflict zones: Yes
- Willing to live in basic conditions: Yes
- Security training: BSAFE, SSAFE, ASITF, BSITF, WEM
- Available for 6-12 month deployments: Yes
- Family/medical constraints: None