Assistant Government Liaison Officer

B

FamilyFamily

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2024-12-01

November 10, 2024

Assistant Government Liaison Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is usually located in country operations. S/he plays a crucial support role in ensuring UNHCR's approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the Government on coordination, response delivery and protection issues. Typically, this involves joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. The main aim is to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the GCR - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. This should be done in line with UNHCR's Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, s/he advises the senior management on issues and processes concerning the relationship with the Government and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector, media and other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to support the effectiveness of UNHCR's leadership roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern to UNHCR (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer ensures that support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis concerning the relationship with the Government. The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support all planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the supervisor in maintaining a constant dialogue with the Government on the overall protection context. A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic meetings with the Government, as well as to support the broadening of mutual information through meeting reports, situation updates and newsletters.


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
- Assist in the establishment of close working relations with Government Officials and/or other external parties.
- Provide suggestions for promoting UNHCR's policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Support coordination meetings as required, including by preparing meetings and background information, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
- Manage the flow of information to/from the supervisor and other senior staff; identifies priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the supervisor.
- Draft correspondence, documents and reports, and prepares tables and ensures follow-up.
- Assist in ensuring appropriate links with the Government through establishment/maintenance of appropriate coordination and information exchange.
- Act on behalf of the supervisor to convey, clarify and explain UNHCR's positions to Government or other external parties as applicable.
- Inform the supervisor on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with external parties.
- Act as interpreter during meetings held by the supervisor with senior officials or other external parties.
- Accompany the supervisor and Headquarters visitors to camps, border missions and provincial cities.
- May be required to coordinate the work of lower level staff.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law/International Law;
Political Science;
Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified.
Desirable:
Not specified.

Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
SO-Networking
(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.

Essential

- Demonstrated experience working with the Government at either the local, regional or Federal level.
- Demonstrated understanding and working of regional bureaus especially in Education, Planning Social Protection, Gender and Agriculture
- Demonstrated knowledge of regional government plans and support from donors such EU, World Bank, Africa Development Bank, and other bilateral and multilateral donors
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge working with Zonal and Wereda authorities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of promoting UN/UNHCR’s policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Demonstrated experience in organizing coordination meetings, including by preparing meetings and background information, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
- Demonstrated experience in managing information flow to senior management and identify priorities that need to be urgently addressed.
- Demonstrated drafting skills, ability to analyse information and data to develop protection reports, key messages, assessment and monitoring reports, talking points and different documents as needed.
- Experience in explaining UNHCR’s protection mandate and positions to Government or other external parties.
- Excellent communication skills and experience of working with donors, government and NGO partners, multi-functional teams and capacity to work under tight timelines.

Desirable

- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of engagement with the national refugee response architecture.
- Work experience in projects funded and supported by UN agencies – UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, IOM

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Ethiopia is currently hosting over 1 million refugees, mostly from neighboring countries. UNHCR Ethiopia is responding to the refugees and asylum-seekers hosted in six refugee hosting regions and urban areas, as well as to new emergency refugee influxes from Sudan. Ethiopia is also grappling with multiple internal displacement emergencies due to conflict, drought, and other natural and man-made disasters, resulting in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Protection remains central to all interventions in support of all displaced communities, but protection risks change rapidly, requiring constant monitoring and adaptability.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is supervised by Senior Development Officer. S/he supports the development unit to ensure UNHCR’s approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. Particularly s/he will facilitate communication and correspondence with refugee and returnee services and provide support to the development unit. The incumbent will organize joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and ensure regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. S/he is expected to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the GCR - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. In the case of Ethiopia, this will be in line with the pledges made by the Ethiopian Government during the 2019 and 2023 Global Refugee Forum.

The incumbent should assist and advise the development unit on issues and processes concerning the relationship with the Government and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector, media and other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to support the effectiveness of UNHCR’s leadership roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern to UNHCR (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.

The incumbent is also expected to support strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis concerning the relationship with the Government and support planning and reporting activities. Given that the position is part of the Inter-Agency Unit, the incumbent is also expected to engage actively with partners and other stakeholders that contribute to the refugee response in Ethiopia

Living and Working Conditions:

Ethiopia is currently hosting over 1 million refugees, mostly from neighbouring countries. UNHCR Ethiopia is responding to the refugees and asylum-seekers hosted in six refugee hosting regions and urban areas, as well as to new emergency refugee influxes from Sudan. Ethiopia is also grappling with multiple internal displacement emergencies due to conflict, drought, and other natural and man-made disasters, resulting in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Protection remains central to all interventions in support of all displaced communities, but protection risks change rapidly, requiring constant monitoring and adaptability.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is supervised by the Inter-Agency Officer. S/he supports senior management to ensure UNHCR’s approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. The incumbent will organize joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and ensure regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. S/he is expected to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the GCR - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. In the case of Ethiopia, this will be in line with the pledges made by the Ethiopian Government during the 2019 and 2023 Global Refugee Forum.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance