Government Liaison Officer

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

NOC

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

June 22 2025

Government Liaison Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Government Liaison Officer is usually located in country operations. S/he plays a crucial role in ensuring UNHCRs approach to the Government is consistent strategic and coherent. The main aim is 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 UNHCRs Mandate the Global Compact for Refugees the IDP policy and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically the incumbent 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. This requires strong engagement in Government processes and knowledge and interaction with national entities and processes. The Government Liaison Officer assists senior management with ensuring the Government is aware of the humanitarian architecture and can act in line with ongoing development processes related to the UNDS reform and the 2030 agenda as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of UNHCRs 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.

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 UNHCRs core values of professionalism integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Advise and assist senior managers to formulate and communicate UNHCR positions on Government-related matters on protection assistance and inclusion of refugees providing briefing notes talking points and issue papers for relevant discussions with the Government.
- Promote UNHCRs policies and liaise with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Establish and coordinate country-specific coordination mechanisms for situations co-led by UNHCR and the Government. Where applicable support the development of country-specific refugee response plans (or refugee and migration response plan and refugee and resilience plan) and comprehensive responses.
- Contribute to ensuring the coherence of the work of the Multi-sector group (MSG) in accordance with the Government.
- Provide protection for persons of concern to UNHCR by ensuring the observance by the local authorities of the recognized principles of refugee law.
- Promote accession to refugee law convention in a way that reinforce the asylum institution in the country.
- Articulate UNHCRs priorities towards the Government including the commitment to humanitarian principles.
- With support from senior management promote the deeper understanding within UNHCR on agreements with the Government and inform other staff on developments with the Government. This includes promoting and stimulating UNHCRs implementation of key reforms with the Government;
- Where there is lack of clarity as to UNHCRs positions and priorities identify the issues and bring this to senior management attention.
- Assist the Government to ensure timely preparedness activities including through participation and where necessary coordination of inter-agency contingency planning processes.
- Liaise with the Government inter-government agencies UN agencies local and international NGOs and other partners at the country level to find areas of cooperation joint initiatives and where applicable negotiate joint agreements or work programmes to further protection and assistance for persons of concern.
- Organise and implement capacity-building seminars or training programmes for target groups (government officials etc.).
- Maintain close relations with the press and develop public information activities to ensure greater knowledge in public opinion of refugee and asylum issues and promote UNHCR objectives.
- Maintain close contact with HQ on emerging issues.
- Maintain frequent formal and informal contacts with counterparts in other organisations.

- 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 P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

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

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience of working with partners at field or Headquarters level. Experience of liaising with governments and/or the donor community. Thorough understanding of UNHCRs protection mandate and core mission. Thorough understanding of humanitarian coordination processes and/or development coordination.
Desirable
Inter-agency coordination role. Drafting joint appeal/ refugee response plan/HRP. Experience with another UN agency or partner.

Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners Government & Community
SO-Networking
TR-Training and Capacity Building of Governments and/or national programs
(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.

- The desired candidate needs to be able to work with limited and remote supervision in an often complex political and policy environment and maintain close coordination with the line manager. The Government Liaison Officer supervises a Legal Associate based in the same office location.

- S/he has a solid background in external relations and/or protection developed through substantial experience in liaising with national counterparts ideally both in the field and at HQ.

- Political and organizational awareness are also essential.

- Familiarity with the most current EU legal and policy frameworks relating to asylum and migration is an asset.

- Negotiation and interpersonal skills are required to effectively work with diverse teams of both national and international staff in a multi-country office set-up.

- Excellent English both orally and in writing is required. Knowledge of the local language(s) is also a requirement.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station please visit this link:

of Position:

UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) Belgium ensures the liaison with EU institutions and oversees UNHCRs presence in Belgium Ireland Luxembourg The Netherlands and its EU affairs-related functions it also supervises teams working with Frontex in Poland and the EU Agency for Asylum in Malta.

Under the overall guidance of the Representative the Government Liaison Officer reports to the Brussels-based Senior Protection Officer overseeing UNHCRs protection operations in the five countries under the purview of MCO Belgium. S/he works in coordination with the MCO Legal Associate the Regional Bureau for Europe and other relevant Units at Headquarters.

The Government Liaison Officer ensures a close and favourable relation with the Government of the host country with respect to policies and laws related to access to asylum reception resettlement and complementary pathways to strengthen the domestic protection space. Accordingly in close coordination with the Senior Protection Officer and the MCO communication team he/she ensures that issues prioritized by UNHCR are adequately present on the agenda of the media and civil society through appropriate communication and advocacy interventions to influence the Government and other actors to respond to refugees needs. This includes advocacy on issues related to local integration and fundraising for UNHCR globally where appropriate in line with the regional and MCO strategic priorities.

For the achievement of the strategic objectives external contacts are developed and maintained with a broad range of partners and stakeholders including public institutions UN agencies NGOs academia lawyers and the private sector as well as civil society and the general public as relevant.

Living and Working Conditions:

Brussels (Belgium) is a European capital and a H family duty station.
For more details on working & Living Conditions in Belgium see on Intranet at:
working and living conditions
Security
Offices in the Western European region invest in security upgrades as needed and all are MOSS compliant. Brussels does not face any particular security concerns but like all major cities in the region may be subject to indiscriminate terrorist acts.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners Government & Community CO-Drafting and Documentation SO-Networking TR-Training and Capacity Building of Governments and/or national programs

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration Bachelor of Arts: Economics Bachelor of Arts: Law Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Judgement & decision making Managing performance Managing resource Negotiation & conflict resolution Organizational awareness Political awareness Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

Additional Information

National Professional Officers should be locally recruited but do not have to be nationals of the country of employment. However they need to be able to legally work and reside in Belgium. UNHCR will not sponsor/facilitate residency and work permits.

Functional clearance

This position doesnt require a functional clearance