Associate Government Liaison Officer

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

PR2

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

July 3 2025

Associate Government Liaison Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate 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. 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 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. 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
- Participates in formulating and communicating UNHCR positions on Government-related matters on protection assistance and inclusion of refugees providing suggestions for briefing notes talking points and issues papers for relevant discussions with the Government.
- Provides suggestions for promoting UNHCRs policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Assists in establishing and coordinating country-specific coordination mechanisms for situations co-led by UNHCR and the Government. Where applicable assists in supporting the development of country-specific refugee response plans (or refugee and migration response plan and refugee and resilience plan) and comprehensive responses.
- Assists in ensuring the coherence of the work of the Multi-sector group (MSG) in accordance with the Government.
- Assists in organizing and implementing capacity-building seminars or training programmes for target groups (government officials etc.).
- Responds to queries from Government Officials NGOs individuals etc. and provides the information required or appropriately refers the queries elsewhere.
- Assists the supervisor in preparation of statements that represent UNHCRs overall policies and which highlight specific area of concern ensuring that the supervisor is prepared for meetings/missions by providing relevant information and establishing contacts.

- 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 P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year 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
Not specified.
Desirable
Not specified.

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.

In addition to core protection competencies the role requires the ability to work effectively and creatively in the complex context characterized by the operational and political realities of nowadays Europe.
Required/desired skills and expertise include:
- Background on policy and/or advocacy and communication.
- Ability to build collaborative working relationships with external actors relying on strong interpersonal and networking skills.
- Good political acumen and analytical thinking.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. French is an asset.
- Managerial skills: ability to lead and manage a team.
- Familiarity with/exposure to the EU political legal and policy context especially on migration and refugee issues are considered an asset.
- Good knowledge and understanding of the EU structure funding modalities and budget cycle are considered an asset.
- Field experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

of Position:

MCO Belgium ensures the liaison with EU institutions including the European Union Agency for Asylum (Malta) and Frontex (Poland) and the oversight of five countries: Belgium Ireland Luxembourg The Netherlands and Portugal. In line with the strategic priorities of the Bureau for Europe the complex situation in the European Union from the legal political policy institutional and operational perspectives on asylum requires sustained attention. Migration and asylum feature among the key priorities of EU Affairs against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging political and policy environment. Following years of negotiations the EU has adopted a comprehensive Pact for Asylum and Migration which is to enter into application in mid-2026. The Pact constitutes a significant overhaul of the common European Asylum System and requires complex implementation efforts across the 27 EU Member States (MS) that are also looking at additional innovative solutions to strengthen the management of their external borders and irregular arrivals.

Within MCO Belgium the strategic liaison with the EU institutions is shared by the Policy and Legal Support Unit (PLUS) and the Global Issues (GI)-EU unit. PLUS is managing the relationship with the EU on policy and legal issues in Europe and develops responses to the current serious challenges to the protection space the CEAS and wider European arrangements with guidance on EU law and policy. The GI-EU unit advocates for the inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless people in the EUs policies and programming mobilizes resources for UNHCR and its partners.

Both units work with a wide range of EU institutions including the European Council Parliament External Action Service and Commission as well as Representations of Member States (MS) and various Councils of Ministers on broad policy and political issues across a continuum of what may be referred as the Pacts internal dimension (domestic asylum system external border management etc.) and external dimension (route-based approach technical cooperation with third countries etc.).

The Associate Government Liaison Officer has a dual reporting line to both External Relations and Policy Officers in GI and PLUS respectively. S/he also works closely with the Representative and the two heads of units. S/he manages a team of three External Relations Associates.

S/he coordinates the political engagement of the Representation for EU Affairs under the Multi-Country Office with the EU institutions and more specifically the Cabinets of Commissioners and senior civil servants Councils members Parliamentarians and staff from Permanent Representations of EU MS as well support the Representatives engagement with senior UNHCR colleagues in the 27 capitals of the European Union and Europe Bureau/HQ Divisions. Focus is on both units priorities including the Pact innovations sustainable response and the Route-Based Approach.

S/he is also responsible for feeding into and promoting the MCOs advocacy and communication objectives and closely liaises with the Comms Unit to actively contribute to the delivery of outreach and external advocacy products.

Internally s/he maintains productive and regular working relationships with DIPS DRS and RBE.

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

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 Negotiation & conflict resolution Organizational awareness Political awareness Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

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Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance