Assistant Government Liaison Officer (N)

February 26 2026

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

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 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 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 UNHCRs 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 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.

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 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
- Assist in the establishment of close working relations with Government Officials and/or other external parties.
- Provide suggestions for promoting UNHCRs 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 UNHCRs 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.

MCO Belgium oversees five countries (Belgium Ireland Luxembourg the Netherlands and Portugal) and ensures strategic liaison with EU institutions.

Under the supervision of the Protection Officer the Assistant Government Liaison Officer is expected to work with guidance and regular oversight in an often complex political and policy environment. They will maintain close coordination with the line manager and provide functional support to a Legal Associate based in the same office location.

Desired competency and skills include:

- Strong understanding of the national and political context combined with political and organizational awareness to support programme implementation in line with operational priorities.

- Good knowledge of EU asylum law and national legal frameworks relevant to protection inclusion and migration with the ability to analyse developments identify gaps and propose practical responses.

- Ability to support protection objectives through regular liaison with national counterparts and to maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders.

- Strong analytical drafting and reporting skills in English with experience contributing to monitoring reporting and follow-up on policy legal or operational developments.

- Flexibility and adaptability to evolving contexts (e.g. related to displacement dynamics and legal reforms) and the ability to work collaboratively in a multi-functional team environment including with protection programme and communications colleagues at MCO Belgium.

National Professional Officers (NPO) should be nationals of and be locally recruited within the country of their employment. This means that NPOs do not have to necessarily be nationals of the country of employment. However they need to be able to legally work and reside in the country. UNHCR will not sponsor/facilitate residency and work permits.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

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

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance