Inter-Agency Coordination Officer
Job Summary
Deadline for Applications
Hardship Level
Family Type
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Reason
Regular > Regular AssignmentTarget Start Date
Standard Job Description
Inter-Agency Coordination Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Inter-Agency Coordination Officer is usually located in Country Operations Multi-Country Offices Regional Bureaux Regional Refugee Coordinators Office or in the Public Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Service in Headquarters . S/he plays a crucial role in ensuring UNHCRs approach to partnership and inter-agency processes are 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 coordinate other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response - and support the adherence to UNHCR inter agency commitments in IDP situations. 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 inter-agency processes and related positioning coordination advocacy information resource allocation fundraising reporting and communication with government entities other UN agencies NGOs civil society actors private sector media other relevant actors. This requires strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes as well as knowledge and interaction with regional entities and processes.
The IA Coordination Officer assists senior management with ensuring staff are aware of the humanitarian architecture kept informed 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 forcibly displaced and stateless persons to UNHCR (refugees asylum-seekers IDPs stateless persons returnees host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach.
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
- Advise and assist senior managers to formulate and communicate UNHCR positions on inter- agency matters internally and externally providing briefing notes talking points and issue papers for relevant discussions in-house with partners including governmental counterparts UN agencies and NGOs donors ExCom and in inter-agency fora.
- Promote UNHCRs policies and linkages within multilateral processes including humanitarian and development processes as elaborated by the humanitarian working groups the Inter- Agency Standing Committee and the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) as well as in regional and country levels.
- Contribute to the effective establishment and maintenance of coordination mechanisms and tools in line with the refugee coordination model and globally-agreed arrangements applicable in various situations (refugee-only; mixed refugee-IDPs; refugee and migrant movements) including through the development of joint appeals regional refugee response plans regional refugee and migrant response plans refugee and resilience plans comprehensive responses.
- Ensure these mechanisms (which may include regional coordination mechanisms country-level multi-sector groups refugee protection working group information management) are inclusive and engage with all relevant stakeholders including government counterparts civil society (international and national NGOs) and donors.
- Where the IASC cluster system is activated ensure senior management and country operations have the latest information on response strategies UNHCRs inter -agency commitments and other relevant data.
- In the context of inter-agency appeals advise senior management on established procedures and best practices.
- Maintain frequent formal and informal contacts with his/her counterparts in other organisations.
- With support from Inter-agency and Coordination Section/DER and senior management responsible for furthering understanding within UNHCR on inter- agency issues and priorities and inform other staff on policy developments and reform initiatives within the humanitarian sphere as well as the broader UN and development processes. This includes updating key staff on the developments within the Inter- Agency frameworks UN reforms Global Compact as well as promoting and stimulating UNHCRs implementation of key reforms within the humanitarian and development architecture.
- Assist senior management and country offices to ensure internal institutional coherence and coordination of actions pursued for a strong refugee coordination system under government leadership where possible with accompanying planning instruments in the delivery of refugee responses.
- Articulate UNHCRs priorities in the inter-agency arena including the commitment to humanitarian principles.
- Where there is lack of clarity as to UNHCRs positions and priorities identify the issues and bring this to senior management attention.
- Support/coordinate evaluations/reviews of coordination systems including by other agencies.
- Maintain close contact with DER on emerging issues.
- 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.
For positions in the Regional Bureaux Multi-Country offices or RRC offices only:
- Promote within relevant country operations coordinated approaches to decision making frameworks especially in regards to humanitarian inter agency processes but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR in the field.
- Operationalize UNHCRs inter-agency policies and maintain an inclusive inter-agency regional approach.
- Advise UNHCRs senior management on engagement in regional inter-agency processes including regional Economic Commissions and regional UNSDG as well as regional fora (ASEANIGAD ECOWAS etc).
- Establish regional coordination mechanisms and/or consultation fora for situations led by UNHCR. This should include inter alia: support to RRC (if appointed); information-management; reporting.
- Assist the office to ensure timely preparedness activities across the region / multi-countries including through participation and where necessary coordination of inter-agency contingency planning processes.
- Liaise with other UN agencies and other inter government agencies and fora at the regional level to find areas of cooperation joint initiatives and where applicable negotiate joint agreements or work programmes to further protection and assistance for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Where applicable coordinate the compilation of a regional refugee response plan (in some situations this could be a regional refugee and migrant response plan or a refugee and resilience plan) as well as its monitoring and the tracking of financial contributions.
- In close collaboration with the IM team ensure efficient and timely circulation of information to stakeholders including through the production of regular and up-to-date information key messages and regional situational analysis.
- Ensure effective coordination mechanisms are in place in country operations including through field missions to safeguard harmonized position and communication between national and regional coordination mechanisms UNHCR leads or is actively engaged in.
- Advise field operations on how to facilitate UNHCRs catalytic and conveners role in the context of the Global Compact on Refugees.
- Advise field operations on how to engage in UNDAF processes.
- Organize regional-level capacity building as required.
- Support the organization of annual regional NGO consultations and facilitate events as required.
- Alert the HQ (DER and DEPS) on issues related to coordination arrangements interface with development and humanitarian systems.
For positions in the Public Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Service only:
- Assist in the liaison with other UN agencies and other inter government agencies and fora to find areas of cooperation joint initiatives and where applicable negotiate joint agreements letters and MOUs to further refugee protection and assistance as well as agreements for other forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Advise the Regional Bureaux Multi-Country offices RRC offices and Country operations on inter-agency and coordination matters.
- Compile inputs and draft reports or comments for key inter-agency processes amongst others the Secretary Generals report for ECOSOC on humanitarian coordination and UNHCRs self-report on commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit.
- Assist with UNHCRs participation in the various inter agency initiatives such as the WHS follow-up IASC products ECOSOC Humanitarian Segment in cooperation with other divisions and UNHCR New York.
- Draft input and coordinate the input of others into annual reports in the area of partnership and coordination such as the Global Appeal and Report and into Standing Committee documents.
- Carry out field support missions as required.
- Contribute to the compilation of briefing papers TPs and data collection on coordination issues and UNHCRs interagency response.
- Support the organization of Annual NGO Consultations.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
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
Law Political Science Economics
International Relations Business Administration Social Science
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
In future: completion of the IACLP
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
- Experience of working in an inter-agency environment 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 recent inter-agency developments related to the IASC and the broader UN.
Desirable:
- Inter-agency coordination role.
- Drafting joint appeal/ refugee response plan/HRP.
- Experience with another UN agency or partner.
Functional Skills
ER-Inter-Agency Coordination Mechanisms
(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.
Desired Candidate Profile
1. Demonstrated experience in managing complex Inter-Agency environments including collaboration with UN agencies government and partners familiarity with the Refugee Coordination Model.
2. Previous working experience in a formal Inter-Agency coordination setting in particular inter-sectoral coordination
3. Proven experience engaging with humanitariandevelopment nexus issues
4. Proved managerial skills through leading a team
5. Proven excellent drafting skills in English
Desirable attributes:
Completion of the Inter-Agency Coordination Learning Program
Diverse experience demonstrating practical implementation of global policies at field level
Strong inter-personal stakeholder management and diplomatic skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment juggling multiple priorities with short timeframes
Experience facilitating large groups with diverging interests and views facilitating inclusive and participatory approaches steering towards consensus.
Knowledge of the key inter-agency and IM tools used in the region or operation
Previous experience in an external relations/donor engagement function
Experience with another UN agency or NGO to better undertand organisatioal relaities and coordination settings
Arabic language skill is a desirable attribute
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
Desired languages
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station please visit this link:
The position reports to the Senior External Relations Officer and is part of a wider External Relations team focusing on communications inter-agency coordination donor engagement resource mobilization and reporting.
The position will lead the inter-agency coordination work stream. The Inter-Agency Coordination colleagues coordinate engagement of multiple stakeholders including host government affected populations humanitarian and development actors UN Agencies and donors in the response to the refugee situation. The inter-agency team comprising 4 colleagues provides coordination services to the various sectors of the refugee response meet the reporting and coordination expectations of donors relating to the 3RP and ensures that UNHCRs role as refugee response coordinator is implemented and understood by externals. Familiarity with the RCM will be needed.
The incumbent will chair the Inter-Sector Working Group and lead the preparations and follow-up for the Jordan Strategic Humanitarian Committee. S/he will represent the unit in various coordination fora nationally and support of the supervisor the incumbent will also advise senior management on all inter-agency related aspects.
The position will be expected to work across the various work streams of the unit and perform a range of tasks including in relation to donor engagement and reporting. The position might also assume other cross-cutting responsibilities such as engaging with the Resident Coordinators office for related UN-wide processes (UNSDCF CA etc).
The position directly supervises three G6 staff focusing on inter-agency coordination and information management. The position might need to assume OIC functions in the absence of the Head of Unit.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Interagency Coord Learning Program - OtherWork Experience
Competencies
Accountability Analytical thinking Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Judgement & decision making Organizational awareness Planning & organizing Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaborationUNHCR Salary Calculator
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
About Company
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is a United Nations agency with the mandate to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people, and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country