Partnership Officer

Job content

Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position

Hardship Level

H (no hardship)

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

PR3

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

• Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.
  
  

In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2023-10-13

Job Posting End Date

November 9, 2023

Standard Job Description

Partnership Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

UNHCR’s mandated responsibility for finding solutions to refugee situations has long required stronger cooperation with a variety of partners and the inclusion of persons of concern (PoC) within national strategies and the SDGs.

Due to a variety of factors, including the changing nature of conflicts over the last decades, the proportion of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in protracted displacement situations continues to be very high, while the overall number of people who have access to durable solutions remains marginal. At the same time, most forcibly displaced persons can be found in developing countries, and more often than not in marginalized and lagging regions within these countries, i.e. with high levels of poverty and fragility, often affected by or bordering conflict-areas.

These elements have driven the realization that humanitarian assistance alone is ill-suited to address the needs of forcibly displaced populations and host communities in protracted situations in a sustainable manner, i.e. to reduce aid dependency by fostering socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance of forcibly displaced people. In line with the commitments made by the international community at the World Humanitarian Summit, among others, broadening and strengthening UNHCR’s engagement with development actors and national governments is a key objective of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR).

The GCR frames a new approach towards a more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing. In line with the GCR, UNHCR therefore engages a wider range of stakeholders, including governmental, non-governmental, faith’based and other non-traditional partnerships to enable more comprehensive responses to refugees and other displacement situations.

The Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), supports this approach, among other things by engaging with development partners, including Multilateral Development Banks (MDB), to pursue positive outcomes for refugees, IDPs and stateless people in the areas of resilience and solutions, developing policies, approaches and tools in support of development-oriented interventions with lasting measurable impact, and coordinating the production of analytical research that advances the understanding, management and eventually resolution of specific country-level displacement situations.

Within the context outlined above and under the supervision of the Snr Partnerships Officer - the role of the Partnerships Officer is to - facilitate UNHCR’s engagement and cooperation with Multilateral Development Banks (MDB).

It is anticipated that these partnerships will grow in significance in future years due to the greater importance attached to addressing protracted displacement situations from a development angle, in line with the Leaving No One Behind principle underpinning the Agenda 2030. The role the Partnership Officer will be pivotal in identifying opportunities for developing effective partnerships with MDBs, managing these partnerships, promoting UNHCR’s objectives and strategies with these partners, and ensuring that PoC are taken into account in their planning, programming, and policy work.

In close collaboration with RB, the Partnerships Officer will furthermore support country operations in their engagement and collaboration with MDBs.

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

• Conduct research, analysis and advise accordingly the operation(s) on identifying partners that are able to engage with long-term political, economic and social planning that will define the opportunities for inclusion of PoC to UNHCR as well as more sustainable and whole-of-society approaches to refugee and stateless protection and solutions management
• Identify, develop and manage new collaboration opportunities with MDBs, with a strong focus on the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank Group (support and backup);
• Take stock and monitor country-level engagement and engagement opportunities and keep abreast of an engagement plan for MDBs;
• Provide strategic guidance to field operations on how to build, operationalize and sustain effective partnerships with MDBs in order to leverage their analytical, technical and financial capabilities
• Ensure relevant MDBs are provided relevant knowledge and data to influence their planning, programming and advocacy around resilience for and inclusion of UNHCR PoC.
• Assist in strengthening and managing partnerships and networks with MDBs, through joint activities including the implementation of joint research and analysis, capacity building, knowledge dissemination, the organization of joint external events and facilitation of staff exchange initiatives, to engage them in pledging processes, and policy dialogues with host governments on institutional arrangements, sectors, locations and programme content of consequence to UNHCR and PoC;
• Assist in the management of the Community of Practice on Development Partnerships and Comprehensive Responses, supporting the sharing of knowledge and experience between UNHCR and development actors and across UNHCR operations globally by documenting and disseminating good practices;
• Support requests for background notes, talking points, briefing materials to support UNHCR’s engagement with MDBs and in the humanitarian-development nexus;
• 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

Public Policy;

Public Administration;

Law;

International Relations;

Political Science;

Social Sciences;

Development;

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

At least four (4) years of partnership management experience in international context, of which preferably at least two (2) years in field operations. Experience in managing a variety of internal and external relationships in a cross-cultural professional environment.

Desirable

Experience in coordination of UN interventions with other actors, in a refugee, humanitarian or development context. Solid experience in lobbying and advocacy with Government and other institutions. Experience in drafting and editing, in particular on protection and solutions strategies, advocacy strategies, or partnership building. Experience in primary data collection, quantitative research methods and results-based management.

Functional Skills

CL-Strategy Development and Monitoring

• SO-Critical Thinking and problem solving
• SO-Networking
• UN-Policy Advocacy in UNHCR
• IM-Knowledge Management
  
  

PG-Results-Based Management

• CO-Strategic Communication
• CO-Drafting and Documentation
  
  

PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

• MG-Partnership Development
  
  

(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

Excellent stakeholder management and networking skills are essential for this position. A minimum of five years demonstrated experience on work related to refugee law and policy analysis, to refugee inclusion and government institutions strengthening are required. This should include at least three years of demonstrated collaboration with Governments in a refugee-hosting country. The incumbent must have demonstrated experience in managing policy dialogue and programmes with governments and development partners on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Experience in protection capacity with UNHCR is a requirement. Knowledge of French is an asset.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

,

,

Desired languages

French

,

,

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

In line with the Global Compact on Refugees, the Development Partnerships, Analytics and Research Service (DPAR) in the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) manages partnerships with development actors. Under the supervision of the Senior Partnership Officer (SPO), the Partnership Officer will support UNHCR’s global-level engagement with International Financial Institutions (IFIs), including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In support of the Senior Partnership Officer, (s)he will:

• Provide technical support and coordinate with Regional Bureaux/Operations on collaboration with IFIs, including managing, together with the Division for International Protection (DIP), the regular updating of the WB’s Refugee Protection and Policy Reviews,
• Support the identification of policy opportunities/risks to feed into IFIs’ engagement,
• Support the development of guidance notes on the engagement with IFIs,
• Develop, in collaboration with DIP and the GLDC, training modules for IFIs on the intersection of refugee protection and development approaches,
• Support the technical collaboration with IFIs on inclusion in specific sectors in close collaboration with DRS and DIP technical sections,
• Support UNHCR ’s engagement with the IFIs in middle-income refugee-hosting countries, and the Global Concessional Financing Facility in particular,
• Identify further areas and modalities of collaboration with IFIs.
  
  

The team works closely with relevant colleagues in DER and DIP on aspects related to resource mobilization and protection and provides technical support to and coordinates with Regional Bureaux/Operations (Development and Protection Officers as well as technical sectors) on collaboration with IFIs. The Partnership Officer supports the SPO’s efforts to identify further areas and modalities of collaboration with IFIs with a view to ensure that the engagement results in tangible, transformative, and sustainable impact on Persons of Concern’s socioeconomic development opportunities and access to sustainable solutions.

Living and Working Conditions

Geneva is a HQ duty station offering high standard living conditions with a relatively high cost of living. Switzerland is in general a safe place with very little crime.

Staff members assigned to Geneva have also been granted the opportunity to reside in neighbouring France on the understanding that the preconditions to acquiring a French residency permit are respected.

Medical care is up to international standards. Under the Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act health insurance coverage is compulsory for all persons domiciled in Switzerland within three months of taking up residence or being born in the country. International staff members and their family members holding a Carte de legitimation or an attestation delivered by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs are exempt from this compulsory insurance provided that they are covered by another health insurance scheme (i.e. UNSMIS).

With regard to educational facilities in the Geneva area, international schools (La Grande Boissière, Châtaigneraie and Pregny) have difficulties to find places for new admissions. It is therefore advisable to make requests for admission for children as early as possible. For more information on this subject, staff can contact the Association Genevoise des écoles privées in Geneva (www.agep.ch), tel: (+41 22 735 7671).

Skills

Additional Qualifications

CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches, DE-Development cooperation in post conflict and protracted crisis settings, DE-Inclusion of PoCs in national development plans, social safety nets and services, DE-Partnership scoping and management with bilateral/multilateral development actors/banks, PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Development Studies, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Public Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Public Policy, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR

Work Experience

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned IDPs, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Bi-annual Compendium 2023 Part B - October 2023

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance