Government Liaison Officer

U (unclassified)

Family Type

Pending

Family Type

PendingDanger Pay

Residential location (if applicable)

Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep

Grade

NOC

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2024-01-01

Job Posting End Date

December 25, 2023

Standard Job Description

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 UNHCR’s 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 UNHCR’s 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 UNHCR’s 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 UNHCR’s 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 UNHCR’s 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 UNHCR’s implementation of key reforms with the Government;
• Where there is lack of clarity as to UNHCR’s 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 UNHCR’s 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.

Desired Candidate Profile

The Government Liaison Officer role in Haiti, based in Port au Prince requires excellent inter personal skills, previous experience of the humanitarian sector and the humanitarian coordination architecture and excellent knowledge of government functions. The desirable candidate will be diplomatic and well spoken. The candidate will also need, given the small size of the team be versatile, a team player, be willing to multi-task and find innovative ways of engaging and pursuing strategic partnerships with humanitarian and development actors. The candidate will be also have excellent knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate in order to forge relationships with new interlocutors. With a view to the deployment of the multinational security support mission the candidate will also be able to communicate UNHCR’s role and mandate to interlocutors not familiar with the Office. The candidate will also have good information sharing habits and will know how to sift and channel information to Multi Country Office Washington.

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

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

There is a cholera outbreak in Haiti. Drink boiled or bottled water with intact seals. Avoid raw or undercooked food. Measures to reduce exposure to communicable diseases which includes waterborne (Cholera, other diarrheal diseases etc) and disease transmitted by mosquito should be practiced. COVID-19 continues to circulate in all departments of the country, so vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended as well as public health and social measures to limit transmission (mask, hygiene, social distancing, and ventilation). Take measures to reduce exposure to: – Unsafe food and water to avoid illnesses such as diarrheal diseases. – Mosquitoes which may cause vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and lymphatic filariasis – Dog bites to prevent dog-transmitted rabies.

In addition to the high levels on insecurity in the capital where the position is located, it should be noted that the level of healthcare in Haiti is very poor, though some areas have better healthcare systems in place than others. Haiti’s emergency response infrastructure is also quite poor, including ambulance services. Persons who develop serious medical conditions have evacuated to the USA or the Dominican Republic in order to receive medical treatment.

Nature of Position:

The Government Liaison function in Haiti covers not only liaison with government entities but also representation of UNHCR at various inter-agency fora. In this regard, the incumbent works closely with the Senior Operations Coordinator. As the most senior national staff member in the national office, the position also involves close coordination with MCO Washington on matters relating to admin, programme, finance and HR. The role requires inputs on strategic decisions regarding which partnerships to invest in and supports the Senior Operations Coordinator with liaison from Port au Prince with UNHCR’s partners.

Living and Working Conditions:

Haiti is affected by problems in terms of safety and security, and many governments advise avoiding certain areas of the capital of Port-au-Prince altogether, such as the Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil and the Martissant neighborhoods. Due to the instability of the political system in Haiti, there are frequent protests, some of which run the risk of turning violent and are therefore best avoided. Port-au-Prince, is a bustling and crowded country with high levels of poverty and unemployment throughout. While much of the infrastructure is somewhat lacking, and much of it is in the process of development, working conditions are subject to UNDSS security rules.

Civil unrest continues to be frequent in Haiti. A spate of violent demonstrations, including roadblocks, stone-throwing, property damages, shootings, and threats against the international community facilities including BINUH, resumed in 2023 following the resurgence of gang-related violent crimes such as assassinations and kidnappings targeting civilians and police officers.

Traffic accidents are the most common safety hazard to UN personnel in Haiti. The poor state of roads combined with poorly maintained vehicles and reckless driving attitude lead to a high number of traffic accidents. Crowds can form at the scene of a traffic accident very quickly and always insists the UN staff involved in the accidents to bring the victim immediately to the hospital. It is therefore important to contact the UNDSS Security Operation Center immediately, if you were involved in a traffic accident. Due to its location, Haiti is also highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as tropical storms, hurricanes, and earthquakes. During the hurricane season, which lasts from June 1st to November 30th, Haiti is exposed to heavy tropical storms causing floods and landslides. Hurricanes and tropical storms routinely cause extensive material damage and loss of human life. Haiti is also located in the zone that is well known for producing tsunamigenic earthquakes. Even moderate earthquakes could cause severe damage and loss of life due to the poor quality of construction and limited government response capacity.

Skills

Additional Qualifications

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 (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): 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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

Please be advised that this is a national officer position and as such only Haitian nationals will be considered.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• No late applications will be accepted.

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance