Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The role of the Senior Partnership Officer is to facilitate UNHCR’s engagement and cooperation with multiple stakeholders currently implementing or who have the potential to advocate for and/or implement medium term programmes assisting local communities and UNHCR’s population of concern and have the ability to positively influence the social and political environment.
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 populations of concern to UNHCR as well as more sustainable and whole-of-society approaches to refugee and stateless protection and solutions management.
– Support building relationship in partnerships with International, Regional and State entities, regions and municipalities, NGOs, faith-based organizations, academia, workers’ and entrepreneurs’ organizations, development actors, private sector, etc.
– Map and develop partnerships and networks with a variety of partners to influence the policy dialogue with governments on institutional arrangements related to sectors, locations and programme content of consequence to UNHCR and persons of concern.
– Work with a variety of interlocutors to incorporate populations of concern to UNHCR into the design, implementation, monitoring and communication arrangements of projects and interventions to achieve positive impact on their situation.
– Ensure coherence, where relevant, across operations in how they engage in terms of multiple stakeholder partnerships (e.g. messaging, policies, etc.).
– Process and analyse knowledge and data from country operations to support planning, policy and advocacy at the regional and HQ level.
– Ensure that partners are provided relevant knowledge and data to influence their planning, programming and advocacy around resilience for and inclusion of UNHCR persons of concern.
– Facilitate coordination, collaboration and the sharing of knowledge, best practices and lessons learned, internally in UNHCR both within HQs and across UNHCR operations globally- and with a variety of partners.
– Support training activities for the staff of UNHCR and a variety of partners aimed at achieving greater coordination, effectiveness and synergies in terms of multiple stakeholder partnerships.
– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
– Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Public Policy;
Public Administration;
Law;
International Relations;
Political Science;
Development
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
At least six (6) 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
PG-Results-Based Management
*CO-Strategic Communication
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(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.
Desired Candidate Profile
6 months TA need starting ASAP.
The candidate for the Senior Partnership Officer position will bring extensive experience and expertise in fostering collaborations and driving initiatives with international and local partnerships and networks that promote food security, enhance agricultural livelihoods, and support sustainable development in displacement settings. The candidate’s experience in the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region is critical for leveraging the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) pledges to mobilize collaborative efforts and resources for refugee inclusion in food security and agricultural initiatives. The candidate should understand the unique challenges and opportunities in this region, including the complex interplay of climate change, agricultural challenges, and conflict.
The candidate should have experience managing a variety of internal and external relationships and coordinating interventions in the mentioned sectors in refugee, humanitarian, or development contexts. A sound understanding of the partnership landscape across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus in the region is vital for this role. The candidate should have substantial experience in advocating at regional and national level for the economic inclusion of FDPs and host communities within agricultural value chains and for enhanced access to land, ensuring a rights-based approach. Additionally, the candidate should have sound experience in knowledge management, and be proficient in drafting and editing strategies, documents, external facing publications, related to agricultural livelihoods and solutions, advocacy, partnership building, and knowledge exchange.
The candidate must have at least six years of partnership management experience in an international context, with preferably at least two years in field operations in the areas of FDPs’ food security, livelihood opportunities and access to land, with a particular focus on climate resilience and economic inclusion.
Functional Clearance
This position requires Functional Clearance
