Government Liaison Officer

Islamabad

Job Description

 

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 Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. This should be done in line with UNHCRs Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees 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 (e.g. refugees, asylum-seekers, host communities) through cultivating and enhancing partnership 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.


 

Operational Context:


 

Background


 

After four decades of protracted displacement, Pakistan continues to host nearly 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees. UNHCR will continue supporting the Government of Pakistan in assisting registered Afghan refugees and their host communities. In this context, UNHCR will diversify its partnerships and outreach and carry out a broad range of advocacy with traditional and new interlocutors.

 

Given that most of this population (64 per cent) are children and youth, UNHCR has prioritized its interventions in the areas of education, health and livelihoods. Over the years, UNHCR has been traditionally providing health and education services to refugees in the refugee villages, however following movements of refugees from the refugee villages, most of the registered Afghan refugees are now residing in the urban and semi-urban areas alongside host communities, where they access national public services. As such, UNHCR will strengthen its advocacy efforts and operational synergies with a variety of actors to ensure the support of national public health and education systems.


 

Profile Statement


 

Working under the direct supervision of the Country Representative and with the guidance of the Deputy Representative and Assistant Representative (Protection), the incumbent will enhance the existing partnerships with government institutions and officials and other key stakeholders in support of the refugees in Pakistan. In addition, the incumbent will help cultivate and broaden partnerships with the Government and other key stakeholders in order to support UNHCR’s protection and solutions outreach and advocacy efforts. The incumbent will also make contributions to UNHCR strategies, other key documents and communications on relevant issues.


 

The Office is looking for a staff member who has strong communications, diplomatic and interpersonal skills as well as political awareness. Excellent writing skills and strategic thinking are key requirements for the incumbent of the position. The incumbent should have deep insights about the government and has the ability and maturity in developing good professional relationships with a broad range of the stakeholders, specifically with the government. The incumbent should have an extensive knowledge of the geo-political situation of Pakistan and the sub-region. S/he should also demonstrate adaptability and flexibility. Pashto/local language skills are highly desirable.


 

Duties and Responsibilities:


 

  • 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 and other key stakeholders 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 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 frequent formal and informal contacts with counterparts in other organisations.

 

  • Perform other related duties as required.

 

Minimum Qualifications:


 

Education & Professional Work Experience


 

Years of Experience / Degree Level


 

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 fields.


 

Relevant Job Experience


 

Essential:


 

Experience of working with partners in the field. 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


 

  • MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation;

 

  • MG-Negotiation;

 

  • CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community;

 

  • MS-Networking;

 

  • TR-Training and Capacity Building of Governments/Implementing Partners/Refugees;

 

Language Requirements


 

Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

 


 

Competency Requirements:


 

Core Competencies:

 

Accountability


 

Communication


 

Organizational Awareness


 

Teamwork & Collaboration


 

Commitment to Continuous Learning

 

Client & Result Orientation


 

Managerial Competencies:

 

Empowering and Building Trust


 

Judgement and Decision Making


 

Managing Performance


 

Managing Resources


 

Cross-Functional Competencies:

 

Stakeholder Management


 

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution


 

Political Awareness

 


Similar Jobs

Project Assistant United Nations Pakistan  Pakistan

  ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND SCOPE: The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operates world-wide with a target of providing resettlement opportunities to tens of...

View similar Jobs of Others
District Coordinator (Roster) United Nations Pakistan  Pakistan

Positions will be based at below locations (expected): KPK: D.I Khan, Waziristan (South & North), Lakkimarwat, Bannu and Tank Balochistan: Quetta and Pishine Sindh: Duty stations to be...

View similar Jobs of Others
Senior Project Assistant, Cultural Orientation United Nations Pakistan  Pakistan

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND SCOPE: The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operates world-wide with a target of providing resettlement opportunities to tens of thousands of refugees...

View similar Jobs of Others
National Consultancy Social and Behaviour Change Communication United Nations Pakistan  Pakistan

  UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their...

View similar Jobs of Others
Senior Project Assistant Compliance United Nations Pakistan  Pakistan

  The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operates world-wide with a target of providing resettlement opportunities to tens of thousands of refugees each year. IOM...

View similar Jobs of Others

More Jobs like this Job

Assistant Brand Manager - P&G Pakistan Procter & Gamble  Karachi

Working in brand management at Procter & Gamble means being a total business owner- not just a marketer. You will be the vision and...

Social / Digital Media Manager Khalil Ahmed Studios  Lahore

Social Media Manager Khalil Ahmed is an e-commerce startup in Pakistan. We design, manufacture, and sell high quality leather...

Medical Scientific Liaison Pfizer  Karachi

Role Purpose: Build and develop enduring peer-to-peer relationships with HCPs and institutions, creating constructive...

Communication and Visibility Expert United Nations Pakistan  Islamabad

PROJECT CONTEXTt Sustainable Energy Initiative for Industries in Pakistan (SAP ID 100045) e SEIIP project seeks to reduce...

Wordpress/Front-End Developer BOHRADEVELOPERS  Karachi

  We have an immediate need for a full-stack WordPress developer for our US Based Projects. The...

Procurement Assistant UN  Islamabad

Purpose of the post: To provide support to the carrying out of all the appropriate administrative processes having to do with the...

Project Manager UN  Islamabad

  ...

Business Analyst Careem  Lahore

Do you want to help build a world-class institution, experience the thrill of being part of a high-growth technology company, and improve...