Vacancies Assistant Government Liaison Officer(N)

Assistant Government Liaison Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is usually located in country operations. S/he plays a crucial support role in ensuring UNHCR’s approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the Government on coordination, response delivery and protection issues.

Typically, this involves joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. The main aim is to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfill 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 UNHCR’s Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, s/he 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.

The overall goal of the position is to support 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.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer ensures that support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis concerning the relationship with the Government. The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support all planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the supervisor in maintaining a constant dialogue with the Government on the overall protection context. A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic meetings with the Government, as well as to support the broadening of mutual information through meeting reports, situation updates and newsletters.

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

– Assist in the establishment of close working relations with Government Officials and/or other external parties.
– Provide suggestions for promoting UNHCR’s policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
– Support coordination meetings as required, including by preparing meetings and background information, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
– Manage the flow of information to/from the supervisor and other senior staff; identifies priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the supervisor.
– Draft correspondence, documents and reports, and prepares tables and ensures follow-up.
– Assist in ensuring appropriate links with the Government through establishment/maintenance of appropriate coordination and information exchange.
– Act on behalf of the supervisor to convey, clarify and explain UNHCR’s positions to Government or other external parties as applicable.
– Inform the supervisor on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with external parties.
– Act as interpreter during meetings held by the supervisor with senior officials or other external parties.
– Accompany the supervisor and Headquarters visitors to camps, border missions and provincial cities.
– May be required to coordinate the work of lower level staff.

– 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 P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law/International Law;
Political Science;
Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field.

Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
SO-Networking
(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.
It is 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.

Operational Context

The conflict in Ukraine resulted in a significant shift in the refugee landscape in Hungary. With millions of Ukrainians crossing into the country in the first year of the conflict and tens of thousands choosing to remain in country and apply for Temporary Protection, the scope of engagement of UNHCR Hungary significantly expanded.

While UNHCR has been present in country since 1989 through its Representation for Central Europe the Ukraine crisis has resulted in a need and opportunity for heightened engagement in Hungary. The office has now established relationships with over 10 national implementing partners delivering basic needs, inclusion, empowerment, and specialized protection services in support to the national response. In addition, UNHCR, as per its mandate, has established an inter – agency coordination forum bringing together over 30 actors delivering assistance and appealing for funds under the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation.

UNHCR’s response is developed in support of the national response. As such engagement between UNHCR and key line ministries is paramount. In order to ensure the effective implementation of its growing portfolio UNHCR is seeking to recruit a senior colleague to strengthen and expand the collaboration to a broadened set of line Ministries; keep the office abreast of development in government structures and policy developments; provide regular political analysis; identify opportunities for increased engagement and play a leading role in programmatic and advocacy engagement with the government. The position will report to the Representative.

The selected candidate should have a strong understanding of Government structures and systems, in particular with regards to line Ministries pertinent to the access and integration of persons falling under UNHCR’s mandate; a good understanding of international law and international affairs; be an effective communicator and demonstrate strong ability to establish effective connections. Previous background in relevant line Ministries, advocacy organizations, UN agencies or partner organizations focused on refugee engagement are a strong value add.

Essential Skills / Expertise
– Demonstrated liaison experience / prior engagement with relevant line ministries either directly or as a stakeholder
– Possessing excellent inter-personal and communication skills
– Strong knowledge of national political systems and institutional structures
– Self – starter and positive
– Good public speaker, in Hungarian

Desired Skills / Expertise
– Highly organized
– Good writing and analytical skills, in English and Hungarian
– Ability to develop rapport internally and externally in a multicultural environment
– Understanding of human rights principles
– Understanding of refugee and migration policies in Hungary
– Multi – tasker.

Language Requirement
– Knowledge of English as the UN working language of the duty station and Hungarian language is required.

Additional information:

National Professional Officers should be of the nationality of the country where the office concerned is located.

Remuneration:
In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

NO-A Salary range: NET HUF 989,203 – HUF 1,196,732

Benefits:
Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).

Pension system: Staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

Health insurance plan: locally recruited staff members in Hungary will be enrolled in the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP). The coverage is also optionally available for eligible family members.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

English

Hungarian

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

To apply for this job, please visit the below link:

https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/details/Assistant-Government-Liaison-Officer-N-_JR2333480