Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)E (most hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family with Residential Location
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA9
Target Start Date2025-01-01
Deadline for ApplicationsDecember 8, 2024
Terms of Reference1. General Background
This individual consultancy is centered on critical functions of Government liaison & relations essential for UNHCR’s operations in Somalia considering the uniquely challenging socio-political operational environment. Being able to navigate the complex, diverse and often changing Government landscape and relations at Federal and Federal Member States levels is indispensable for UNHCR to operate and implement its mandated responsibility in Somalia.
Doing so requires high levels of political aptitude and understanding of the shifting political landscape and relations within the Federal Government as well as with and at Federal Member States level, deep knowledge of the entrenchment of Government with Somalia’s clan system, and strong relations and an established network of stakeholders in Government and interlocutors up to Ministerial, Prime Ministerial and Presidential levels:
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Analysis of complex issues related to the political and governmental developments and potential impact on UNHCR’s operations at Federal and Federal Member States level. This will enable UNHCR to ensure continuity of operations in view of the fast-paced political and governmental changes. Specific tasks include:
• Monitoring of political and governmental landscape and regular stakeholder engagement and management to enable and position UNHCR to easily engage with Government counterparts;
• Maintain and expand the network of relevant Governmental stakeholders, including at highest levels, at capital-level as well as at the level of the Federal Member States;
• Preparation of analysis, including political and stakeholder analysis, to inform UNHCR’s
strategic and operational decisions.
Enabling proactive Government engagement to advance UNHCR’s priorities in Somalia as well as to identify and analyse opportunities and risks and propose solutions and risk mitigation measures. Specific tasks include:
• Supporting the promotion of UNHCR’s policies and operational priorities with Government and resolution of arising challenges and bottlenecks, including in relation of adoption of relevant laws and policies or specific protection issues amongst others;
• Identify opportunities for UNHCR and propose respective strategic decisions and programmatic interventions to enable UNHCR to seize opportunities and be well positioned.
• Anticipatory analysis, notably ahead of elections and reshuffles of Parliaments or Governments at Federal and Member State level, as well as other political and governmental developments potentially impacting on UNHCR’s operations, with proposals for risk mitigation.
High-level advisory service on policies and strategic issues that directly and majorly affects the operations of UNHCR in Somalia. Specific tasks include:
• Proactively identify emerging policy and other issues of relevance to UNHCR’s operations to
• enable early engagement of UNHCR with relevant Government counterparts.
• Provide advice to Snr Management on Government engagement at Federal and Federal
• Member State level in relation to UNHCR’s operations.
• Engage highest level of Government, where and as needed, on issues directly and majorly impacting on UNHCR’s operations.
Protocol support to enable UNHCR’s operations, including its supply chain, as well as in preparation of the frequent high-level visits. Specific tasks include:
• Expedite visa processing and processing of other protocol requirements of UNHCR, through strong relations with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• Facilitation of UNHCR’s supply chains through privileged access to airport and port as well as expedited clearance and tax exemptions for cargo;
• Facilitate the frequent high-level missions, including for meetings at highest levels of Government (President, Prime Minister, Speaker, Ministers).
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
The Associate Government Liaison Officer will report directly to the Representative and will serve as the principle in-house strategic advisor on political updates. S/he will facilitate and arrange meetings with Government at varying levels of seniority and Federal, State or District/Regional Level, as appropriate. The Liaison officer will advance the continuity of good partnership with Government focal points.
Performance Indicators will include:
- The number of meetings/events planned with Government Partners
- Timely political updates to the Representative and management team
- Strategic initiatives, passed/accepted by Government (such as policies, instruments, easing of obstructions to the delivery of humanitarian assistance) in line with UNHCR’s mandate
- Facilitating sustainable relations with Government, measured by maintaining a contact list/database of key Government actors (e.g. Ministers, Committees, etc.), updated on a regular basis
4. Qualifications and Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Work Experience
Ideally, the candidate should have previously demonstrated ability to:
• Engage with Somali government officials and international partners, developing strong relationships at all levels (including facilitating and informing the senior executive’s engagements), to understand complex environments and be able to explain these clearly and concisely.
• Strengthen and expand organizational/institutional relationships including across the Somali Federal Government, Federal Member States, parliamentarians, business, civil society, international partners and other stakeholders.
• Work at pace to produce high quality analysis, including well-drafted written reports and presentations.
Essential
Possession of native or near-native Somali language skills as well as good English language skills with the ability to interpret Somali texts are essential. Good IT skills and a detailed current knowledge of the political situation in Somalia is also essential.
The candidate should have extensive experience in coordinating official visits and missions nationwide, working with government partners and local authorities. They must also have experience in engaging with governments, donors, and humanitarian coordination.
Knowledge of political issues spanning local, national, constitutional, and human rights, as well as relations with regional states, is also necessary. Experience in drafting various types of documents such as correspondence, reports, briefing notes, and fact sheets is required.
Desirable
The job requires excellent judgement, networking ability, interpersonal skills, strong personal organisation, and deep subject matter expertise.
The candidate should be adaptable, resilient, and able to cope with the high levels of disruption and the unpredictable environment in which UNHCR is operating.
5. Key Competencies
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
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Stakeholder Management
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Political Awareness
Associate Government Liaison Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate 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. 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 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 UNHCR's 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. 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
- Participates in formulating and communicating UNHCR positions on Government-related matters on protection, assistance and inclusion of refugees, providing suggestions for briefing notes, talking points and issues papers for relevant discussions with the Government.
- Provides suggestions for promoting UNHCR's policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Assists in establishing and coordinating country-specific coordination mechanisms for situations co-led by UNHCR and the Government. Where applicable, assists in supporting the development of country-specific refugee response plans (or refugee and migration response plan and refugee and resilience plan) and comprehensive responses.
- Assists in ensuring the coherence of the work of the Multi-sector group (MSG) in accordance with the Government.
- Assists in organizing and implementing capacity-building seminars or training programmes for target groups (government officials, etc.).
- Responds to queries from Government Officials, NGOs, individuals, etc. and provides the information required or appropriately refers the queries elsewhere.
- Assists the supervisor in preparation of statements that represent UNHCR's overall policies and which highlight specific area of concern, ensuring that the supervisor is prepared for meetings/missions by providing relevant information and establishing contacts.
- 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 P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year 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
Not specified.
Desirable
Not specified.
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.
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SkillsCL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking, TR-Training and Capacity Building of Governments and/or national programs
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo