Coordination Specialist- Solutions to Displacment

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a key development agency of the United Nations and active in Iraq since 1976, supports the Government and people of Iraq in advancing sustainable development, strengthening institutions, and promoting stability and resilience.
Aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNDP Iraq works to address social, economic, environmental, and governance challenges through integrated development programmes. UNDP supports efforts to strengthen inclusive and accountable governance, enhance public service delivery, promote economic recovery and livelihoods, build institutional capacity at national and local levels, and enhance social cohesion within and between communities and government.
Through partnerships with government institutions, civil society, and international stakeholders, UNDP aims to contribute to a resilient and inclusive Iraq where institutions are transparent and responsive, and where development benefits all segments of society, particularly vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Iraq has experienced decades of conflict, insecurity and political instability, resulting in deep-seated grievances, weakened social cohesion, and strained relations between communities and state institutions. Although significant progress has been made toward stabilization, the country continues to face complex displacement dynamics. The ongoing return and reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs), including individuals returning from camps within Iraq and from Al-Hol in northeast Syria, present considerable social, economic and institutional challenges. Many returnees face limited or unequal access to essential services—such as social protection, education, water and sanitation, healthcare and housing—while also experiencing stigma and social exclusion.
In parallel, climate-related shocks and environmental degradation, combined with local disputes over housing, land and property, have intensified competition over scarce resources and livelihoods. These intersecting pressures risk undermining fragile recovery gains and pose challenges to sustainable peace and long-term social cohesion, particularly in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas.
Protracted displacement remains a defining feature of Iraq’s humanitarian-development landscape. Many IDPs have endured years of uncertainty, facing significant barriers to safe, voluntary and dignified return, local integration or relocation. The prolonged nature of displacement exacerbates socio-economic vulnerabilities, constrains access to livelihoods, and complicates efforts to achieve durable solutions in line with international standards.
In response, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing programmes aimed at advancing durable solutions for returnees from northeast Syria and internally displaced populations within Iraq. These efforts are aligned with the Government of Iraq’s national priorities and international humanitarian and human rights principles. The United Nations has developed a two-year One UN Plan for the return, rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from Al-Hol, endorsed and launched by the Government. Furthermore, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) provides a strategic framework for supporting comprehensive reintegration and durable solutions to internal displacement.
Within this context, UNDP seeks to recruit a Coordination Specialist (Solutions to Displacement) to strengthen internal and external coordination across UNDP, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Government counterparts, donors and civil society partners. The incumbent will play a critical role in promoting coherence, synergy and a coordinated development approach to displacement, ensuring that interventions are aligned, complementary and effectively contribute to sustainable reintegration and durable solutions in Iraq.

1. Lead Durable Solutions Coordination
• Serve as UNDP’s technical focal point on Durable Solutions coordination, both internally and within the UN Durable Solutions Working Group, co-chaired by UNDP.
• Engage proactively with national and sub-national Durable Solutions coordination platforms to identify gaps, strengthen complementarities, and enhance programmatic synergies.
• Coordinate closely with Government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society organizations and local communities to promote coherent, inclusive and sustainable solutions for displaced populations.
• Provide technical leadership to the Reintegration Taskforce under the One UN Plan for the return and reintegration of Iraqi nationals from northeast Syria camps.
• Contribute to UNDP’s strategic positioning in discussions on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and support identification of corporate priorities in the transition from humanitarian response to development-oriented solutions in Iraq.
2. Support the Development of a National Solutions Financing Strategy (NSFS)
• Act as focal point for consultants and stakeholders engaged in the development of a National Solutions Financing Strategy for internal displacement.
• Strengthen linkages between humanitarian, development and peace financing streams to ensure a coherent and sustainable financing architecture for solutions.
• Support national and sub-national planning processes related to durable solutions for internal displacement.
• Promote the mobilization and alignment of public, private, domestic and international financial resources in support of displacement solutions.
• Facilitate integration of displacement-related financing into the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) building blocks, including planning, financing, monitoring and governance mechanisms.
3. Provide Technical and Secretariat Support to the Reintegration Taskforce (RTF)
• Organize and convene regular RTF meetings, ensuring timely scheduling and active participation of Government and UN members.
• Serve as Secretariat to the Taskforce, including preparation of agendas, meeting minutes, briefing materials and presentations.
• Provide periodic updates to the Technical Working Group and Steering Committee of the One UN Plan on progress and challenges related to reintegration efforts.
• Organize joint field missions with Government counterparts, donors and RTF members to monitor progress and promote visibility of reintegration initiatives.
• Coordinate assessments, analytical studies and advocacy initiatives related to reintegration of returnees and other displaced populations.
• Prepare regular progress updates and annual reports of the Reintegration Taskforce.
4. Partnership Development, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization
• Contribute to strengthening strategic partnerships with key national and international stakeholders to advance policy dialogue and advocacy on durable solutions.
• Analyze donor priorities and funding trends to identify resource mobilization opportunities and prepare high-quality concept notes and project proposals.
• Support donor engagement through substantive programmatic reporting and regular liaison with development partners.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with national authorities, UN entities, international organizations and civil society actors to maximize synergies and impact of UNDP interventions.