Senior Partnership Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Partnership Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Working in close cooperation with UNHCR HQ divisions, bureaux and Country Offices, the overall objectives of the Analytics, Strategy and Partnerships (ASP) Service of the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) are (i) engagement with development partners to pursue positive outcomes refugees, IDPs and stateless people in the areas of resilience and solutions, (ii) the articulation of policies, programmes and projects that make a measurable impact, and (iii) the generation of analytical products that advance resolution of specific country-level displacement situations. To achieve these objectives the ASP Service will coordinate its actions with the Field Support Service of DRS in the execution of the Task Team approach to addressing individual country situations. 
Within the ASR Service, the role of the Senior Partnership Officer (SPO) will be to interact with HQ development agencies on their engagement with forced displacement situations, to function as the key liaison with HQ divisions, bureaux and Country Offices in ensuring clear objectives for the partnership, and to monitor all key policy and programme orientations. A key goal will be to build alignment and complementarity of development partners¿ interventions with UNHCR¿s protection and solutions objectives within a multi-year framework. The position will ensure close interaction with the ASP team developing analytical and strategic approaches to socio-economic inclusion, poverty, host communities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Senior Partnership Officer will report to the Chief of Section, Partnerships and work closely with the Senior Task Team Coordinator under the Director of DRS to ensure holistic support to Bureaus and field operations by DRS.  
UNHCR¿s mandated responsibility for finding solutions to refugee situations has long required stronger cooperation with development partners and the inclusion of refugees within national development programmes. Notwithstanding the Office¿s efforts over many decades, the proportion of refugees and internally displaced persons in protracted displacement situations remains high. Moreover, the diminishing number of people who have found durable solutions constitutes a worrying trend that has persisted in recent years. In addition, the increasing scale of irregular migration, large scale refugee movements, and the costs of responding to humanitarian situations have also placed forced displacement high on the global agenda. These elements have further driven the realization that humanitarian support alone is insufficient to lift refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR out of poverty, enable solutions, build their resilience or support them to live with greater dignity. Broadening and strengthening UNHCR¿s engagement with development actors is a key objective of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Among the most significant humanitarian-development cooperation partnerships strengthened in recent years has been between the World Bank and UNHCR on forced displacement.  In the eighteenth replenishment (2017-2019) of the World Bank¿s International Development Association (IDA) financing programme for least developed countries, an amount of US$ 2 billion has been included for those states receiving large numbers of refugees. The IDA 18 allocation follows the operationalization of a global concessional financing facility for Middle Income Countries (MICs) affected by large numbers of refugees. In addition, UNHCR has enhanced cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Within the Division of Resilience and Solutions, the role of the Senior Partnership Officer (P4) is to support and strengthen UNHCR's engagement and cooperation with development agencies, particularly the World Bank, implementing medium term programmes assisting local communities and refugees in countries with significant refugee populations. It is anticipated that these programmes will grow in significance in future years due to the greater importance attached to addressing protracted displacement situations by donor governments. The role will be pivotal to ensuring complementarity between UNHCR's protection work and the economic and social development objectives pursued by development partners and their government counterparts. Specifically, the Senior Partnership Officer will maintain oversite of the IDA 18 Refugee and Host Community Sub-window portfolio, for which 16 countries are currently eligible, by managing communication with internal and external stakeholders and helping guide corporate strategy, while working closely with UNHCR Senior Management. In addition, the position will provide oversight and support to all Senior Development Officers (currently 8) located mainly in the IDA 18 Sub-window countries. Finally, an important responsibility of the position it to design and implement capacity building activities in coordination with the WB Capacity Building focal point and the Global Learning Center (GLC), to increase the ability of UNHCR staff to contribute to the successful implementation of the World Bank partnership and that of other International Financial Institutions and development actors.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- Partnerships with development cooperation agencies and their government counterparts established to ensure policy dialogue and programming for refugees and local communities is informed by protection concerns and objectives from the outset.
- Medium term economic and social development programmes addressing forced displacement incorporate protection, resilience and solutions perspectives for refugees during their planning, preparation and implementation.
- UNHCR staff capacity and skills built in key areas related to partnerships, joint planning and cooperation with development agencies.

Responsibility
- Provide technical leadership and support for relationship building with development co-operation agencies through the different stages of policy and programme identification, preparation, implementation and review.
- Develop partnerships and networks with development cooperation actors to influence the policy dialogue with governments on institutional arrangements sectors, locations and programme content of consequence to UNHCR and persons of concern. This would, in particular, focus on supporting the coordination of the in-country relationship with the World Bank and the implementation of the IDA 18 financing for the refugee and local communities sub-window.
- Support UNHCR staff and Senior Development Officers in particular to cooperate with development partners to assist them in incorporating the concerns of refugees, returnees and others of concern to UNHCR into the design and implementation arrangements of projects and interventions in a manner that impacts positively on protection circumstances.
- Identify, commission and/or contribute to studies and analytical activities that build the conceptual framework and evidence base for comprehensive, development-oriented responses, including preparedness work, to forced displacement.
- Engage with governments, development partners (both multilateral and bilateral), and with the private sector and civil society (as appropriate) to identify opportunities for UNHCR to contribute to the design and implementation of monitoring systems to track progress towards agreed outcomes.
- Facilitate coordination and collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and experience sharing between UNHCR and development actors and across UNHCR operations globally by documenting and disseminating good practices.
- Support training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner agency staff to achieve greater coordination, effectiveness and synergies between humanitarian and development interventions.

Authority
- Reflect UNHCR's positions on policy and programming issues as they relate to the protection, resilience and solutions of refugees with medium-term economic and social development programmes.
- Represent UNHCR in meetings and fora related to the functions of the post and present positions to development and government counterparts that incorporate the protection, resilience and solutions perspectives of refugees.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of Master's) in Law/International Law, Political Science, Social Science, Development, Economics, International Relations or related field plus minimum 8 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- At least six (6) years of direct working experience with an international agency/organisation implementing development programmes, of which at least two (2) years in field operations,  preferably with knowledge of, or experience in, local or area based economic development.
- Experience working with the World Bank, African Development Bank or other development institutions on issues related to strategy and planning.
- At least some experience working with refugee and/or other people of concern of UNHCR.
- Proven coordination and or networking skills engaging both development and humanitarian actors, familiarity with development and humanitarian processes.
- Excellent policy and development programming skills and familiarity with results based management.
- Solid understanding of development context and related operational challenges as they relate to refugees, including institutional arrangements.
- Excellent communication skills including ability to communicate and disseminate information effectively to a broad background of stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical skills, and good research capabilities.
- Fluency in English and another relevant UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Good grasp of refugee protection.
- Strong and up-to-date knowledge of development, state-building and peace-building in fragile and conflict-affected situations.
- Solid understanding of humanitarian operations, principles and coordination structures.
- Solid understanding of the World Bank IDA18 Sub-window for Refugees and Host Communities. C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X009L3 - Change Capability and Adaptability Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

- Graduate degree (equivalent of Master's) in Law/International Law, Political Science, Social Science, Development, Economics, International Relations or related field plus minimum 8 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- At least six (6) years of direct working experience with an international agency/organisation implementing development programmes, of which at least two (2) years in field operations,  preferably with knowledge of, or experience in, local or area based economic development.
- Experience working with the World Bank, African Development Bank or other development institutions on issues related to strategy and planning.
- At least some experience working with refugee and/or other people of concern of UNHCR.
- Proven coordination and or networking skills engaging both development and humanitarian actors, familiarity with development and humanitarian processes.
- Excellent policy and development programming skills and familiarity with results based management.
- Solid understanding of development context and related operational challenges as they relate to refugees, including institutional arrangements.
- Excellent communication skills including ability to communicate and disseminate information effectively to a broad background of stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical skills, and good research capabilities.
- Excellent English language skills, including drafting.
- Fluency in second UN language. Working in close cooperation with UNHCR HQ divisions, bureaux and Country Offices, the overall objectives of the Analytics, Strategy and Partnerships (ASP) Service of the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) are (i) engagement with development partners to pursue positive outcomes refugees, IDPs and stateless people in the areas of resilience and solutions, (ii) the articulation of policies, programmes and projects that make a measurable impact, and (iii) the generation of analytical products that advance resolution of specific country-level displacement situations. To achieve these objectives the ASP Service will coordinate its actions with the Field Support Service of DRS in the execution of the Task Team approach to addressing individual country situations. 
Within the ASR Service, the role of the Senior Partnership Officer (SPO) will be to interact with HQ development agencies on their engagement with forced displacement situations, to function as the key liaison with HQ divisions, bureaux and Country Offices in ensuring clear objectives for the partnership, and to monitor all key policy and programme orientations. A key goal will be to build alignment and complementarity of development partners¿ interventions with UNHCR¿s protection and solutions objectives within a multi-year framework. The position will ensure close interaction with the ASP team developing analytical and strategic approaches to socio-economic inclusion, poverty, host communities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Senior Partnership Officer will report to the Chief of Section, Partnerships and work closely with the Senior Task Team Coordinator under the Director of DRS to ensure holistic support to Bureaus and field operations by DRS.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).