Ch of Sect (Int-Ag&Coor)

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.

Chief of Section (Inter-Agency and Coordination)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Inter Agency Coordination Service has been merged with the Partnership Service, to become the Partnership and Coordination Service. Within this Service there are two distinct sections, one focusing on the NGO and Civil Society aspects and one focusing on Inter-agency affairs and coordination. The one focusing on inter-agency affairs and coordination will ensure appropriate collaboration with UN agencies, including joint missions, and the support to UNHCR field office. The support to field offices is in particular focused on ensuring that UNHCR's coordination role well understood and respected and in helping field offices to adequately exercise their inter agency liaison and coordination functions.

Although UNHCR has effectively led and managed refugee operations for decades, it has not articulated a model of refugee coordination that is widely understood and accepted, inclusive and straightforward. While, the cluster system for IDPs is well known and understood, and serves as a standard for coordination in humanitarian operations; the structure for refugee operations is not as well developed or understood. Without a strong refugee coordination, UNHCR is unable to effectively exercise its leadership on refugee issues, which risks undermining its mandated and hitherto well-recognized role, ultimately affecting delivery of protection and assistance to refugees.

The RCM is a model for leading and coordinating refugee operations that outlines the Office¿s role and responsibilities in refugee operations and mixed displacement situations; offers an inclusive platform for planning and coordinating refugee operations; and clarifies the coordination modalities in relation to broader humanitarian coordination structures, including the IASC cluster system. 

The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that UNHCR's role, which draws on best practices from the field and the IASC Transformative Agenda¿s focus on leadership, coordination and accountability, while seeking to ensure complementarity and flexibility, is well understood and executed within UNHCR and with external partners. This includes the continued roll-out of the refugee coordination model, which affirms the host country's primary responsibility for the protection of refugees; UNHCR¿s responsibility for engaging with the host government on refugee-related matters; and the Office¿s lead in strategic planning with operational partners, overall coordination of a multi-sectoral response and coordination of protection. To do this the incumbent will need to represent, or ensure UNHCR representation, as appropriate in inter agency coordination fora as well as with sister agencies. The incumbent will also support the Head of Service in his/her representational functions through ensuring that the section prepares and ensures follow-up to bilateral and multilateral meetings, including within the context of the IASC and related bodies. 

The importance of coordination with Government line ministries and development actors in seeking solutions for refugees is highlighted in the refugee coordination model. 

By clarifying roles and responsibilities, the RCM makes UNHCR¿s approach to coordination more predictable, inclusive and partner-friendly, and helps ensure that refugees and other persons of concern receive the assistance and protection they need. By rearticulating UNHCR¿s role in the context of a changed inter-agency and operating environment, it reaffirms the integrity of the High Commissioner¿s mandate and accountability, and the UNHCR tradition of refugee leadership.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Office of the High Commissioner, its Mandate and programmes are given due attention and reflected in linkage at the country level and at the policy levels of humanitarian coordination systems.  The High Commissioner¿s accountability towards refugees is reaffirmed under the RCM, whether in stand-alone or mixed situations.

Responsibility
- Ensure that coordinated support is provided to HQ & Field for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the RCM.
- Formulate and communicate a coherent policy ensuring UNHCR's effective response on all aspect of refugee coordination including in the response to mixed situations operations and maintain an inclusive inter-agency approach with humanitarian actors in the country.
- Ensure appropriate coordination with all refugee & IDP partners (including national and international NGOs, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, IOM and other international organizations), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate sectorial coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the national and, if necessary, local level.
- Maintain a constant dialogue with donors on the overall funding / resource status of the humanitarian programmes in close collaboration with all partner agencies (UN and NGOs).
- Ensure effective and coherent sectorial needs assessment and analysis, involving all relevant partners.
- Secure commitments on behalf of UNHCR from refugee & IPD partners in responding to needs and filling gaps, ensuring an appropriate distribution of responsibilities within the sectorial groups, with clearly defined focal points for specific issues where necessary.
- Promote within UNHCR's Bureaux and Functional Divisions coordinated approaches to decision making frameworks for operational response in mixed situations.
- Represent the interests of the Cluster Lead Coordinators in discussions within the Inter-Agency Cluster Coordination Structures.
- Ensure internal institutional coherence and coordination of actions pursued for a strong refugee coordination system with accompanying planning instruments in the delivery of refugee responses.
- Ensure that Bureaux, Functional Divisions appropriately incorporate operational needs in the refugee response chapter of the Inter-Agency Strategic Response Plan.
- Provide systematic analysis on developments and progress in the implementation of the RCM, internally and externally.  Including briefings to Bureaux and Functional Divisions as well as external partners.
- Provide support to the HQ & Field to ensure the UNHCR will work collaboratively with Partners to coordinate and deliver the response, including the following:
i) include partners in the contingency planning for a refugee response from the onset of an emergency
ii) involve partners in strategic planning for a refugee response plan and the protection and solutions strategy
iii) consult partners systematically on key decisions and strategies in the refugee response
iv) provide partners with a fundraising platform through a Refugee Response Plan
v) establish agreements with partners to help address gaps in an emergency response in a predictable manner
- Undertake joint Bureaux/Functional Division missions to the Field to strengthen and support the implementation of the RCM.

Authority
- Represent DER in meetings within UNHCR and represent UNHCR with external counterparts, including the media, on issues relating to refugees and the roll out of the RCM.
- Make decisions with respect to programme orientation in countries in the region and recommendations with respect to the RCM.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) plus at least 11 years of experience in progressively senior responsible functions in coordination. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 12 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 10 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Field experience in programme implementation and coordination.
- Knowledge of refugee protection principles and framework.
- Knowledge of the IASC and other inter-agency fora.
- Good knowledge of the UN system, its operational procedures and exposure to provision of support services in an International Organization.
- Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS applications.
- Excellent drafting and writing skills.
- Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Exposure to UNHCR specific training/learning activities.
- Experience in urban setting and emergencies.
- Proficiency in French or any other UN language. C001L4 - Accountability Level 4
C002L4 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 4
C003L4 - Communication Level 4
C004L4 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 4
C005L4 - Client & Result Orientation Level 4
C006L4 - Organizational Awareness Level 4
M001L4 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 4
M002L4 - Managing Performance Level 4
M006L4 - Managing Resources Level 4
M005L4 - Leadership Level 4
M003L4 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 4
M004L4 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 4
X006L4 - Policy Development & Research Level 4
X001L4 - Analytical Thinking Level 4
X007L4 - Political Awareness Level 4

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.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Please note that the closing date for advertisements in the Add.3 March 2020 Compendium is Thursday 9 July 2020 (midnight Geneva time).