Strategic Partnership Adviser

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.

Strategic Partnership Adviser

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Strategic Partnership Advisor is usually located in a regional office, a, multi-country offices, regional bureaux, regional refugee coordinator's office.  The incumbent plays a crucial role in ensuring UNHCR's approach to partnership and inter-agency processes is consistent, strategic and coherent. The main aim is to ensure that UNHCR fulfils its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response, coordinate other actors in the initial stages of a refugee emergency and adhere to UNHCR inter agency commitments (including through providing guidance to country level cluster coordinators) in IDP situations. This should be done in line with UNHCRs Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter agency commitments. More specifically, s/he is responsible for developing inter-agency engagement strategies and providing authoritative advice on coordination matters. S/he is the main interlocutor with UN agencies, NGO partners and donors and advises the senior management on inter-agency processes and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication.  Depending on the division of labour within the office, s/he will also liaise with government entities, the private sector, media, and other relevant actors. This is ideally done both bilaterally and through strong engagement in inter agency processes. 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, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach.

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
- Ensure proactive lead and/or participation in inter-agency fora to ensure that UNHCR, its Mandate and programmes are given due attention and reflected in linkage at the country level, bureaux and at the policy levels of humanitarian and development coordination systems. 
- Promote UNHCR's policies and linkages within multilateral processes, including humanitarian and development processes as elaborated by the humanitarian working groups, the Inter Agency Standing Committee, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), as well as in regional and country levels.
- Ensure effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms and tools are in place and provide authoritative advice to the senior managers on coordination matters, in line with the GRF, the refugee coordination model and globally-agreed arrangements applicable in various situations (refugee-only; mixed refugee-IDPs; refugee and migrant movements).
- Ensure a cohesive and regional UNHCR response, including in cluster contexts, where UNHCR leads one or more clusters at the country level;
- Promote preparedness, contingency planning and prevention, and facilitate sustainable solutions within inter agency fora;
- Maintain frequent formal and informal contacts with counterparts in other organisations, donor entities and ensure UNHCR engagement with host governments is coherent and consistent.
- Maintain an open dialogue and information sharing with NGOs and civil society partners to enlarge UNHCR's support and tap into complementary resources/ support to refugees.
- Ensure internal institutional coherence and coordination of actions pursued for a strong refugee coordination system under government leadership where possible, with accompanying planning instruments in the delivery of refugee responses and within the clusters in regards to the clusters that UNHCR leads and/or participates in.
- Where there is lack of clarity as to UNHCR's positions and priorities, identify where there are gaps or a lack of clarity and raise this to the attention of senior management and HQ functional entities to stimulate a process whereby policy will be clearly mapped out and agreed at the highest levels in the organisation.
- Maintain close contact with DER-PCS-DRS-NYO on emerging issues.
For positions in the Regional Bureaux, multi-country offices or RRC offices only:
- Ensure UNHCR is engaged in regional inter-agency processes, including regional Economic Commissions and regional UNSDG;
- Establish regional coordination mechanisms and/or consultation fora for situations led by UNHCR.
- Where applicable, coordinate the compilation of a regional refugee response plan (in some situations, this could be a regional refugee and migrant response plan or a refugee and resilience plan), as well as its monitoring and the tracking of financial contributions;
- Support and manage the staff  appointed in support of an  RRC (if appointed); 
- Ensure UNHCR lead in RRP processes and other inter agency response plans related to refugees while ensuring coherence  and relevant highlight of the displacement issues with the HRP as well as the UNSDCF, including through supporting inter-agency information-management; analysis and  reporting where necessary.
- Ensure, in close liaise with other inter agency staff, that  regional NGO consultations are held in order to reach out to regional and national NGOs and civil society groups and build consensus
- Promote with relevant country operations coordinated approaches to humanitarian inter agency processes, including development processes as they impact on UNHCR in the field;
- Liaise with other UN agencies and other inter government agencies and fora  at the regional level to find areas of cooperation, joint initiatives and where applicable negotiate joint agreements or work programmes to further  protection and assistance for persons of concern;
- Ensure efficient and timely circulation of information to stakeholders, including through the production of regular and up-to-date information, key messages and regional situational analysis.
- Ensure effective coordination mechanisms are in place in country operations in line with globally-agreed arrangements and the refugee coordination model) and ensure support is provided in a timely manner.
- Advise field operations on how to facilitate UNHCR¿s catalytic and convener¿s role in the context of the Global Compact on Refugees
- Advise field operations on how to engage in UN development  processes
- Organize regional-level capacity building, as required.
- Alert the HQ (DER and DESS) on issues related to coordination arrangements interface with development and humanitarian systems.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law;
Political Science;
Economics;
International Relations;
Business Administration;
Social Science
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Inter-Agency Certification Learning Program (IACLP);
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Experience of working in an inter-agency environment at field or Headquarters level. Experience of liaising with governments and/or the donor community. Thorough understanding of UNHCR's protection mandate and core mission. Thorough understanding of humanitarian coordination processes and recent inter-agency developments related to the IASC and the broader UN.
Desirable:
Inter-agency coordination role. Drafting joint appeal/ refugee response plan/HRP. Experience with another UN agency or partner.

Functional Skills
*SK000187 UN-UN/UNHCR Interagency Policies, Standards, Programmes, Partnerships, Humanitarian Ops
*SK000205 ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
*SK000363 EX-Field experience in emergency and/or large-scale settings
*SK000716 MG-Partnership Development
SK000356 EX-Experience with Inter/Non-Governmental Organization (INGO/NGO)
SK000383 ER-Donor Relations - Humanitarian Financing

(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.

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. 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
M005L4 - Leadership Level 4
M004L4 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 4
M002L4 - Managing Performance Level 4
M003L4 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 4
X005L4 - Planning and Organizing Level 4
X004L4 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 4
X008L4 - Stakeholder Management 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 vacancies advertised in this addendum is Tuesday 11 May 2021 (mid-night Geneva time).