Associate Donor Relations Officer, UNOPS IICA-1 At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering Associate Donor Relations Officer P2, IICA-1, UNOPS, full time position, within the External Engagement Unit in our Teheran, Iran office.

S/he will report to and be guided by the External Relations Officer based in Tehran, Iran, External Engagement Unit.

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

Title: Associate Donor Relations Officer

Duty Station: Teheran, Iran

Duration: Until 31 December 2022 (initial period)

Contract Type: UNOPS, IICA-1 (P2 equivalent)

Closing date: 14 June 2022

Start date: As soon as possible

Organizational context

The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the ten largest refugee hosting countries in the world, having welcomed Afghans and Iraqis for more than four decades. There are an estimated 3-3.5 million Afghans living in Iran, including 780,000 refugees (Amayesh card-holders), some 2.1 million undocumented Afghans and another 600,000 and passport/visa-holders, along with some 20,000 Iraqi refugees. Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, up to 300,000 Afghan asylum-seekers are said to have fled to Iran in 2021 alone in search of safety and international protection. UNHCR has stepped up its preparedness activities to strengthen its ability to deliver a timely response to any urgent humanitarian and protection needs in Iran as and when they occur.

UNHCR’s Iran operation is guided by the “Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees” (SSAR). This strategy, developed in 2012 by the Islamic Republics of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, with the support of UNHCR, aims at ensuring the protection of Afghan refugees, and finding solutions for them. A Support Platform dedicated to achieving the SSAR objectives was launched on 16 December 2019 as part of the first Global Refugee Forum. The Support Platform aims to reinforce the priorities of the SSAR and mobilize additional resources to promote and realize its three pillars – voluntary repatriation, sustainable reintegration, and assistance to host countries – while seeking to address the remaining gaps through reinvigorated, sustained and coherent humanitarian and development investments. As of late 2020, 12 states and international organizations have become members of the Core Group of the Support Platform. In July 2020, UNHCR and the three governments launched a portfolio of projects as part of the SSAR Support Platform, outlining key areas of focus and support needs for two years (2020-21).

The position

The Associate Donor Relations Officer will report to the External Relations Officer in the External Engagement team, which is tasked with maintaining proactive dialogue with donors and partners at local, regional and capital level with the aim of building relationships, raise awareness and mobilize political and financial support for UNHCR’s work and priorities. They will support processes related to the SSAR and its country-level Core Group in Iran and will oversee donor proposal and report writing, in coordination with the External Relations Officer and Programme unit.

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 and responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining close dialogue with, and providing information to, donor governments on UNHCR operations and financial requirements, including in response to donor governments’ ad hoc requests for information.
• Keep abreast of UNHCR’s operations worldwide, with a specific focus on high-profile and emergency situations, to be able to serve donors’ information needs on all aspects of UNHCR’s work.
• Assist in identifying and accessing new donors and funding sources as per DRRM strategy.
• Assist in drafting internal and external correspondence, including briefing notes for HC, Head of DRRM to support them in negotiations and follow up of contributions with donors.
• Assist in implementing and reviewing actions and strategies, and maintaining donor profiles and plans.
• Monitor recording and track engagement of contributions and take necessary actions to satisfy donor requirements.
• Help prepare submissions – in collaboration with respective Bureau, Divisions and UNHCR Offices – for specific funding from donors or provide other information donors may require in determining their financial/political support to UNHCR.
• As needed, help Bureaux/Regional Offices/Country Operations with input for their fundraising strategies, in line with DER/DRRM strategic directions.
• Arrange meetings for donors and, where applicable, organize annual bilateral consultations with donor governments.
• Prepare reports using UNHCR information management systems (Global Focus, MSRP, data2 portal, funding updates, etc.) as necessary in a timely and efficient manner.
• Provide editorial support and facilitate the finalization of fundraising publications produced by DRRM or the Bureaux, including appeals and other reports.
• Provide support and guidance to the Field on engagement in the Refugee Response Plans and Humanitarian Response Plans.
• Provide guidance and advice on UNHCR’s involvement at the IASC on humanitarian financing.
• Perform regional focal point duties as required, including compiling funding-related TPs and background notes on the region for senior management missions and meetings with donors; review funding updates.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations; Political Science; Social Sciences; Journalism; Communication; Public Policy; or other relevant field.
• Three years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or two years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or one year relevant experience with Doctorate degree.
• Experience in external engagement with donors, UN agencies, partners, governments.
• Professional work experience in field operations.
• Knowledge of UNHCR’s operational arrangements, its relief programmes, the funding needs and priorities.
• Have excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Functional Skills: CO-Strategic Communication, MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation.
• Proficiency in English language. Working knowledge of another relevant UN language would be an asset.

Desirable:

• UNHCR fund- raising and programme management experience.
• Good research, policy and report writing skills. Experience in managing donor relations. Understanding of the workings of major donor perspectives, requirements and standards.
• Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.
• Functional Skills: ER-Donor Relations, ER-Resource Mobilization, ER-Project Reporting Systems for Reporting to Donors, ER-Donor Relations – Humanitarian Financing, MS-Networking, MS-Reporting skills, SO-Negotiation skills

Core 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, Managing Resources;

Cross-Functional Competencies: Analytical Thinking, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Planning and Organizing.

Location

The successful candidate will be based with the team in UNHCR Teheran, Iran.

Conditions

Selected candidate will be engaged by UNOPS (UN Office for Project Services) to perform services in UNHCR Iran under UNOPS Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA). The selection process consists of interviewing successful short-listed candidates only. Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be considered.