Senior Government Liaison Officer, P4, Rome/Nairobi At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Government Liaison Officer is based in Rome, Italy. S/he plays a crucial role in ensuring UNHCR¿s approach to the Government and the Holy See is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the Government on coordination, response delivery and protection issues. This involves joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues and global funding. S/he will be strategically interacting with governments counterparts building, maintaining, and consolidating strategic partnerships with governments, in order to increase support on refugee issues and funding opportunities, and will manage government and parliament relations. The main aim is to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and – in line with the GCR – promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors – including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. This should be done in line with UNHCR¿s Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, the incumbent advises the senior management on issues and processes concerning the relationship with the Government and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector, media and other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR. 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, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.

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

• Proactively lead and/or participate in meetings with the Government and the parliament to ensure that refugee protection and assistance as well as inclusion of refugees into national systems is given due attention and is reflected within inter-governmental fora.
• Proactively lead and/or participate in meetings with the Government and the parliament to promote UNHCR¿s work in key areas of interest to the Italian government to secure support and funding for UNHCR¿s operation worldwide.
• Open up new opportunities for dialogue with political entities not rationally friendly to UNHCR
• Proactively develop the relationships with the Holy See developing a new partnership with the Vatican, aiming at harnessing both in terms of advocacy and operational engagement the Holy Father¿s vision on refugee issues.
• Promote UNHCR’s policies and liaise with Government authorities as well as with regional intergovernmental fora on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
• Establish and coordinate country-specific coordination mechanisms for situations co-led by UNHCR and the Government. Coordinate the development of country-specific refugee response plans (or refugee and migration response plan and refugee and resilience plan) and comprehensive responses.
• Analyse protection issues relating to refugees and asylum seekers and entry points for the inclusion of refugees into national systems and make proposals to the competent authorities for improvements.
• Provide protection for persons of concern to UNHCR by ensuring the observance by the local authorities of the recognised principles of refugee law.
• Intervene with the authorities in the event of refoulement or other legal action against refugees if/when necessary.
• Promote the deeper understanding within UNHCR on Government-related issues and priorities.
• Maintain frequent formal and informal contacts with counterparts in other organisations.
• Maintain close contact with the regional bureau and HQ on emerging issues.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4 – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

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

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 5 years in international capacity. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both orally and written). Experience in government liaison on refugee protection and funding matters and knowledge of the Italian asylum system, including reception and integration aspects. Experience in managing donor relations with proven diplomatic skills. Specific experience and knowledge of Italy, the Holy See and San Marino context an asset. Thorough understanding of UNHCR’s protection mandate and core mission. Experience of working with partners at field or Headquarters level.