Assistant External Relations Officer at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: (Deadline 2 June 2024)

Assistant External Relations Officer at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: (Deadline 2 June 2024)

2024-07-01

June 2, 2024

Assistant External Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The incumbent is closely supervised on issues concerning external relations and public information by the External Relations Officer or the Representative who gives regular guidance and advice to the incumbent. Advice and operational support may also be received from other senior staff and support units in a country office/ operation.
External contacts are generally with a broad range of officials from national and international institutions, media or general public on matters of importance to the Organization.

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
– Assist the management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.
– Assist in planning and organizing communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and persons of concern).
– Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions.
– Assist the management in disseminating information on UNHCR¿s global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for persons of concern.
– Participate when requested in the inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.
– Assist in the management of information flows within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.
– Assist in the drafting of situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
– Assist in planning and organizing advertisements, exhibitions, training seminars, conferences, meetings, social events and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCR¿s activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups.
– Support the management of media relations by, inter alia, drafting responses to direct queries, draft press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
– Organize press briefings for external parties as required.
– Organize the distribution of UNHCR publications and the provision of materials to various institutions and individuals.
– Produce reports for donor agencies as required.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Political Sciences Social Sciences, International Relations
Journalism Communication or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Web Content Management
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

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.

Previous experience working with the UN is an advantage. Field and management experience is also required. Knowledge and / or experience of UNHCR mandate is an advantage too.
Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda is mandatory. Knowledge of French is desired.
Persons interested in applying for this position must be Rwandan nationals.
The candidate must also demonstrate:
1. Experience in external relations, donor relations, resource mobilization and fundraising
2. Highly skilled in report writing
3. Knowledge and experience of interagency coordination and development of refugee response plans
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills using diplomacy, clear language and analysis to inform and communicate with the partner agencies and displaced populations

English

Kinyarwanda

French

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Assistant External Relations Officer (NOA) will be under the supervision of the External Relations Officer based in Kigali, Rwanda. The main responsibilities of the role will include reporting, donor relations, resource mobilization and interagency coordination. Reporting tasks will include documenting the impact of UNHCR Rwanda’s programs across the country through regular monthly reporting products (operational update, camp factsheets) which are sent to external partners. In addition, the Assistant External Relations Officer will play an important role within the donor relations work of the team, drafting proposals and reports to secure funding for the refugee response and ensuring donor visibility requirements are met.

The incumbent of the position will also lead efforts on interagency coordination, drafting the Refugee Response Plan (RRP), supporting technical units in holding sector coordination meetings, build relationships with operational partners, ensure that partners are monitoring the impact of their activities, and tracking funding against the RRP.

Due to the small size of the External Relations team in Rwanda, the incumbent of the position will be expected to contribute to the day-to-day work of the team, including supporting with media, and content production.

The incumbent of the position will be expected to live in Kigali but also be willing to travel to all locations in Rwanda as part of the work.

Living and Working Conditions:

Rwanda has welcomed refugees for almost three decades, currently hosting over 135,000 refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced populations who mainly fled from the DRC and Burundi 91 percent of the population live in five refugee camps (Kigeme, Kiziba,  Nyabiheke, Mugombwa, and Mahama) with the urban refugee population mainly residing in Kigali, Nyamata and Huye. Since September 2019, Rwanda has received about 1,700 refugees and asylum seekers from Libya through the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) with 585 remaining at the ETM as of October 2023.

UNHCR in Rwanda works closely with the Government of Rwanda (GoR) to provide international protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless populations and other people of concern based on an agreement signed in 1993.

UNHCR operates more in above five refugee camps and two reception centers (Gatore and Nyanza), and three Transit Centres (Gashora, Kijote, and Nyarushishi) across Rwanda.

These operations are managed by the country representation office in Kigali, a sub office in Kirehe District (for Mahama camp), and four field offices (Huye District for both Mugombwa and Kigeme camps, Karongi District for Kiziba camp, Kabarore for Nyabiheke camp and Nyamata covering the ETM Rwanda).

The Associate External Relations Officer will join the External Relations Unit, responsible for communication, media, content development, donor relations, reporting, resource mobilization, fundraising and interagency coordination, to highlight the needs of refugees across the country. The incumbent of the position will be expected to live in Kigali but also be willing to travel to all locations in Rwanda as part of the work.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

ER-Donor Profiling, Strategic Donor Outreach and Engagement, ER-Donor Relationship Development and Management, ER-Funding Proposals Submission Preparation, ER-Inter-Agency Leadership/Coordination, ER-Inter-Agency Resource Mobilisation

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Communication, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Journalism, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

Cluster Coordination and Inter-Agency, Communications, External Relations

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Candidates may be required to sit for a written test prior to the interview.

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

CLICK HERE TO MORE AND APPLY