Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

C

Family

PR2

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Associate External Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Direct supervision is normally exercised by a (Snr) External Relations Officer or Representative who provides guidance on the applicable procedures. Advice may also be provided by relevant functional units at HQ. External contacts are with a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including inter alia, government, media, embassies, donors, UN agencies, NGOs and other national and international organizations, as well as 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
- Stay abreast of 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 the implementation of a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR's operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, media, academia, NGOs, private sector and forcibly displaced and stateless persons).
- Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide relevant information on UNHCR operations and financial requirements by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions and responding to donors¿ requests for information on ad hoc basis.
- Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR's global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement programmes and projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the country operation.
- Assist in the coordination of the drafting of, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
- Draft narrative and financial reports on contributions in compliance with specific donor requirements.
- Monitor earmarking level of funding for UNHCR Country operation and ensure appropriate visibility for donor contributions in compliance with UNHCR guidelines and specific donor requirements.
- Participate on behalf of the Representative and other supervisors in 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.
- Consolidate information on UNHCR's country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.
- Propose events and initiatives (e.g. commercial, cultural, political and sports) to promote the work of UNHCR and take action as appropriate.
- Support the management of media relations by, inter alia, responding to direct queries, publishing press releases, handling interview requests and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
- Promote visibility of UNHCR's work and advocate for support for the forcibly displaced and stateless persons through providing inputs for social media and other web content.
- Organize missions to the field and press briefings for external parties as required.
- Implement all aspects of a communications strategy.
- Represent UNHCR on behalf of senior management in fundraising and communication priorities in inter-agency initiatives and fora.

- 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 P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, Communications

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment.
Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable
Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience.
Experience of working with social media.

Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
PS-Fundraising (incl. operations, programmes)
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
IT-Computer Literacy
IT-Web Content Management
(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.

Essential Attributes: 1. Solid experience in external relations including contributing to donor proposals and engaging effectively with bilateral and multilateral partners. Strong skills in promoting dialogue and consultations to strengthen partnerships are essential. Prior experience in emergency or complex settings.
2. Excellent drafting skills with the ability to produce high-quality briefing notes, talking points, and communication materials for senior leadership. The candidate should demonstrate strong attention to reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with UNHCR reporting principles, the Code of Conduct, and applicable UN policies on communication and information-sharing.
3. Fluency in French (written and oral)
4. Experience to develop and tailor advocacy messages to diverse audiences, including diplomatic missions and government counterparts, and to support the planning and coordination of high-level UN or partner missions, including in remote or operationally complex locations.
5. The incumbent must possess excellent interpersonal and communication and strong coordination skills.

Desirable attributes:
• Experience in producing communication products, including social media content for institutional accounts, is an asset.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• A solid understanding of partnership approach, and operational context is required, along with a demonstrated commitment to results, accountability, and effective communication.

French

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

DRC is the third largest country in Africa and Kinshasa is a city with a population estimated at 18 million inhabitants. UN international personnel in Kinshasa are only allowed to reside within an established Residential Security Perimeter in which accommodation is expensive, but available. Ensuring housing has a regular supply of electricity (through a generator) and water is critical when identifying a place to live as these services are not consistently supplied through the city. A variety of restaurants and supermarkets are available, but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). International schools are available in both French and English at primary and secondary level.

The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc, but the US dollar is the other preferred currency. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels, restaurants, and some supermarkets in Kinshasa.

In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili; French and Lingala are the most widely spoken in Kinshasa.

Kinshasa is currently a security Level 2 duty station, with the security threats staff may face originating predominately from crime and civil unrest. Criminal activities include street and house robbery, vehicle-related crimes such as break-ins and carjacking. UN personnel are not specifically targeted, but criminals focus attacks on those perceived to have money and valuables. UN personnel must also be aware of the danger from driving in Kinshasa. Large traffic jams are a daily occurrence in the capital and road traffic accidents are the most common security incident for the UN in Kinshasa.

Nature of Position:

The Associate External Relations Officer reports to the External Relations Officer. The position is based in Kinshasa and works in close coordination with external relations colleagues across 10 field locations.

The incumbent also serves as the focal point for quarterly briefings with the diplomatic corps and selected donor missions, as well as for the development of talking points, a wide range of donor proposals, and selected social media activities.

The position requires close engagement with senior management, particularly in supporting the preparation of speeches, talking points, and high-level events involving the diplomatic community. The position requires a professional with fluent knowledge in both English and French and having a strong understanding of proposal development processes for major donors, including the United States, ECHO, CERF, Country-Based Pooled Funds, and/or FCDO.

The ability to develop innovative and creative approaches to engaging non-traditional donors, including private sector partners, is a strong asset. The role also requires the capacity to perform effectively in a dynamic, demanding, and sometimes high-pressure environment, with the flexibility to work extended hours when necessary to meet deadlines.

Living and Working Conditions:

Kinshasa serves as the Representation Office and strategic coordination hub for the DRC operation. It is a large and dynamic metropolitan city offering comparatively better infrastructure and services than many other locations within the country. International schools, private health facilities, banking services and telecommunications infrastructure are available. Kinshasa also offers relatively good international connectivity and access to commercial services.

However, living costs in Kinshasa remain comparatively high, particularly regarding accommodation, transportation, schooling and imported goods. Traffic congestion can significantly affect mobility and infrastructure limitations may periodically result in interruptions to electricity, water and communication services.

While security conditions in Kinshasa remain relatively stable compared with Eastern DRC, staff are expected to maintain heightened security awareness and comply with all security procedures. The position also requires frequent travel to field locations where working and living conditions may be considerably more difficult.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Innovation & creativity, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance