Job Description

August 19, 2026

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Accra, Ghana

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-09-01

Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will be key in operationalizing the strategic vision to align livelihoods and economic inclusion efforts with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which underscores the need to mobilize additional actors and to adopt a whole-of-society approach to strengthen refugee self-reliance and help ease pressure on host countries. Promoting economic inclusion of refugees is a key development area that will enable the achievement of these objectives and contribute to the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals.

Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the GCR into impactful results for persons of concern (POC). Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer, with support from the Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Unit in the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), works towards the following objectives:
1) improve the enabling environment for refugees to work through advocacy on the right to/at work, access to economic opportunities and service;
2) seek new and strengthen existing partnerships including with the private sector, development actors, government institutions and specialized agencies to advance economic inclusion of refugees; and
3) enhance ongoing livelihoods and economic inclusion programming through evidence-based and market-driven approaches to improve economic inclusion outcomes.

The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer should be proactive, always looking for new opportunities and persuasive in mobilizing donors and new partners around new models of economic and social integration.
The incumbent will interact with the government counterparts and other stakeholders with specific mandate in livelihood activities as well as with the refugee communities. Within UNHCR, the Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will work under the supervision of the head of livelihoods and closely with multi-functional teams on matters including but not limited to protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. S/he will support the office's involvement with livelihoods and economic inclusion, working with relevant external stakeholders from government line ministries, development actors, private sector, UN agencies, international organisations, NGOs, research institutions and universities.

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
- Maintain close contact and cooperation with partners to facilitate the economic inclusion of refugees, such as line ministries, private sector and development actors in accordance with UNHCR Global and Country level policies, priorities, and strategies, in particular the Global Compact on Refugees. This includes advocating with public and private sector services providers to include UNHCR POC in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, saving accounts, poverty alleviation and social protection, etc.).
- Work with the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to assess the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work and recommend/implement advocacy initiatives and policy reforms to improve UNHCR POC's economic inclusion, rights and access to work.
- Build on UNHCR databases to support regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders. This includes supporting the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys utilising community-based strategies to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of development programmes.
- Conduct necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant private and public stakeholders, including impact assessments on local economies and surveys that help to identify investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of UNHCR POC.
- In case UNHCR is implementing specific livelihoods activities, strengthen, guide and monitor the livelihoods interventions to help ensure they are market-based, and that the role of UNHCR has been strategically determined in consideration of its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other partners.

- 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

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
Business Management;
Socio-Economics Development;
Economics/International Economics;
Rural Development;
Financial Management;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Technical competencies in sub-sectors relevant to livelihoods programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc. Experience in facilitating the economic inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied field contexts. Experience in working with and developing partnerships with private sector, NGOs, UN organisations, development actors, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education and training, etc.

Desirable
Knowledge about latest development in the livelihoods sector, including broader UN processes on the SDGs and the Global Compact on Refugees.

Functional Skills
LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights
MG-Project Management
SO-Networking
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.

 Experience of working with a multifunctional team in an emergency context;
 knowledge of the operational context in Niger and the Sahel region.
 Demonstrated experience in the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus approach
 Full professional proficiency in French and a good working knowledge of English.

N.B.: Any non-Nigerien applicant wishing to apply must attach to their application a valid work permit and residence permit. The applicant will remain solely responsible for renewing these documents in the event that they are recruited.

Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in the various stages of the selection process, which may include a written test, a technical assessment, and/or an interview.

French

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English

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To review the occupational health and safety considerations for this duty station, please click on the following link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Niger continues to face a combination of challenges related to forced displacement, insecurity in border areas, the impacts of climate change, rapid population growth, and structural poverty. As of the end of June 2026, the country hosted 1,051,674 forcibly displaced persons, including 455,741 refugees and asylum-seekers, 548,386 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and 47,547 other registered persons, primarily from Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

In this context, livelihoods and economic inclusion interventions constitute a major strategic pillar of UNHCR's response, in line with the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approach. The aim is to strengthen the economic self-reliance, resilience, and social cohesion of displaced populations and host communities, while promoting their inclusion in national development and social protection systems.

A notable example is the Refugee and Host Community Support Project (PARCA), funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Government of Niger with the support of UNHCR. The project aligns with the Global Compact on Refugees by seeking to simultaneously improve access to social services and economic opportunities for refugees ( including 31,000 refugees, of whom 20,000 were reached between 2019 and 2023) as well as for host communities.

The incumbent plays a key role in the coordination, partnership development, and monitoring of programs aimed at improving access to employment, entrepreneurship, markets, financial services, vocational training, and sustainable economic opportunities.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration/Management, Bachelor of Arts: Financial Management, Bachelor of Arts: International Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Rural Development, Bachelor of Arts: Socio-Economic Development

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance