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

H (no hardship)

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-07-01

Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Unit is in the Emergency and Operation Support Service within the Division of Emergency and Programme Support (DEPS). The overall objective of the section is to strengthen and disseminate Emergency Policy and its related guidance, procedures, practices and modalities as a part of emergency preparedness and provide capacity development to future emergency responders including staff, partners and operations to prepare for and respond to displacement.

The position is part of the Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Unit and reports to the Head of Unit, within the Emergency and Operational Support Service, under the overall supervision of the Director of DEPS. This position focuses on advocacy, advice, and coordination to increase awareness of policies, procedures, processes, and related capacity development, contributing to a stronger Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Response. The Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Officer seeks to promote the consistent awareness and implementation of the application of UNHCR's policies in emergency preparedness and response through the updating and maintenance of the Emergency Handbook and support the delivery of trainings, workshops, and other capacity development events.

S/he works in close coordination with the rest of the team and has regular contact with regional bureaus, operations, divisions, partners both within the inter-agency context and on a bilateral basis and represents UNHCR in related fora.

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

• Strengthen DEPS as the custodian of the Policy on Emergency Preparedness and Response, including supporting the development of any additional guidance, SOPs and best practices to facilitate the Policy’s implementation.

• Liaise, contribute and promote with other divisions and entities to consider including of effective emergency procedures in their respective policies, operational guidance, and tools.

• Monitor instances of official oversight, including evaluations, internal and external audits, strategic oversight, real-time reviews, and other oversight documentation. Compile an annual summary of recurrent emergency issues and recommendations to strengthen emergency management, policy, and procedures.

• Support capacity development programmes and events related to emergency activities, such as webinars, trainings, and in-person workshops and other approaches which may help disseminate the Emergency Policy and related operational guidance and to support emergency preparedness and response, including contacts with regional bureau Emergency Officers and training focal points.

• Manage and maintain the Emergency Handbook, including updating and creating new entries with the participation of other divisions and entities for internal and external audiences.

• Aid the management, facilitation, and delivery of the WEM, eCentre Africa, and any other capacity developments programs.

• Contribute to the preparation of regular and ad hoc reports and compilation of statistics, including close contact with the Emergency Tracking Matrix.

• Represent learning in meetings with bureaux and parent divisions on learning content under their responsibility, as well as interagency and partner counterparts.

• Co-facilitate on-the-job and peer-to-peer emergency learning, workshops, distance learning, e-learning, coaching and training courses mainly for UNHCR staff and selectively for partners, including oversight for implementing all logistical arrangements relating to training and learning activities. This includes delivery or contracting services for participants, providing feedback on the work submitted, leading workshops, facilitation of sessions, evaluation and impact analysis of training and learning activities.

• Assist in the financial administration of all aspects of emergency learning and promotional activities, including the allocation of financial and other resources, and recommend expenditure approval.

• Contribute to the preparation of annual administrative and programme submissions.

• Contribute to requests for proposals for goods and services (i.e. consultancy) and maintain efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR financial, administrative, and staff rules and regulations.

• Assist in the development of written materials, guides, job aides, manuals, etc. to be used for training, learning and staff development in the area of speciality and oversee the maintenance of learning materials (modules), including coordination of work.

• 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 P3 - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Humanitarian Law: Human Rights law; International Law; Journalism;

Sociology ; Anthropology,; Political Science,; or another relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

HCR Facilitation of Learning Program

Interagency Coord Learning Program

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Relevant professional field experience, preferably related to protection in emergencies, inside or outside UNHCR in more than one operation. Good grasp of the current operational context in which UNHCR emergency operations are implemented, including solid protection background, knowledge of inter-agency processes and coordination structures and mechanisms. First-hand experience and solid knowledge of emergency UNHCR policies, protection mandate, programmes, and humanitarian operations in various geographical locations. Experience in analysis, drafting, coordination and representation.

Desirable

Experience in facilitation or certification is highly desirable. Knowledge and experience of UNHCR's operations, procedures and issues regarding UNHCR persons of concern. Experience in team building, capacity building and training delivery. Demonstrated experience in complex emergency operations. Familiarity with UNHCR learning programmes including the Workshop on Emergency Management, Emergency Leadership Training Programme, the Security Management Learning Programme.

Functional Skills

*PR-Engagement with human rights systems

*PR-International protection concepts and principles

*EM-Emergency Training

*TR-Facilitation - Virtual and face to face

PR-Coordination in forced displacement situations

TR-Training and capacity building of personnel

MG-People 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

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Managing Resources

Managing Performance

Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

Policy Development and Research

Stakeholder Management

Planning and Organizing

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.    Demonstrated experience in the design, development and delivery of structured learning and capacity development programmes, including training modules, curricula, facilitator guides or blended learning content, in a humanitarian context.
      2.    Hands-on experience in humanitarian emergency preparedness and/or response operations, including at the field level, with a strong understanding of how emergency operations function in practice.
      3.    Experience in drafting, updating or managing policy guidance, standard operating procedures, handbooks or operational tools for use in humanitarian or emergency contexts.
      4.    Experience developing or strengthening strategic partnerships with internal and/or external stakeholders in support of capacity development, policy work or learning initiatives in a humanitarian context.

Desirable Attributes

      •     Familiarity with UNHCR’s emergency policy framework, including the Emergency Handbook or related guidance and SOPs.
      •     Experience in the design or delivery of simulation-based learning or exercises, such as tabletop exercises, field simulations or scenario-based training.
      •     Experience delivering training in multiple modalities, including in-person, online and blended formats, across diverse audiences and operational contexts.
      •     Experience supporting or participating in inter-agency or joint capacity development initiatives.
      •     Experience with the collection and use of participant feedback or basic evaluation methods to improve learning programmes and training content.
      •     Experience managing or coordinating external service providers or consultants in the context of learning activities or policy products.

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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 Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Officer contributes to the strengthening and dissemination of UNHCR's emergency policy framework, and to the design, production, management and delivery of structured capacity development products related to emergency preparedness and response.

The role focuses on building and maintaining high-quality learning programmes, training packages and exercises (including simulation-based learning), and on supporting their delivery in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

The role is situated within the Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Unit in DEPS, UNHCR's key division for emergency management. DEPS leads and coordinates the organization's preparedness and emergency response efforts, provides strategic and operational guidance on emergencies, and serves as the custodian of UNHCR's Policy on Emergency Preparedness and Response. Through this function, the Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Officer contributes to reinforcing UNHCR's ability to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and to ensuring that relevant policies, standards and good practices are translated into practical, field-oriented guidance and learning solutions.

Within this framework, the incumbent supports the maintenance and dissemination of UNHCR's emergency policy framework, including the management of the Emergency Handbook and the development of related guidance and SOPs. The incumbent also contributes to the design, development, maintenance and continuous improvement of structured capacity development products related to emergency preparedness and response, including training modules, curricula, facilitator guides, exercises, simulations, learning packages and blended learning content. The Emergency Policy and Capacity Development Officer supports the organization, delivery and facilitation of structured learning activities in different modalities, such as in-person, online and blended trainings, workshops and simulation-based exercises, and contributes to the planning and delivery of recurrent learning programmes and training events, including support to flagship activities such as the Workshop on Emergency Management (WEM). A key part of the role is to help translate operational experience, lessons learned and good practices into practical policy guidance and learning content, and to work with colleagues, Regional Bureaux, operations and partners to identify needs and adapt products and materials to different operational contexts and audiences.

The incumbent supports the management of external service providers, contributes to the logistical, administrative and organizational aspects of learning activities and training events, including the preparation of materials, coordination with participants and partners and post-activity follow-up, and supports the collection of feedback and basic evaluation of learning activities to contribute to the continuous improvement of policy and capacity development products and approaches. The role may involve participation in inter-agency or joint learning initiatives and requires undertaking duty travel in support of training activities and learning events, as well as performing other related duties as required.

Living and Working Conditions:

The position is based in HQs in Budapest which is the capital of Hungary where adequate infrastructure, health, education, banking and recreational facilities are easily accessible. Budapest is H category Duty Station. There are no specific security concerns not withstanding incidental events. Personal security is generally not an issue. However, staff members should be cautious and take responsibility for their own personal and residential security.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

EM-Emergency Training, MG-People Management, PR-Coordination in Forced Displacement situations, PR-Engagement with human rights systems, PR-International protection concepts and principles, TR-Facilitation - Virtual and face to face, TR-Training and capacity building of personnel

Bachelor of Arts: Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts: Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Sociology

Certifications

HCR Facilitation of Learning Program - UNHCR, Interagency Coord Learning Program - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Stakeholder management, 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