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

B

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

External Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Direct supervision is normally exercised by a Senior External Relations Officer of Representative who provides guidance on the applicable procedures. Advice may also be provided by relevant functional units at HQ. The incumbent may supervise some support staff. External contacts are predominantly with Partners, media, government embassies and other international organizations 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 in the planning of a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme, Protection, etc.) with external actors and partners, so as to develop and implement protection and assistance strategy, with clearly articulated objectives, timelines and outputs.
- Assist the implementation of a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and forcibly displaced and stateless persons).
- Assist in the articulation of all issues pertaining to the needs of the forcibly displaced and stateless persons and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.
- Inform the UNHCR Country Team on the UNHCR priorities so as to ensure that they are given adequate weight in the publications and documentation of the UN Country Team.
- Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions. Prepare reports as appropriate.
- In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters, propose new and non-traditional funding sources, as appropriate, including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund, Human Security Fund).
- Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR's global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the country operation.
- Participate on behalf of the Representative and other supervisors in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.
- Support senior management in representing UNHCR in the UN Country Team and other UN coordination fora.
- Support, and participate in, local UN integrated missions, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Cluster communication strategies and initiatives.
- 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.
- Assist in the coordination of the drafting of, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
- Assist in the development of targeted communications strategies and media packages for situations and/or activities that require focused attention.
- 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 and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
- On behalf of the Representative, approve fundraising messages.
- On behalf of the Representative, approve any relevant expenditure for the implementation of fundraising activities.
- Propose which donors to approach and which operations or activities to prioritize for special fundraising appeals.
- Implement all aspects of a communications strategy.
- Approve budgets and expenditures for communications activities.
- Clear external relations/communication products and tools as appropriate.
- Represent UNHCR on behalf of senior management in fund-raising 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 P3/NOC - 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
Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism,

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
Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field.
Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience.
Experience of working with social media.

Functional Skills
IT-Web Content Management
IT-Computer Literacy
CO-Drafting and Documentation
ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
(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.

1. External Relations, Resource Mobilization, and Inter-Agency Coordination
Proven expertise in external relations, resource mobilization and inter-agency coordination within complex humanitarian and development environments, with a strong track record of engaging diverse partners, including donors and government counterparts, in a coherent and strategic manner. The role requires strong Inter-agency coordination and support capabilities, including the ability to convene stakeholders, facilitate consensus, and promote coherent messaging across humanitarian, development, government, and private sector actors. The candidate demonstrates sound judgment and risk-informed decision-making in fragile and resource-constrained environments, particularly where the continuity of essential services for refugees and host communities is at stake.

2. Field-Based Refugee Inclusion and Operational Experience
Substantial field-based experience in refugee operations, with a strong understanding of protection risks, service delivery constraints, and community dynamics in both camp-like and integrated settlement settings. The candidate demonstrates the ability to translate operational priorities into compelling resource mobilization narratives aligned with national frameworks such as the Shirika Plan and relevant county-level development strategies.
The candidate is comfortable working in complex field environments, balancing operational realities with policy-level engagement, and ensuring that refugee inclusion is not only a policy objective but a practical and measurable outcome at service delivery level.

The candidate demonstrates confidence in engaging international financial institutions and bilateral partners supporting the alignment of humanitarian programming with longer-term development objectives.

3. Analytical, Drafting and Strategic Communication under Pressure
Exceptional analytical and drafting capabilities, with the ability to produce high-quality products under tight and competing deadlines. These include briefing notes, donor reports, talking points, press releases, concept notes, and strategic communication materials tailored to diverse audiences.
The candidate demonstrates the ability to distil complex operational realities into clear, concise, and persuasive messaging that supports advocacy, resource mobilization, and stakeholder alignment. The candidate is capable of managing multiple concurrent priorities in fast-paced environments while maintaining accuracy, coherence, and consistency in institutional messaging.
Beyond technical competence, the role demands a high degree of professionalism, emotional composure, and collaborative leadership. The candidate works effectively across teams in Nairobi and field locations, contributing constructively to joint outputs without siloed approaches or individualistic positioning. Leadership is demonstrated through the quality of coordination, reliability, and the ability to build trust across stakeholders rather than through isolated achievements.

Desirable attributes:

Familiarity with the World Bank’s IDA-WHR financing framework and broader refugee inclusion financing mechanisms is highly desirable.

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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

Nature of Position:

Kenya continues to stand as one of Africa’s most significant refugee-hosting countries, providing protection to over 840,000 refugees and asylum-seekers originating primarily from Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Burundi. The majority reside in the Dadaab and Kakuma settlements (formerly known as “camps”), located within some of the most climate-vulnerable and resource-constrained arid and semi-arid regions of the country. Within this context and aligned with the UNHCR High Commissioner’s broader 50by30 vision, Kenya’s refugee response is increasingly shaped by global efforts to advance inclusion, self-reliance, and durable solutions for refugees. This reflects a wider shift away from long-term dependence on humanitarian aid toward greater integration into national systems, expanded socio-economic participation, and strengthened responsibility-sharing. This direction is further reinforced through emerging financing and partnership mechanisms such as the Refugee Environmental Protection (REP) Fund, which supports climate resilience, environmental restoration, and sustainable development interventions in refugee-hosting areas.

The operational environment is defined by two parallel and interlinked dynamics: structural fragility and rapid policy transformation. On one hand, service delivery systems in host counties—particularly Garissa (Dadaab) and Turkana (Kakuma/Kalobeyei)—remain overstretched, chronically under-resourced, and heavily dependent on humanitarian financing. On the other hand, Kenya is undertaking a major policy shift through the Government-led Shirika Plan, which signals a deliberate transition away from a parallel, camp-based humanitarian architecture toward an integrated, area-based development and inclusion model.

As pledged by the Government of Kenya at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the rollout of the Shirika Plan seeks to progressively embed refugee response within national and county systems. It emphasizes socio-economic inclusion of refugees, strengthened county-level service delivery, enhanced self-reliance, and alignment with Kenya’s broader national development agenda. This reform is further anchored in the evolving legal and policy framework, including the Refugee Act (2021) and the Refugee Regulations (2024), which together provide the legal foundation for refugee inclusion, protection, and access to services.

The Shirika transition presents a significant strategic opportunity. If effectively supported, it can shift service delivery systems from parallel humanitarian structures toward resilient, inclusive county systems capable of serving both refugee and host populations. Complementing this national architecture are county-anchored development frameworks, particularly KISEDP and GISEDP (Kalobeyei and Garissa Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plans), which operationalize the transition toward integrated service delivery and shared infrastructure between refugees and host communities.

The operational context is further shaped by a complex financing and coordination ecosystem involving government counterparts, the Refugee Donor Group currently co-chaired by Denmark and the World Bank, humanitarian agencies, development partners, philanthropic foundations, private sector actors, and international financial institutions. Engagement with institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, as well as bilateral partners including the EU, BMZ/GIZ, DANIDA, Sida, FCDO, QFFD, and JICA, is increasingly central to sustaining the transition from humanitarian financing toward development-oriented modalities. These include blended finance, concessional financing, and debt swap mechanisms, which are gaining relevance as Kenya seeks innovative pathways to finance inclusive service delivery and long-term resilience in refugee-hosting areas. Particularly significant are financing frameworks associated with the World Bank, including the IDA Window for Host Communities and Refugees (IDA-WHR), which has mobilized substantial concessional financing and grant support for refugee-hosting countries, alongside evolving global refugee financing platforms. Together, these mechanisms are playing an increasingly important role in advancing Kenya’s transition toward integrated and development-oriented refugee inclusion systems.

In parallel, private sector and philanthropic engagement is steadily expanding, creating new opportunities for innovation, digital inclusion, financial access, and sustainable livelihoods. Partnerships with actors such as Safaricom, M-Pesa, KCB, Equity Bank, and the IKEA Foundation are increasingly contributing to economic inclusion, financial resilience, entrepreneurship, and climate-friendly market-based solutions that benefit both refugees and host communities.

Within this dynamic and rapidly evolving operational environment, effective coordination, strategic communication, and risk-informed decision-making are essential to ensuring continuity of services, sustaining stakeholder alignment, and safeguarding vulnerable populations throughout this complex humanitarian-development transition.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, 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