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

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-07-01

Senior External Engagement Coordinator

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator reports directly to the Bureau Deputy Director, is supported by, and directly supervises staff, and oversees:

• Communications and Public Information;
• Donor Relations;
• Partnerships;
• Inter-agency coordination;
• Information management and analysis.
• Internal and external reporting.

The role of the Senior External Engagement Coordinator in overseeing a vast platform of diverse and interrelated activities, ensuring strategic coherence and collaboration among the different functional areas of the Bureau and synergistic use of resources including through a multi-functional team, is key to the Bureau’s success in this external sphere. S/he provides direct support to the Bureau Director and other senior managers in the Bureau, as well as Representatives on issues related to external engagements, in a context of greater decentralisation of resource allocation and management to the field.

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator engages with the Division of External Relations or any other Bureau or Division to seek guidance and engage on strategic topics, in order to ensure information and knowledge sharing. Supporting the development of regional and functional strategies and priorities in line with UNHCR corporate and regional objectives, through engagement with a wide array of stakeholders and regional actors, s/he will collaborate closely with the other functional pillars in the Regional Bureau and with HQ-based Divisions and deliver strategic guidance of planning and management services to the Bureau and Country Operations through relevant technical teams.

The incumbent will lead the development and the implementation of UNHCR’s integrated communication strategy aimed at building awareness of, empathy with, and concrete support for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons while positioning UNHCR as an effective, impactful organization. Seeking to achieve the UNHCR’s resource mobilization goals within the region while simultaneously enhancing the visibility and reputation of country operations’ programme, the incumbent will lead in developing and implementing partnership and coordination and external engagement strategies in order to strengthen UNHCR’s position globally, regionally and/or locally and is responsible for the mobilization of public, political, operational and financial support for the work of UNHCR and comprehensive responses in his/her AOR.

The Senior External Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring UNHCR fulfils its coordination lead and catalytic roles and responsibilities, in line with its mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy and cluster lead responsibilities and will advise the Director on UNHCR’s engagement in regional inter-agency processes, as required (e.g. regional economic commissions, regional United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)). S/he is also responsible for ensuring the Regional Bureau provides timely support to Country Operations on inter-agency and coordination matters, in line with corporate policies, guidance and positions.

The incumbent supervises a team of senior staff in the Bureau and will also be responsible for providing support or guidance to host Governments whenever required on developing comprehensive plans under national leadership setting out policy priorities, institutional and operational arrangements, requirements for support from the international community, including investment.

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent is responsible for ensuring, in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization’s Mandate, overall quality assurance and managerial support of operations, in line with the Bureau’s 2nd line function, within the three lines of defence conceptual framework for effective control and risk management adopted by the UN system.

S/he will, further, cover the full spectrum of managerial oversight, manage performance and monitor the adherence of Country Operations to UNHCR’s rules and regulations, monitoring, identifying and addressing any emerging issues and risks as appropriate. The incumbent also promotes a culture that is results-oriented, efficient and based on trust and pursues measures to ensure that inclusion, gender balance and diversity are taken into due consideration in staffing, resource allocation and representation at all levels throughout the region.

As a key custodian of the organization’s standards of conduct, s/he will proactively establish a working environment where all personnel feel safe, heard, equipped and empowered to speak up; demonstrate no tolerance for sexism, gender inequality, discrimination of any kind, abuse of power, harassment or sexual harassment; foster ongoing dialogue on those matters; take seriously all issues of inappropriate behaviour and actions reported, whether formally or informally; and seek guidance and support as necessary to ensure that appropriate follow-up is taken, working on the basis of zero tolerance for any form of misconduct.

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

• Develop, implement, strengthen and monitor UNHCR’s external engagement strategies in the region in alignment with UNHCR’s regional and global strategies, through an inclusive process that ensures buy-in from all stakeholders.
• Ensure consistent and cohesive messaging aligned with the Organization’s strategic and operational plans.
• Ensure that Bureau and Country Operations implement and adhere to UNHCR corporate fundraising priorities and procedures.
• Guide Bureau Director, Representatives and staff in Country Offices in identifying communications challenges and emerging issues in the region.
• Lead government and interagency resource mobilization activities in the Bureau and engage with current and prospective donors, including briefings and missions, to expand the donor base to meet growing needs.
• Develop country or regional strategies to raise locally available funds.
• Provide guidance and support for country or regional strategies to raise locally available funds.
• Provide guidance on and develop funding submissions to local funding sources.
• Ensure and maintain dialogue with donors, providing information and analysis to ensure support.
• Ensure that Country Operations receive support to identify, develop and strengthen development and private sector partnerships that bring additional resources, technical advice, services and technology to refugee-hosting and return areas.
• Develop and implement UNHCR’s regional inter-agency and coordination strategy and advise the Director on UNHCR’s engagement in regional inter-agency processes, as required.
• Lead and launch the Refugee Response Plans (RRPs) and mixed situation response plans, and ensure appropriate participation in Humanitarian Response Plans and processes. Maintain an overview of country level RRPs.
• Ensure an open dialogue and information sharing with NGOs and civil society partners to enlarge UNHCR’s support and tap into complementary resources/ support to refugees.
• Represent UNHCR at external meetings and fora, including inter-agency and international engagements to advance UNHCR's ability to deliver protection, assistance, and solutions to persons of concern to the Organization.
• Champion innovative partnerships meeting the organizational needs in adherence also to UNHCR’s inter-agency commitments.
• Organize annual regional NGO consultations and facilitate events, meetings, conferences, and other events, as requested.
• Explore opportunities for activation of international burden and responsibility sharing tools provided by the Global Compact on Refugees including national arrangements, support platform, regional and sub-regional approaches and Global Refugee Forum.
• Exercise judgement to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting materials, as needed.
• Provide timely support to Country Operations on inter-agency and coordination matters, in line with corporate policies, guidance and positions.
• Provide required support & training/capacity building of external engagement staff in the region to help streamline external engagement across relevant functions.
• May act as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Deputy Director.
• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

International Relations; Political Science; Social Sciences ;

Public Administration; Journalism; Public Relations;

Digital Communications and Multimedia Studies or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Experience in external engagement strategy development. Experience in strategic external engagement with donors, NGOs/civil society, UN agencies, and governments. Track record in communication/media strategies, resource mobilisation, and/or strategic partnership building. Understanding of humanitarian programming and financing and demonstrated ability to effectively advocate

Desirable

Experience in campaign planning and implementation. Good understanding of the role of the UN in humanitarian emergencies, its agencies and ways of working. Good research, policy analysis and report writing skills. Representation to major program donors in a highly professional manner, in person and in writing. Experience in senior management positions. Clear understanding of the workings of major donor perspectives, requirements and standards. Media relations. Excellent press release, media advisory, spokesperson skills. Ability to build productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Functional Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication

CO-Strategic Communication

CO-Public Speaking

CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches

CO-Brand Management

CO-Public Information

CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)

CO-Campaign Tracking

(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

Judgement and Decision Making

Leadership

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Strategic Planning and Vision

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Political Awareness

Stakeholder Management

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. Proven experience in and/or comparable experience in complex operations.
2. Strategic Donor Relations & Resource Mobilization
Demonstrated ability to design and lead resource mobilization strategies, engaging both, Traditional donors (e.g., government donors, ECHO, USAID, etc.) as well as Non-traditional donors, including Private sector (e.g., telecoms such as Safaricom-type partnerships seen in connectivity initiatives), Foundations and philanthropic actors, Development finance institutions (e.g., World Bank, IFC-type engagement streams referenced in partnerships).
Strong track record in developing funding proposals, tailored donor briefs, and innovative financing approaches, including multi-year and cross-sectoral programming.
Ability to position UNHCR programming within humanitarian-development-peace nexus frameworks to attract diversified funding streams.
3. Programme & Planning Integration
Solid understanding of UNHCR’s budget structure and programme cycle, Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs) and Country Refugee Response Plans (CRRPs)
Proven experience in aligning appeals and donor-facing documents with programme priorities and funding narratives.
Ability to translate complex operational realities (e.g., emergency response, access constraints, displacement dynamics) into compelling advocacy and funding messages.
4. External Communications & Content Management, Media Engagement & Visibility
Excellent drafting, editing, and storytelling skills with a demonstrated ability to produce Strategic briefs, Donor reports, Appeals and concept notes, public communication materials.
Experience in content quality assurance and publication management, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with corporate standards.
Proven ability to operate in sensitive and high-risk media environments, ensuring, Consistent and strategic messaging, Risk-informed communication approaches
Experience managing: High-quality digital and social media communication outputs
Ability to balance visibility with protection and political sensitivities, particularly in complex operational contexts.
5. Inter-Agency & Partnership Coordination
Strong understanding of inter-agency coordination mechanisms, including: UN Coordination structures and Cluster system and inter-agency fora.
Proven experience working with: Governments, UN agencies, NGOs and implementing partners, Private sector partners, Ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships, including cross-sector collaboration (e.g., digital inclusion, financial inclusion initiatives), Ability to tailor engagement strategies based on evolving operational, political, and funding contexts.
7. Leadership
Proven ability to Lead cross-functional teams in fast-paced and high-pressure environments and to Coordinate across programme, protection, supply, and external engagement units. Work effectively with multiple stakeholders and Provide strategic guidance while ensuring operational delivery.

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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:

Ethiopia hosts one of the largest Refugees and IDP’s in the world. Currently it hosts close to 1 million refugees as well as over 2.5 million IDP’s with ongoing displacements and returns across the country. Ethiopia maintains an open-door policy for refugees, as well as strong commitments in support of GCR/CRRF.UNHCR works with the Governments Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) in responding to the needs of refugees across 25 refugee sites in Ethiopia as part of the inter-agency response. UNHCR responds to the needs of IDP’s across nine regions with a focus on both coordination and implementation, in protection, CCCM and Shelter and NFI’s. Ethiopia is increasingly affected by drought conditions affecting the region particularly in the Eastern parts of the country which has triggered further displacement, loss of livestock and livelihoods. In areas such as Jijiga and Gambella, UNHCR continues to advocate for further investment into the search of durable solutions for refugees and IDP’s in protracted displacement and across the country continues to support the Government to pursue implementation of the GCR/CRRF.

The role of the Senior External Engagement Coordinator is to oversee a vast platform of diverse and interrelated activities, ensuring strategic coherence and collaboration among the different functional areas of the External Relations Unit, Inter-Agency Coordination Unit and Information Management Unit through a multi-functional team. S/he provides direct support to the Representative and other senior managers on issues related to external engagement.

The incumbent will lead the development and implementation of UNHCR’s integrated communication strategy aimed at building awareness of, empathy with, and concrete support for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons while positioning UNHCR as an effective, impactful organization. Seeking to achieve the UNHCR’s resource mobilization goals, while simultaneously enhancing the visibility and reputation of country operations’ programme. The incumbent will lead in developing and implementing partnership and coordination and external engagement strategies in order to strengthen UNHCR’s position in Ethiopia.

Living and Working Conditions:

Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. The city has an estimated population of 5.7million inhabitants. It is where the African Union is headquartered. It also hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), as well as various other continental and international organizations. Staff members reside in commercial accommodation available in town (Check the Travel Advisory for Addis Ababa on UN TRIP site). There is an UN Clinic in Addis and there are limited medical facilities in Addis that are equipped to deal with moderate medical cases. Evacuation opportunities are also limited but the official destination for medical evacuations – Nairobi, Kenya – both, in case of health as well as mental health complications and note that such travels are approved in line with rules and regulations of the UNHCR Medical Section. Candidates with conditions requiring regular treatment or medical supervision should be appropriately advised.

The climate of Ethiopia and the regions varies greatly. It is temperate on the plateau and hot in the lowlands. Generally, the high elevation of the land affects one's adjustment to the environment. At Addis Ababa, which ranges from 2,200 to 2,600 m (7,218 to 8,530 ft), the maximum temperature is 26 °C (78.8 °F) and minimum 4 °C (39.2 °F). The weather is usually sunny and dry, but the short (belg) rains occur from February to April, and the large (meher) rains are from mid-June to mid-September. The economy of Ethiopia is a mixed and transition economy with a large public sector. The Government of Ethiopia is in the process of privatizing many of the state-owned businesses and moving toward a market economy. However, the banking, telecommunication, and transportation sectors of the economy are dominated by Government-owned companies.

The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr. Foreign currency may only be changed at authorized banks and hotels. The exchange of foreign currency outside the regulated banks (Black Market) is a criminal offense, and international UN personnel caught by police sting operations have been known to be arrested and detained for several days. Any entry or exit of cash in excess of US$3,000 (or the equivalent in other foreign currencies) must be declared to the customs authority. ATM cash withdrawals are largely available in Addis with withdrawal limit per day of 12,000 Birr from the Zemen Bank ATM. AMEX is generally not accepted. Payment with credit card is possible in a few selected shops and tourism areas, but this form of payment is expanding. There is acceptable access to communication means, such as the internet, telephone sim cards, etc. PAMA is also available at the Offices. Rental housing price ranges from USD1,600 to USD3,000 and higher, depending on the number of bedrooms and of course location. And it is also important to note that there is a custom of 3 to 6 months payment of rent in advance.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Digital Communications and Media/Multimedia, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, 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