Partnership officer at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Kabul, Kabul, Afghanistan -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

25 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

25 Dec, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Project Coordination, Monitoring, Stakeholder Engagement, Technical Support, Fundraising, Programme Management, Analytical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, Client Orientation, Judgement, Decision Making, Political Awareness, Innovation, Organizational Awareness, Empowering Others

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Deadline for Applications January 7, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) E (most hardship) Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Non Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type UNOPS IICA2 Target Start Date 2026-02-01 Terms of Reference 1. General Background The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly and is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and pursue durable solutions to refugee situations worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and ensure access to asylum and international protection. UNHCR supports voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement to third countries, and holds a specific mandate to prevent and reduce statelessness and protect stateless persons. Over more than six decades, UNHCR has assisted tens of millions of people affected by forced displacement, working in partnership with governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders across diverse operational contexts. In the Asia and Pacific region, UNHCR operates within a complex landscape of emergency and protracted displacement, hosting over 15.7 million forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The majority reside in urban or peri-urban settings, often in countries where national asylum systems remain limited or underdeveloped. While the principle of non-refoulement is generally recognised, refugees and asylum-seekers continue to face risks related to arrest, detention, restricted access to territory, and deportation. The region also hosts more than half of the world’s known stateless population, including Rohingya and other long-standing groups, with uneven progress on legal identity, nationality reform, and inclusion in national systems. Limited access to livelihoods, education, and essential services continues to undermine self-reliance and heighten protection risks, particularly for women and girls. UNHCR has an ongoing project funded by the European Union (EU) through the EU International Partnerships (INTPA), which formulates EU development policy and collaborates with partner countries to achieve sustainable development. The project aims to provide support to Afghan refugees in Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia, as well as to returnees and internally displaced persons in Afghanistan. The position will be based in Kabul, Afghanistan, under the direct supervision of the Senior External Relations Officer in the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP), located in Bangkok, Thailand. 2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment The incumbent will be responsible for the overall coordination of the EU-funded project, including: Project Coordination & Monitoring o Develop the project proposal and ensure alignment with donor requirements. o Coordinate and prepare narrative and financial reports for INTPA. o Monitor implementation progress across multiple countries. Stakeholder Engagement o Serve as the principal liaison between UNHCR and EU-INTPA teams in Brussels and field locations. o Maintain close collaboration with UNHCR offices in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia, as well as RBAP and UNHCR Brussels. o Engage with government partners and other stakeholders involved in the project.\ Technical Support o Provide guidance to UNHCR offices throughout the implementation period. o Work closely with protection, programme, external relations, and information management units. Travel o Travel to project locations (Iran, Pakistan, Central Asia) and within Afghanistan as required. 3. Monitoring and Progress Controls • Timely submission of project proposals and donor reports (narrative and financial). • Regular coordination meetings held with UNHCR offices and EU-INTPA counterparts. • Implementation progress tracked and documented. • Compliance with EU-INTPA contractual and reporting requirements. • Identification and mitigation of risks affecting project delivery. 4. Qualifications and Experience Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education): Undergraduate degree with 6 years relevant experience, or Graduate degree with 5 years relevant experience in Political Science, Social Sciences, International Relations, or related fields. Work Experience • Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment. • Strong knowledge of UNHCR operations at HQ and field level. • Proven experience in fundraising and programme management. • Experience engaging with EU-INTPA and other EU institutions. • Strategic analysis of EU regional and country strategies. c. Key Competencies (Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies) Core Competencies: • Accountability: Taking ownership of responsibilities and delivering on commitments. Ensuring transparency and integrity in all actions. • Communication: Conveying information clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally, and adapting communication style to different audiences. • Organizational Awareness: Understanding UNHCR’s mandate, structure, and priorities, and aligning work accordingly. • Teamwork & Collaboration: Working effectively with colleagues across different locations and cultures, fostering a positive and cooperative environment. • Client & Result Orientation: Focusing on delivering quality outcomes for beneficiaries and meeting donor expectations. Managerial Competencies • Empowering and Building Trust: Creating an environment where team members feel trusted and supported to perform their roles. • Judgement and Decision Making: Making sound decisions based on analysis, experience, and available information, even under pressure. Cross-Functional Competencies • Analytical Thinking: Breaking down complex issues, identifying patterns, and proposing solutions. • Innovation and Creativity: Developing new approaches to overcome challenges and improve processes. • Political Awareness: Understanding the political and socio-economic context and its impact on humanitarian operations. Standard Job Description Required Languages , , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Education Certifications Work Experience Other information This position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote No Important notice: Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training). Read about how to avoid scams and fraudulent job offers. Please note that applications are only accepted via the UNHCR online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. For external applicants: We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category: According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member's country of nationality. In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of. In case of technical difficulties when applying, external applicants (not current UNHCR workforce members) can write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. For former UNHCR Colleagues: Former UNHCR employees who are on mandatory break-in service or have separated from UNHCR after 1 October 2022 should create an account through this platform. Once you fill in your basic personal information (employee ID, birth date, name, email address), Workday will identify you as prior personnel and merge your employee account with your external applicant account. The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, takes the lead in protecting people forced to flee wars and persecution around the world, providing life-saving aid including shelter, food and water to ensure their basic safety, rights and dignity. With 18,879 women and men working in 137 countries, we work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of 89.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Our dedicated and professional staff work around the clock in roles including legal protection, community services, public affairs, health and more. Despite the challenges they can face, our staff are proud to work for UNHCR and determined to make a positive impact. Why a career with UNHCR? Our dedicated staff work to protect and assist people fleeing conflict and persecution at a time when global forced displacement is at a record high. Our colleagues bring a wide range of specialized skills, including expertise in legal protection, administration, community services, public affairs, health and other disciplines. Disability inclusion If you are a person with a disability and you expect you may face challenges during the recruitment process, you can indicate it in your application form. There are options to select any health conditions you may have and outline any necessary adjustments related to disabilities during the recruitment phases. Providing this information is optional. It will be treated as strictly confidential and used only for the purpose of finding out how to better assist you during the recruitment process. Adjustments for candidates with disabilities will be provided as best as possible and as needed upon request. All candidates will be assessed based on meeting the requirements for each vacancy in relation to experience, skills, and education.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will coordinate the EU-funded project, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and monitoring implementation across multiple countries. They will also serve as the principal liaison between UNHCR and EU-INTPA teams, engaging with various stakeholders.