Associate External Relations Officer (P2/NOB Level) at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - MY NGO JOBS

Job Title: Associate External Relations Officer (P2/NOB Level)

Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Job ID: JR2562315 Location: Abuja, Nigeria Employment Type: Full-time

UNHCR: Saving Lives, Building Futures

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) works tirelessly to ensure that every individual has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war, or disaster at home. Since 1950, we have provided vital assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced, and stateless persons across multiple continents. We help to save lives and build better futures for millions forced from home.

The Nigeria operation is a complex and high-priority context, requiring exceptional dedication to resource mobilization, advocacy, and strategic communications.

Role Summary: Associate External Relations Officer

The Associate External Relations Officer plays a pivotal role in strengthening UNHCR’s visibility, advocacy, and resource base in Nigeria. Reporting to senior management, this position acts as a critical interface between the country operation, donors, media, and the wider public.

The Officer is responsible for executing a robust communications and fundraising strategy to mobilize financial support and generate positive advocacy for forcibly displaced and stateless persons, while ensuring strict compliance with donor requirements and promoting UNHCR’s mandate in inter-agency forums.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

I. Strategic Communications and Advocacy

Visibility & Content Creation: Support the management of media relations by responding to direct queries, publishing press releases, handling interview requests, and organizing regular briefings and field visits.
Digital Engagement: Promote the visibility of UNHCR’s work and advocate for support through providing engaging inputs for social media and web content, showcasing the impact of our programs.
Campaigns & Initiatives: Consolidate information on country operations to identify appropriate messages for global campaigns and appeals. Propose and support external events (e.g., commercial, cultural, political) to strategically promote UNHCR’s work.
Strategy Implementation: Assist in the implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy designed to generate sustained support from all external partners, including the general public, media, private sector, and academia.

II. Resource Mobilization and Donor Relations

Donor Dialogue: Assist in cultivating the dialogue with embassies and donors by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings, and missions. Provide relevant, timely information on UNHCR operations and financial requirements, responding to ad-hoc requests.
Funding Advocacy: Disseminate information on UNHCR’s global funding situation (in consultation with headquarters) and actively mobilize additional funds to enhance the quality of protection programs.
Funding Monitoring: Monitor the earmarking level of funding for the UNHCR Country operation and ensure appropriate visibility for all donor contributions, strictly complying with UNHCR guidelines and specific donor requirements.

III. Reporting and Information Management

High-Quality Reporting: Assist in the coordination and drafting of high-stakes documentation, including situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, and press releases.
Compliance Reporting: Draft meticulous narrative and financial reports on contributions, ensuring full compliance with specific donor requirements.
Context Analysis: Stay abreast of challenges posed by the political context, UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement.
Internal Flow: Support the management of information flows within the country operations by securing, analyzing, and disseminating priority documentation to support corporate communication processes.

IV. Coordination and Inter-Agency Representation

Representation: Represent UNHCR on behalf of senior management in inter-agency cooperation and in fora focused on fundraising and communication priorities.
Risk Management: Support the identification and management of risks and seize opportunities impacting external relations objectives, ensuring decisions are risk-based and transparently raising issues to supervisors.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate must possess a solid understanding of UNHCR’s programming, demonstrated experience in external relations, and strong representation skills.

Education and Experience

Required Education: An Undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s), Graduate degree (Master’s), or Doctorate degree in a relevant field.
Required Experience:
- Undergraduate Degree: Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience.
- Graduate Degree: Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience.
- Doctorate Degree: Minimum 1 year of relevant professional experience.
Field(s) of Education: Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, Communications, or other relevant field.

Essential Relevant Job Experience

Proven experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment.
Excellent knowledge of local institutions, politics, and culture in Nigeria.
Prior experience working in country operations supporting reporting and resource mobilization.
Experience engaging with the private sector partners and a solid understanding of UNHCR’s key donors.
Proven track record of effectively supporting communication/Public Information (PI) activities and managing media relations.
Strong representation skills and the ability to articulate official messages clearly.

Desirable Experience

Previous experience in fund-raising and programming/programme management.
Experience in working with social media platforms for advocacy.
Demonstrated creativity in producing engaging web and social media content.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required.

Diversity Statement

To foster diversity within the operation, including geographic diversity, candidates from underrepresented nationalities in the Nigeria operation are especially encouraged to apply. A written test may be administered for this position.