Associate Inter-Agency Coordination Officer

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response Communications & PR

Overview

Provide day-to-day coordination and process support to the RCP Secretariat.

You have:

• At least 3 of years in project coordination & management.
• Previous experience with the United Nations system, including UN agencies, or similar assignments is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience supporting coordination processes involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong drafting and written communication skills in English.
• Fluency in oral and written English.
• Proficiency in standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Contract

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Although Bangladesh is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol and the Government does not recognize the Rohingya as refugees, referring to them as “Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals”, the country is generously hosting some 1.2 million Rohingya refugees across 33 camps. This includes over 130,000 new arrivals who fled renewed violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and have entered the camps since 2024 despite the border being officially closure. The presence of large numbers of refugees – who now represent two-thirds of the local population in Cox’s Bazar – has had important impacts on local communities, service delivery, the economy and the environment. The Government considers return to Myanmar, as soon as possible, as the only viable solution. This policy approach impacts on the humanitarian operation, with the Government discouraging medium or longer-term approaches, including the development of permanent infrastructure, providing formal education or livelihoods opportunities for the refugees and the use of cash to deliver assistance.

Following significant global funding reductions in 2025, the Rohingya response entered a period of structural transformation. In close consultation with the Government of Bangladesh, the overall coordination architecture has been streamlined and aligned more closely with the Refugee Coordination Model (RCM). As part of this transition, coordination functions are now organized under the Rohingya Coordination Platform (RCP), led by UNHCR, with a lean inter-sector coordination secretariat based in Cox’s Bazar.

The principal inter-agency planning and fundraising framework for the response remains the Joint Response Plan (JRP). The RCP Secretariat plays a central role in supporting inter-sector coordination, partner engagement, reporting, and the preparation and follow-up of JRP-related processes, while ensuring continuity and coherence across sectors during a period of transition and constrained resources.

Within this context, the RCP Associate Inter-Agency Coordination Officer will provide day-to-day coordination and process support to the RCP Secretariat, contributing to effective information flow, follow-up, documentation, and planning across sectors and partners.

The Associate Inter-Agency Coordination Officer reports to the Senior Inter-Agency Coordination Officer, RCP Secretariat, Cox’s Bazar. S/he will support the functioning of the RCP Secretariat by facilitating inter-sector coordination processes, maintaining systematic follow-up with sectors and partners, and contributing to planning, reporting, and documentation—particularly in relation to the Joint Response Plan and related coordination priorities.

Under the direct supervision of Senior Inter-Agency Coordination Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support day-to-day engagement with Sector Coordinators and Co-Coordinators through written and verbal communication, including follow-up on agreed actions related to planning, reporting, and coordination processes.

• Maintain regular contact with UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to support information exchange and coordination.

• Assist in organizing inter-sector and ad hoc coordination meetings, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and logistical arrangements.

• Contribute to the preparation, drafting, and revision of coordination documents, guidance notes, presentations, and briefing materials explaining processes, timelines, and next steps.

• Actively support the preparation and drafting of the Joint Response Plan (JRP), including consolidation of sector inputs, narrative drafting, and quality control under guidance from senior staff.

• Support reporting processes linked to JRP implementation, funding updates, and inter-sector reporting requirements.

• Prepare summary notes, meeting minutes, status updates, and internal reports for the RCP Secretariat as required, while ensuring regular follow up.

• Liaise with sector Information Management (IM) focal points to support timely submission and validation of data related to planning, reporting, and monitoring frameworks.

• Maintain organized records of correspondence, meeting documentation, and coordination products.

• Contribute to maintaining continuity, consistency, and institutional memory within the RCP Secretariat.

• Support donor liaison, reporting, and visibility efforts for Japan-funded activities, including regular coordination with JICA, in close collaboration with the JICA Bangladesh Office.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Planning and Organizing • Respect for Diversity • Working in Teams

• At least 3 of years in project coordination & management.

• Previous experience with the United Nations system, including UN agencies, or similar assignments is an asset.

• Demonstrated experience supporting coordination processes involving multiple stakeholders.

• Strong drafting and written communication skills in English.

• Fluency in oral and written English

• Proficiency in standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Cox's Bazar is a category D family duty station. Educational facilities are limited, and interna-tional schools from primary to secondary school are currently available in Dhaka only. Health services are limited in Cox's Bazar, but more reliable facilities are available in Dhaka. Malaria and dengue risks exist throughout the year. Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and diphtheria are recommended.

Cox's Bazar is a principal tourist destination within Bangladesh, due to its location at the Bay of Bengal and its long beach. Infrastructure and shopping options in Cox's Bazar - a small city of just 250,000 persons is very basic. International staff reside in privately rented apartments, or serviced apartments all of which provide basic standards.

The Rest and Recuperation (R&R) cycle in Cox's Bazar is 8 weeks. The current R&R loca-tion is Bangkok. Cox`s Bazar is connected by several daily flights to Dhaka, albeit only during daylight hours. Banks/ATM machines are available in Cox's Bazar and credit/debit cards are accepted. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks and exchange houses. Staff who intend to be joined by family members, in particular young children, should contact HR for more information, as educational and medical facilities are not adequate.

The security level system in Bangladesh is level 3 moderate. Although security is generally acceptable, given the current situation in the area, no movement on highways at night is al-lowed. Walking and jogging in the streets as earmarked is permitted. Crowded local markets should be avoided. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than else-where to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: unv.org