Coordination Specialist- Solutions to Displacment

Volunteering Crisis & Emergency Response

Overview

Coordinate efforts for durable solutions to internal displacement.

You have:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience with a bachelor's degree or equivalent is required.
• A master's degree in a relevant field is highly recommended.
• Experience in similar functions in crisis and post-conflict environments is required.
• Excellent writing and communication skills are required.
• Proven experience in Durable Solutions and/or IDP-support programming is required.
• Strong understanding of UNDP policies and practices is an asset.
• Experience with UN/UNDP Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding guidance and implementation methods is an asset.
• Experience and knowledge of development and displacement issues and challenges in the MENA Region is an asset.
• Knowledge of result-based management, including progress monitoring, would be an asset.
• Previous experience of working with governments, NGOs, and UN agencies is preferred.
• Experience in gender and conflict-sensitive programming and implementation would be an advantage.
• Professional level oral and written communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurdish is a plus but not required.
• Culturally and socially sensitive with an ability to collaborate with a wide range of partners.
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision, manage multiple tasks, and meet tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

Iraq has experienced decades of conflict, insecurity and political instability, resulting in deep-seated grievances, weakened social cohesion, and strained relations between communities and state institutions. Although significant progress has been made toward stabilization, the country continues to face complex displacement dynamics. The ongoing return and reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs), including individuals returning from camps within Iraq and from Al-Hol in northeast Syria, present considerable social, economic and institutional challenges. Many returnees face limited or unequal access to essential services—such as social protection, education, water and sanitation, healthcare and housing—while also experiencing stigma and social exclusion. In parallel, climate-related shocks and environmental degradation, combined with local disputes over housing, land and property, have intensified competition over scarce resources and livelihoods. These intersecting pressures risk undermining fragile recovery gains and pose challenges to sustainable peace and long-term social cohesion, particularly in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas. Protracted displacement remains a defining feature of Iraq’s humanitarian-development landscape. Many IDPs have endured years of uncertainty, facing significant barriers to safe, voluntary and dignified return, local integration or relocation. The prolonged nature of displacement exacerbates socio-economic vulnerabilities, constrains access to livelihoods, and complicates efforts to achieve durable solutions in line with international standards. In response, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing programmes aimed at advancing durable solutions for returnees from northeast Syria and internally displaced populations within Iraq. These efforts are aligned with the Government of Iraq’s national priorities and international humanitarian and human rights principles. The United Nations has developed a two-year One UN Plan for the return, rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from Al-Hol, endorsed and launched by the Government. Furthermore, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) provides a strategic framework for supporting comprehensive reintegration and durable solutions to internal displacement. Within this context, UNDP seeks to recruit a Coordination Specialist (Solutions to Displacement) to strengthen internal and external coordination across UNDP, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Government counterparts, donors and civil society partners. The incumbent will play a critical role in promoting coherence, synergy and a coordinated development approach to displacement, ensuring that interventions are aligned, complementary and effectively contribute to sustainable reintegration and durable solutions in Iraq.

1. Lead Durable Solutions Coordination • Serve as UNDP’s technical focal point on Durable Solutions coordination, both internally and within the UN Durable Solutions Working Group, co-chaired by UNDP. • Engage proactively with national and sub-national Durable Solutions coordination platforms to identify gaps, strengthen complementarities, and enhance programmatic synergies. • Coordinate closely with Government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society organizations and local communities to promote coherent, inclusive and sustainable solutions for displaced populations. • Provide technical leadership to the Reintegration Taskforce under the One UN Plan for the return and reintegration of Iraqi nationals from northeast Syria camps. • Contribute to UNDP’s strategic positioning in discussions on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and support identification of corporate priorities in the transition from humanitarian response to development-oriented solutions in Iraq.
2. Support the Development of a National Solutions Financing Strategy (NSFS) • Act as focal point for consultants and stakeholders engaged in the development of a National Solutions Financing Strategy for internal displacement. • Strengthen linkages between humanitarian, development and peace financing streams to ensure a coherent and sustainable financing architecture for solutions. • Support national and sub-national planning processes related to durable solutions for internal displacement. • Promote the mobilization and alignment of public, private, domestic and international financial resources in support of displacement solutions. • Facilitate integration of displacement-related financing into the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) building blocks, including planning, financing, monitoring and governance mechanisms.
3. Provide Technical and Secretariat Support to the Reintegration Taskforce (RTF) • Organize and convene regular RTF meetings, ensuring timely scheduling and active participation of Government and UN members. • Serve as Secretariat to the Taskforce, including preparation of agendas, meeting minutes, briefing materials and presentations. • Provide periodic updates to the Technical Working Group and Steering Committee of the One UN Plan on progress and challenges related to reintegration efforts. • Organize joint field missions with Government counterparts, donors and RTF members to monitor progress and promote visibility of reintegration initiatives. • Coordinate assessments, analytical studies and advocacy initiatives related to reintegration of returnees and other displaced populations. • Prepare regular progress updates and annual reports of the Reintegration Taskforce.
4. Partnership Development, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization • Contribute to strengthening strategic partnerships with key national and international stakeholders to advance policy dialogue and advocacy on durable solutions. • Analyze donor priorities and funding trends to identify resource mobilization opportunities and prepare high-quality concept notes and project proposals. • Support donor engagement through substantive programmatic reporting and regular liaison with development partners. • Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with national authorities, UN entities, international organizations and civil society actors to maximize synergies and impact of UNDP interventions.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required. A master’s degree in a relevant field is highly recommended. • Experience in similar functions in crisis and post-conflict environments is required. • Excellent writing and communication skills are required. • Proven experience in Durable Solutions and/or IDP-support programming is required. • Strong understanding of UNDP policies and practices is an asset. • Experience with UN/UNDP Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding guidance and implementation methods is an asset. • Experience and knowledge of development and displacement issues and challenges in the MENA Region is an asset. • Knowledge of result-based management, including progress monitoring, would be an asset. • Previous experience of working with governments, NGOs, and UN agencies is preferred. • Experience in gender and conflict-sensitive programming and implementation would be an advantage. • Professional level oral and written communication skills in English. • Knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurdish is a plus but not required. • Culturally and socially sensitive with an ability to collaborate with a wide range of partners. • Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision, manage multiple tasks, and meet tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Baghdad is a Category C hardship duty station and a non-family duty station. The Rest and Recuperation (R&R) cycle for the Baghdad duty station is 8 weeks, with the designated place of R&R being Amman. Movement of international staff is restricted and takes place in UN vehicles. Working for the UN in Iraq provides an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere. 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. As this is an international UN Volunteer specialist assignment, the HE will be responsible for arranging volunteer housing. International UN Volunteers receive a volunteer living allowance to sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. This allowance varies from one location to another depending on local living costs, but all International UN Volunteers specialists in the same location receive the same allowance. Below is a summary of the Conditions of Service. Allowances The purpose of allowances for international UN Volunteers specialists is to enable the international UN Volunteers to sustain modest and secure standard of living at the duty station.

• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of USD 2,516.22 • Entry lump sum: USD 4000 • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment); USD 225 per each month. • Annual and learning leaves • Medical and life Insurance • Free access to different learning platforms.

For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service

Apply now

Potential interview questions

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