Interagency and Government Liaison Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

This UNV assignment will be with Interagency Unit of the UNHCR Sub-Office Gaziantep, which has an area of responsibility covering 10 provinces in Southeast Turkey. The operations of the UNHCR Sub-Office Gaziantep supports the Government of Turkey under the Syria Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) 2021-2022 which provides for an integrated humanitarian and resilience response plan co-led by UNHCR and UNDP, involving 74 national and international partners in 2022 (11 UN agencies and 63 INGOs/NNGOs). The 3RP Turkey Plan (2021/22) was designed in close collaboration with the Turkish government and other national/local stakeholders to support national priorities in the response to Syrians under temporary protection and persons under international protection, based on Turkey’s comprehensive legal framework. The implementation of the 3RP 2021-2022 aims to promote strong engagement with national and local actors and ensure complementarity with other actors (e.g. IFIs, TRC, IFRC, bilateral development partners) providing support to the refugee response in Turkey. The volunteer will be supporting interagency initiatives to strengthen and enhance coordination and stakeholder engagement at the interagency and sectoral levels and promote state-led inclusive and localized coordination arrangements, at the provincial and municipal level.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Fatma Mine Gultekin, Assistant Interagency Coordination Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Interagency and Government Liaison Specialist will:

• Assist in the establishment and coordination of close working relations by the UNHCR Sub-Office Gaziantep Interagency Coordination Unit with provincial and municipal officials and technical staff, including with Provincial Governors, Deputy Governors, PDMM Directors, PDMM Migration Experts, and municipal technical staff. • Support the organization and facilitation of the Protection Working Group and specific tasks teams (Legal Counselors Group, Community Engagement, Individual Protection Interventions, Capacity Building) • Provide technical support for capacity building activities related to coordination for Provincial Migration Boards, technical working groups, case management groups (CMGs), including preparation of agenda, drafting of minutes, outcomes and reports, coordination of invitations and participation • Inform the supervisor and/or other senior managers on a continuing basis of relevant information on ongoing interagency and government coordination processes and the operational context • Assist in the tracking of evolving issues concerning Syrians under Temporary Protection and Persons under International Protection in Southeast Turkey • Support the preparation for different visits and missions to the Sub-Office and by the Interagency Coordination Unit. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

state institutions, civil society organizations, academia, humanitarian or development agencies • Experience in policy advocacy is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international agencies with relevant programmes • Attention to detail, high level of analytical thinking and political awareness of national and regional developments in Turkey • Oral and written proficiency in English and Turkish, drafting and reporting skills • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners and authorities at various levels • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines • Have affinity with or interest in refugee protection and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System

This assignment’s duty station is Gaziantep, Turkey and relocation is required for the one not living in Gaziantep. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this can be within a month after contracted upon agreement with the hiring manager. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. UNV Entitlements in a Nutshell for National UN Volunteers (Specialist): • Current Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is approx 10900 TRY as of April 2022. This amount is subject to increase in parallel with revision in allowance of local personnel applicable in each year. • 100% health, life and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA. As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be initiated on private basis. • Entitlement to annual Leave at the rate of 2.5 working days per completed month of volunteer assignment • Entry allowance for covering relocation expenses • Exit allowance upon completion of service • Several learning opportunities

Unified Conditions of Service is available on UNV's website.