Assistant Government Liaison Officer

November 19, 2025

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Nairobi (CO), Kenya

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-01-01

Assistant Government Liaison Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is usually located in country operations. S/he plays a crucial support role in ensuring UNHCR's approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the Government on coordination, response delivery and protection issues. Typically, this involves joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. The main aim is to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the GCR - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. This should be done in line with UNHCR's Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, s/he advises the senior management on issues and processes concerning the relationship with the Government and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector, media and other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to support the effectiveness of UNHCR's leadership roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern to UNHCR (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer ensures that support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis concerning the relationship with the Government. The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support all planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the supervisor in maintaining a constant dialogue with the Government on the overall protection context. A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic meetings with the Government, as well as to support the broadening of mutual information through meeting reports, situation updates and newsletters.


All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Assist in the establishment of close working relations with Government Officials and/or other external parties.
- Provide suggestions for promoting UNHCR's policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Support coordination meetings as required, including by preparing meetings and background information, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
- Manage the flow of information to/from the supervisor and other senior staff; identifies priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the supervisor.
- Draft correspondence, documents and reports, and prepares tables and ensures follow-up.
- Assist in ensuring appropriate links with the Government through establishment/maintenance of appropriate coordination and information exchange.
- Act on behalf of the supervisor to convey, clarify and explain UNHCR's positions to Government or other external parties as applicable.
- Inform the supervisor on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with external parties.
- Act as interpreter during meetings held by the supervisor with senior officials or other external parties.
- Accompany the supervisor and Headquarters visitors to camps, border missions and provincial cities.
- May be required to coordinate the work of lower level staff.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law/International Law;
Political Science;
Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified.
Desirable:
Not specified.

Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
SO-Networking
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.




All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The preferred incumbent should demonstrate previous and relevant experience in the following areas:
- Prior experience with the Somalia context and understanding of its political and operational environment.
- Strong drafting, communication, and analytical skills.
- Ability to engage effectively with government authorities, development actors, private sector and other stakeholders.
- Proven organizational skills with capacity to manage multiple tasks and deliver under tight deadlines.
- Team-oriented, with strong interpersonal skills.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Associate External Relations Officer and may receive guidance from the Representative and other senior staff. The incumbent is expected to maintain close working relations with colleagues in Protection, Programme, and Field Units to ensure coherent engagement with government counterparts and support UNHCR’s mandate in Somalia.

The position plays a key role in supporting UNHCR’s strategic partnership with the Government of Somalia at national and state levels. This includes facilitating dialogue on refugee protection, internal displacement, and statelessness issues. The incumbent will assist in coordination mechanisms, joint planning, and reporting processes, ensuring that UNHCR’s approach is consistent and aligned with national priorities such as the National Transformation Plan (2025–2029), the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2026-2030), and relevant regional frameworks.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support the supervisor in maintaining regular communication with government entities, organizing periodic meetings, and preparing reports, situation updates, and briefing notes. The role also involves liaising with UN agencies, donor partners, NGOs, civil society, and development actors to strengthen humanitarian-development linkages and resource mobilization efforts. Through these activities, the incumbent contributes to UNHCR’s leadership in refugee response and internal displacement situations, ensuring complementarity with national efforts and fostering an open and transparent partnership approach.

Living and Working Conditions:

Security situation: Mogadishu, an E category, non-family duty station, is the capital of Somalia. In 2021, UNHCR opened its own residential and office compound within the Aden Abdulle International Airport (AAIA) where UN Agencies, Funds and Programs, as well as Embassies operate from various compounds.  The security situation has remained consistently tense and volatile for many years. As a consequence, staff movements may be restricted. Curfew within AAIA is 22:00-05:00 for vehicle movement and 18:00-06:00 for pedestrian movements. The beach area (a 20-minute walk from the compound) is currently open 05:00-08:00 and 14:00-18:00 daily, although swimming in the ocean is prohibited due to strong currents and sharks. National staff can access the compound (AAIA), during the morning from 6:00 and exit in the evening AAIA by 5:00.

Living conditions: International staff reside in UNHCR's compound (containers) in the AAIA compound. National staff live in the town and commute to the office on working days. UNHCR provides shuttle service to/from office and staff residences. In town, there are social amenities, including cafes, restaurants, football playgrounds, and recreational public parks to which national staff have access.

Working conditions: UNHCR has an office and accommodation in their compound within the ATMIS-protected area AAIA. The office is equipped with furniture, office items, and full access to the internet. Field and Protection staff regularly visit IDP sites and monitor Partners project implementation activities. Other UN agencies, including UNICEF, UNOCHA, WFP, IOM, FAO, WHO, and UNFPA have a presence in Mogadishu (AAIA).

Healthcare services: There are several medical facilities in Mogadishu. In the town, national staff have access to several hospitals - Kalkaal Hospital, Turkish hospital, Shaafi, and Adan Ade hospital which are covered under medical insurance. Within the UNSOS/UNSOM compound, there are Level 1 and Level 2 Clinics run by UNSOS and ATMIS, respectively. National staff and their dependents have full access to these hospitals.

Food: All basic foods are available in the market ranging from meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables. There are many hotels within the protected area of Aden Ade International Airport (AAIA) where staff can visit. There is a canteen run by a private catering company called Star Empire in the UNHCR compound. Both national and international staff have access to it. There are also two fully equipped kitchens for staff to use in the UNHCR Villa.

Transport:  Airport pick-up and drop-off: Mogadishu

UNHCR provides transport to UNHCR staff and Affiliate Workforce Personnel when travelling to/from Mogadishu. All arriving staff are requested to share their ticket details with Admin before their travel date. UNHCR drivers normally do not have access permit to the arrival hall of the airport and will wait for staff arriving in the area around the airport main gate/barriers, a shirt walk away from the arrivals hall. To request transportation within Somalia, UNHCR Somalia uses the UN Booking Hub.

National staff use local rental shuttles for pick-up and drop-offs from/to home.

 

Communication: In Mogadishu, there are many telecommunication entities, Hormuud is the leading telecommunications provider in Mogadishu, offering reliable mobile network coverage for calls, data, and mobile money services for over 20 years. Their dominance in the market makes them a popular choice for residents and visitors alike.

Banking: UNHCR Somalia has a contract with Standard Chartered Bank in Nairobi on cash payments to Somalia. Standard Chartered Bank has sub-contracted Amal Money Transfer Agency in Somalia to remit funds to Somalia on their behalf. Staff members can opt to receive their entitlement in the form of cash from an Amal outlet in Somalia. Staff members can either receive cash over the counter or open a bank account with Amal Money Transfer Agency to withdraw cash as desired. Other international banks operate in Mogadishu as well such as Premier bank, my bank, Dahabshiil, and Somalia Central Bank.

Education: In Mogadishu, there are several private primary and secondary schools and universities, most of them are privately owned institutions. These institutions are accessible to all by students.  

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates will be required to have valid Somalia national passport or identification card and a written test may be undertaken.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance