Assistant Government Liaison Officer

November 30, 2025

E (most hardship)

Non FamilyNon FamilyDanger Pay

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-12-01

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 desired candidate, well-integrated in the province, with experience of serving in various positions within the Balochistan provincial government or in joint projects with the provincial departments of Balochistan, with knowledge of and access to the key actors, would have:
• Strong Understanding of Balochistan Refugee and Protection Contexts.
• Extensive track record in coordinating with provincial and federal government departments (such as Planning & Development, DGPR, Home, Women Development, Social Welfare, Health, Education) and international donors. S/he will demonstrate strong ability to facilitate communication and partnership between humanitarian agencies and government institutions.
• Excellent Communication and Advocacy Skills, including proven experience in preparation of reports, situation updates, evidence-based analyses, media products, advocacy briefs, and donor communication materials — essential for representing UNHCR with government counterparts.
• Expertise in Stakeholder Coordination and Networking, including track record in building partnerships among UN agencies, government, and civil society with demonstrated capacity to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and ensure coherent humanitarian-government engagement.
• Extensive Policy and Institutional Engagement Experience with governance and rule of law institutions on policy dialogue, institutional reforms, and public communication strategies — valuable for advising on policy frameworks that affect refugees and host communities.
• Strong Multilingual and Cross-Cultural Competence including fluence in major local languages such as English, Pashto, and Dari/Farsi — highly advantageous for communication with Afghan refugees, host communities, and local authorities in Balochistan.
• Educational background providing a strong theoretical foundation in diplomacy, governance, and international cooperation relevant to liaison and coordination functions.

,

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

Nature of Position:

Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol and has not enacted national legislation concerning refugees.  However, until the start of the Phase 3 of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), which declared all Afghans not in possession of valid passports and Pakistani visas (including registered PoR cardholders) illegal as of 1 August 2025, Pakistan’s provision of protection and assistance to Afghan refugees was generally in accordance with international standards and Pakistan’s international human rights obligations.

Pakistan has an over 40 years long history of hosting refugees. Over 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees and smaller number of non-Afghan refugees and Afghan/non-Afghan asylum-seekers reside in Pakistan. The province of Balochistan hosts nearly 300 thousand refugees and asylum-seekers; it is a province with high multi-dimensional poverty levels. Quetta, the provincial capital is constantly exposed to risks of complex emergencies due to the volatile security situation, natural disasters and shrinking protection environment due to lack of policies and legislation in relation to refugees.  A serious security incident forced the suspension of UNHCR operations for more than a year in 2009/2010. In 2016, two major suicide attacks on government facilities killed over 100 civilians. In 2021, Serena Hotel, the only venue cleared for UN use, was bombed, ending with several fatalities. “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” which was initiated by Pakistan government in 2023 to pressurize Afghans to repatriate, has added uncertainty to the stay of the refugees in the country as well as complexity to the relations of UNHCR with the authorities.

UNHCR's access has been limited, warranting the need to implement through partners and monitor remotely. The security situation has been steadily worsening hence the protection interventions will, largely, need to be carried in close coordination with the government, NGOs and other UN agencies. This induces the need to build national staff capacity.

In addition to enhanced focus on urban outreach and community-based protection, following the developments in Afghanistan in 2021 and in the absence of the government-led registration process, the operation has extended its mandate registration activities to cover individuals at heightened protection risk among the new arrivals. In line with the operational and regional strategic priority, in 2022, solution options for refugees in Pakistan were expanded to include resettlement and complementary pathways alongside voluntary repatriation as the priority.

The evolving operational and political context in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan Province, necessitates strengthened and more systematic engagement with provincial authorities. The operational environment is marked by increased reliance on provincial-level decision-making regarding access to services, legal status, and protection mechanisms for Afghans. Provinces in Pakistan have high degree of autonomy in the spheres of education, health, livelihoods, social welfare and other areas, and, as implementation of IFRP throughout 2023-2025 demonstrated, Balochistan has its independent reading of some federal policies as well.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is based in the UNHCR Sub-Office Quetta, and reports to the Head of Office. S/he plays a key role in ensuring that UNHCR’s approach to the government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the government in coordination, response and protection issues. The responsibilities of the Assistant Government Liaison Officer include joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues.

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 UNHCR serves (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. S/he will serve as the primary interface between UNHCR and provincial authorities, including Home Department, Planning & Development, Education, Health, SWD, WDD, and provincial C/CAR counterparts. 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.

Living and Working Conditions:

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

The written test and or oral interviews might be conducted for this position.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance