Government Liaison Officer

April 30, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

NOC

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-06-01

Government Liaison Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Government Liaison Officer is usually located in country operations. S/he plays a crucial role in ensuring UNHCR's approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. The main aim is 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 UNHCRs Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, the incumbent 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. This requires strong engagement in Government processes, and knowledge and interaction with national entities and processes. The Government Liaison Officer assists senior management with ensuring the Government is aware of the humanitarian architecture and can act in line with ongoing development processes related to the UNDS reform and the 2030 agenda as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of UNHCR's leadership roles and responses to situations affecting forcibly displaced and stateless persons to UNHCR (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.

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
- Advise and assist senior managers to formulate and communicate UNHCR positions on Government-related matters on protection, assistance and inclusion of refugees, providing briefing notes, talking points and issue papers for relevant discussions with the Government.
- Promote UNHCR's policies and liaise with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Establish and coordinate country-specific coordination mechanisms for situations co-led by UNHCR and the Government. Where applicable, support the development of country-specific refugee response plans (or refugee and migration response plan and refugee and resilience plan) and comprehensive responses.
- Contribute to ensuring the coherence of the work of the Multi-sector group (MSG) in accordance with the Government.
- Provide protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons to UNHCR by ensuring the observance by the local authorities of the recognized principles of refugee law.
- Promote accession to refugee law convention in a way that reinforce the asylum institution in the country.
- Articulate UNHCR's priorities towards the Government, including the commitment to humanitarian principles.
- With support from senior management, promote the deeper understanding within UNHCR on agreements with the Government and inform other staff on developments with the Government. This includes promoting and stimulating UNHCR's implementation of key reforms with the Government;
- Where there is lack of clarity as to UNHCR's positions and priorities, identify the issues and bring this to senior management attention.
- Assist the Government to ensure timely preparedness activities, including through participation and where necessary coordination of inter-agency contingency planning processes.
- Liaise with the Government, inter-government agencies, UN agencies, local and international NGOs and other partners at the country level to find areas of cooperation, joint initiatives and where applicable negotiate joint agreements or work programmes to further protection and assistance for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Organise and implement capacity-building seminars or training programmes for target groups (government officials, etc.).
- Maintain close relations with the press and develop public information activities to ensure greater knowledge in public opinion of refugee and asylum issues and promote UNHCR objectives.
- Maintain close contact with HQ on emerging issues.
- Maintain frequent formal and informal contacts with counterparts in other organisations.

- 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 P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

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

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience of working with partners at field or Headquarters level. Experience of liaising with governments and/or the donor community. Thorough understanding of UNHCR's protection mandate and core mission. Thorough understanding of humanitarian coordination processes and/or development coordination.
Desirable
Inter-agency coordination role. Drafting joint appeal/ refugee response plan/HRP. Experience with another UN agency or partner.

Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
SO-Networking
TR-Training and Capacity Building of Governments and/or national programs
(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 ideal candidate demonstrates strong political knowledge and excellent interpersonal skills, with proven experience engaging with government counterparts, donors, and a wide range of stakeholders. S/he possesses a solid understanding of UNHCR’s protection mandate, refugee response frameworks and humanitarian coordination mechanisms, including inter-agency processes within the UN system including the particular arrangements in Algeria. An excellent knowledge of the national context and institutional landscape in Algeria is essential.
The desired candidate is strategic, proactive and able to operate with a high degree of autonomy while maintaining sound judgment in sensitive environments. S/he has strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy and operational issues into clear advice for senior management on both urban- and camp-based refugees. Familiarity with UNHCR’s planning, programming and coordination tools is essential.
English, French and Arabic are essential for this role.

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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:

Algeria is a country of both transit and destination, hosting refugees and asylum-seekers from more than 20 nationalities. UNHCR in Algeria provides protection and assistance to two distinct populations: urban refugees and asylum-seekers primarily in Algiers and surrounding urban areas; and Sahrawi refugees living in the five camps near Tindouf, who remain in a protracted displacement situation and rely on humanitarian support. 

In the absence of a national asylum law, UNHCR continues to lead core protection activities—registration, refugee status determination, documentation, and access to services—while supporting national authorities as they progressively develop the structures and capacities required for a state‑led asylum system. Urban refugees and asylum-seekers face complex protection risks, including refoulement, arrest, GBV, limited access to national protection systems, and barriers to services; UNHCR’s interventions therefore prioritize access to territory, fair procedures, child protection, GBV response, community‑based protection, education, mixed‑movement management grounded in route‑based analysis and close collaboration with IOM, and durable solutions. 

The Government Liaison Officer, based in the Algiers Country Office and reporting directly to the Representative, plays a central role in ensuring that UNHCR’s engagement with the Government is consistent, strategic, and well-coordinated. The position supports UNHCR in effectively delivering on its mandate in refugee response, in line with the Global Compact for Refugees and relevant inter-agency commitments. The incumbent advises senior management on all aspects of Government relations, including positioning, coordination, advocacy, information-sharing, resource allocation, fundraising, and reporting. The role also ensures coherent communication and collaboration with key stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, the private sector and the media. 

A key function of the position is to maintain strong engagement with Government counterparts and national institutions, ensuring alignment between humanitarian action and broader development processes, including those linked to the 2030 Agenda. The Government Liaison Officer also supports efforts to enhance the Government’s understanding of the humanitarian architecture and its role within it. 

The position contributes to strengthening UNHCR’s leadership and operational effectiveness in Algeria by fostering transparent, constructive and results-oriented partnerships with the Government.

Living and Working Conditions:

Algiers is currently classified as a Category A duty station. Access to accommodation is of an acceptable standard. Apartments are available and
generally in good condition with working services for water, gas and electricity, the rent varies between $1000- $2000. MORSS is in place, and a
Security Assessment by UNDSS is required for each staff member before renting a private accommodation.
Health care services are generally available in public hospitals but also in private clinics. The hospitals and/or private medical facilities located in
Algiers that are often used by the UN international staff are: Clinique Chahrazed, Clinique du Val, Clinique Chifa Hydra, Clinique El Azhar and Clinique Ennahda.
For staff members with children, some international schools are present in Algiers, providing primary and secondary education, such as the
American International School, the French International school, and the Italian school.
The security level in Algiers is MODERATE (3), but restrictions on movement outside Algiers are in place and authorisation from the authorities is
required to travel outside the capital city. Since February 2019, wide protests have taken place but with no impact on the security of UN staff. A
security clearance is required to enter Algeria (via TRIP hhtps://dss.un.org) and a mandatory security briefing is provided by UNDSS upon arrival.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking, TR-Training and Capacity Building of Governments and/or national programs

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

Certifications

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position is advertised internally only. The candidates' profiles will be assessed against the requirements listed in the job description. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance