Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer

March 4, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

FamilyUNOPS IICA2

2026-03-011. General Background
(Brief description of the national, sector-specific, or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)

The Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will be key in operationalizing the strategic vision to align livelihoods and economic inclusion efforts with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which underscores the need to mobilize additional actors and to adopt a whole-of-society approach to strengthen refugee self-reliance and help ease pressure on host countries. Promoting economic inclusion of refugees and IDPs is a key development area that will enable the achievement of these objectives and contribute to the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals.

Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the GCR into impactful results for displaced people. Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the incumbent Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer, under the supervision of the Senior Development Officer in the Regional Bureau and the Sustainable Responses Services , works towards the following objectives:

1) Improve the enabling environment for refugees to work through advocacy on the right to/at work, access to economic opportunities and services.
2) Seek new and strengthen existing partnerships including with the private sector, development actors, government institutions and specialized agencies to advance economic inclusion of refugees; and
3) Enhance ongoing livelihoods and economic inclusion programming through evidence-based and market-driven approaches to improve economic inclusion outcomes.
The Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will support the country operations in mainstreaming the GCR and leveraging the potential of the pledges to advance solutions for displaced populations. She/he will work closely with multi-functional teams on matters including but not limited to protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more, and will be key in rolling out the Sustainable Programming approach. S/he will support the Regional Bureau’s involvement with livelihoods and economic inclusion, working with country operations and relevant external stakeholders from government line ministries, development actors, private sector, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, research institutions and universities.
As part of its efforts to diversify partnerships, the Development unit has contributed to scaling up collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation. Following the announcement of a new phase in the partnership between UNHCR and the Foundation, the UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa supported the design of a multi-country project. This initiative aims to help over half a million refugees and displaced youth across Africa complete their education, enable 200,000 young people to transition into dignified employment by 2030, and strengthen community-driven initiatives. The Regional Bureau plays a pivotal role in providing oversight, ensuring coordination, and advancing policies that assist States and partners in promoting legal and socio-economic inclusion.


2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)
     
- Lead the technical coordination of regional projects with development actors and foundations aiming improving access to livelihoods and employment opportunities.
- Facilitate the economic inclusion of refugees in coordination with relevant external partners such as line ministries, private sector, and development actors in accordance with UNHCR Global and Country level policies, priorities, and strategies, particularly the Global Compact on Refugees.
- Strengthen partnerships with relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion of displaced populations. This includes advocating with public and private sector service providers to include displaced populations in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, savings accounts, poverty alleviation, social protection, etc.).
- Build on UNHCR databases to support regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, development, and government stakeholders. This includes supporting the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys to inform targeting, monitoring, and facilitation of development programmes.
- Conduct necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant private and public stakeholders, including impact assessments on local economies and surveys that help to identify investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of displaced populations.
- Work with economic development agencies to help adapt their programmes to become inclusive of displaced populations and with the private sector to enhance inclusion of displaced populations in their labour force and value chains.
- Where UNHCR is implementing specific livelihoods activities, strengthen, guide, and monitor the livelihoods interventions to help ensure they are market-based, and that the role of UNHCR has been strategically determined in consideration of its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other partners.
- Keep abreast of legal and policy developments and situation updates in the region, and advocate towards the economic inclusion and livelihoods of displaced populations.
- Maintain regular communication with livelihoods and economic inclusion focal points in Country Operations in the region, identify gaps, opportunities, and provide guidance and capacity building for impactful programming.
- Coordinate relevant technical assessments and research conducted in the region and support the identification of investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of displaced populations.
- Develop and mobilize partnerships for the economic inclusion and improved livelihoods of displaced populations.
- Facilitate coordination and mobilize resources and partnerships for the economic inclusion of displaced populations and their livelihoods, at regional level.
- Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)
     
As an active member of the UNHCR team, the Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer provides efficient, timely, responsive, customer-friendly and high-quality support to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the performance of his/her duties, including ensuring that:

• Effective support is provided to the needs assessment and needs analysis of displaced populations in the country in a participatory manner using an Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning and in due consideration to the centrality of protection and do-no-harm.
• Support in ensuring that relevant operational partnerships are built, and partnership framework agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored, and reported on in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.
• Effective and timely support is provided to the formulation and implementation of a clear and coherent livelihood and economic inclusion strategy, which incorporates a thorough age, gender, and diversity (AGD) analysis, do-no-harm approach, while reflecting the Organization’s global, regional, and country level priorities.
• The participation of displaced populations is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community-based approaches.
• Obstacles towards refugee inclusion in labor markets and business identified and strategies to overcome these obstacles developed in partnership with government entities and development actors.
• Country operations in West and Central Africa are aware of the GRF guidance and their capacities to follow the implementation of the pledges are strengthened.
• National arrangements for the implementation of the GCR are supported in the region.
• Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise, and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
     
Required Degree Level: Master's degree
Type of degree: Business Management; Socio-Economic Development; Economics/International Economics; Rural Development; Financial Management; or other relevant field.

b. Work Experience
(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)
     
Essential
• Technical competencies in sub-sectors relevant to livelihoods programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc.
• Experience in facilitating the economic inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups and managing and advising on development processes in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied field contexts.
• Experience in working with and developing partnerships with private sector, NGOs, UN organizations, development actors, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc.
• Experience in conducting sector assessments using quality social-science methods and tools, and in developing at least one comprehensive multi-year strategic plan for livelihoods support.
• Experience in development cooperation partnerships

Desirable
Experience with UNHCR policies and standards, and with sustainable programming and route-based approaches.

c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies, or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
     
Functional Skills
LV-Microfinance and Banking sector analysis
LV-Livelihood Project Development and Implementation
MG-Project Management
MG-Management Planning
SO-Networking
CO-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Empowering and Building Trust
Judgement and Decision Making
Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Stakeholder Management

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No