Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Type: Local UNOPS Contract (LICA-8)
Application Deadline: July 27, 2025
Target Start Date: October 1, 2025
Duty Station Hardship Level: B
Family Duty Station: Yes (Family Type Assignment)
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Job Summary
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), through UNOPS, is recruiting for the position of Assistant Government Liaison Officer to support strategic engagement with ECOWAS and ECCAS. The position sits under the Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, headquartered in Dakar, Senegal.
This role supports UNHCR’s collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in addressing refugee protection, solutions, and humanitarian advocacy within West and Central Africa. The successful candidate will be based in Abuja, Nigeria, and will contribute to inter-agency coordination, planning, reporting, and external relations.
Key Responsibilities
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Serve as a liaison between UNHCR and technical staff of ECOWAS and ECCAS.
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Support implementation of UNHCR’s workplans with RECs, including activity coordination, budgeting, and reporting.
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Facilitate engagement with the ECOWAS Humanitarian Directorate, ECOWAS Parliament, and ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.
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Organize and report on coordination meetings, workshops, and joint planning sessions.
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Draft policy briefs, reports, background notes, and official correspondence.
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Maintain regular communication and coordination with REC counterparts on regional displacement and humanitarian trends.
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Represent the supervisor as needed during external meetings and field visits.
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Provide high-quality interpretation, meeting documentation, and information flow to UNHCR senior management.
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Support the organization of workshops and contribute to the development of joint policy positions.
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Contribute to planning and monitoring of inter-agency processes and development-focused engagement relevant to forced displacement.
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
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A Bachelor’s degree in Law, International Law, Political Science, Social Sciences, Business Administration, or other relevant fields.
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A Master’s or Doctorate degree is an added advantage.
Work Experience:
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At least 1 year of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree.
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No experience required for graduate or doctoral degree holders.
Key Skills:
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Strong communication and negotiation skills
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Multi-stakeholder engagement experience
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Workshop and documentation preparation
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Information management and strategic reporting
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Networking and relationship-building
Languages:
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Strong written and spoken English required
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French is highly desirable due to bilingual regional dynamics (ECOWAS and ECCAS)
Core Competencies
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Accountability and Integrity
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Effective Communication
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Teamwork and Collaboration
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Client and Result Orientation
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Organizational Awareness
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Commitment to Learning
Additional Competencies
Managerial Competency:
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Empowering and Building Trust
Cross-Functional Competencies:
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Stakeholder Management
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Political Awareness
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Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
Important Notes
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A written assessment may be conducted as part of the recruitment process.
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This is a local UNOPS position open only to candidates with proof of residency or work authorization in Nigeria.
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Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply in line with UNHCR’s commitment to workforce diversity.
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UNHCR supports diversity and provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities upon request.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply via the official UNOPS portal or relevant UN career page no later than July 27, 2025.
About UNHCR and UNOPS
UNHCR is the UN agency mandated to lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. This position, recruited through UNOPS, supports UNHCR’s regional coordination in advancing durable solutions and policy engagement across West and Central Africa.