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Snr DR Officer

Geneva

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
  • Closing Date: Closed

Senior Donor Relations Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

As Head of one of the "Donor Groups" in DRRM covering a number of government donors, the incumbent directly manages relations with a number of these donors and supervises one or two professional staff or Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) as well as one support staff. S/he will be under the direct supervision of the Chief of Section "Governmental Donors and Funding Analysis" Section. Overall guidance might also come from the Director of DER and the Head of Service. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other Divisions or Bureaux in Headquarters.

S/he is expected to keep abreast both of UNHCR operations and institutional developments as well as political and socio-economic developments in the respective donor countries s/he covers.

S/he may also perform the function of regional focal point in DRRM for an assigned region of operations.

Externally, the incumbent maintains relations with government donors, principally through frequent and extensive contacts with Permanent Missions in Geneva, as well as in the capitals, with authority to advocate for  support to UNHCR programmes and negotiate contributions.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- Government donors are regularly lobbied and kept well informed on UNHCR's operations, priorities and funding needs, and engaged in a strategic dialogue with UNHCR to maintain/increase contributions.
- Quality proposals for funding, coordinated with relevant Desks/field operations, are submitted to government donors
- Narrative and financial reports are submitted in a timely fashion so that donors are fully informed of the use of their contributions and in a position to make qualified decisions about further contributions.
- Donor fund raising strategies are developed and implemented, including for accessing new funds, especially transition/development funds, and emergencies.
- Regional/country fund raising strategies are developed and implemented in collaboration with respective Regional Bureaux and operations.
- Operations, Regional Bureaux, other Divisions in Headquarters as well as the Executive Office receive timely information and guidance on actual and projected income in order to take appropriate decisions on resource allocation and management.
- Guidance is provided to field offices for field-based fund raising with particular donors.
- Supervision of donor group staff maintains and expands fund raising and accurate income recording.

Responsibility

- Maintain close dialogue with and provide information to donor governments on UNHCR operations and financial requirements including responding to donor governments' requests for information on ad hoc basis.
- Keep abreast of UNHCR's operations world-wide with a specific focus on emergency situations to be able to serve donors' information needs on all aspects of UNHCR's work.
- Negotiate contributions, striving for timeliness, predictability and maximum flexibility.
- Negotiate, draft and follow up on bilateral agreements with donors.
- Identify and access new donors and funding sources as per DRRM's strategy.
- Serve as liaison between UNHCR and Missions and arrange meetings for donors, and where applicable, organize annual bilateral consultations with selected donor governments and provide follow-up to the conclusions of these meetings.
- Draft internal and external correspondence, including briefing notes for HC, Head of DRRM and his/her supervisor as necessary, to support them in negotiation and follow-up of contributions with donors.
- In collaboration with respective Bureaux, Divisions and UNHCR Offices, prepare submissions for specific funding from donors or provide other information donors may require in determining their financial/political support to UNHCR.
- Draft narrative and financial reports on contributions, in compliance with specific donor requirements.
- Supervise recording and tracking of contributions, monitoring of use of contributions and take necessary action to satisfy donor requirements.
- Actively participate in continuous review of fund raising strategies for assigned donors with a specific focus on monitoring and analysing: donor policies on humanitarian assistance, potential for accessing transition and development funding sources, policies/strategies of organisations competing with UNHCR over funds. Research, develop and maintain donor profiles / fact sheets.

As Regional Focal Point:

- Follow-up the funding situation of the programme areas and update the corresponding funding charts. Share funding tables with relevant Bureaux, Divisions and Offices.
- Monitor earmarking levels and alert DRRM / PSFR on specific country programmes which risk receiving excessive or minimal earmarked contributions.
- Assist field operations / Bureaux in developing country or regional strategies to raise locally available funds, providing the necessary support, guidelines and tools
- Assist Bureaux and operations in developing appropriate, high-quality funding submissions, information papers and donor reports.
- Through internal communication and advocacy, ensure that Bureaux and operations implement and actively support UNHCR corporate fund raising priorities.
- Facilitate DRRM training events for field and Bureaux staff as required.
- Review and edit all narrative and data information for presentation in the Global Appeals and Global Reports as well as any other appeal or report documents.
- Ensure contributions are properly recorded and funding and projections tables accurately updated.
- Participate in meetings with other Divisions/Bureaux to ensure the interests and concerns of donor governments are represented.
- Manage and supervise the assigned donor group / unit in DRRM.
- Perform any other tasks as required.

Authority

- Act as DRRM Focal Point for assigned government donors and as supervisor of donor group/unit; may act as DRRM Regional Focal Point for assigned region of operations.
- Initiate contacts with Permanent Missions, mission trips to donor capitals and consultations.
- Negotiate, draft and clear Funding Agreements with government donors.
- Advise Head of Service on fundraising messages for specific donors or relating to specific operations or regions.
- Draft and clear funding submissions, reports and information papers for donors concerning specific operations.
- Draft and clear reports on the funding situation from specific donors and of assigned operations or regions.
- Initiate the development of the organization's fundraising strategy for designated donor countries and regional/country operations for senior management approval.
- Decide which donors to approach in relation to which regional/country operations or activities in order to prioritize for fundraising appeals and other demarches.
- Represent UNHCR in meetings and correspondence with government donors, and represent DRRM in internal meetings.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced University degree (post graduate level) in Political Science, International Relations, Economics, Social Sciences or similar relevant field.
- More than 10 years of relevant professional experience in progressively responsible functions in UNHCR or other organizations that work in humanitarian relief, development assistance or protection. Of the 10 years, at least 6-8 years should be in an  international capacity.
- General understanding of economics and an interest in political analyses and world development problems.
- Professional experience in field operations with at least 2-3 postings in the field.
- Thorough knowledge of UNHCR operational arrangements, its relief and protection programmes, the funding needs and priorities.
- Understanding of challenges faced by field operations, problems of implementing programmes and constraints of negotiating with local authorities and persons of concern.
- Excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
- Excellent command of English and another relevant UN language (written, oral, comprehension) and highly developed drafting skills.
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DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- UNHCR fund raising and programme management experience.
- Familiarity with funding mechanisms of relevant donor's governments.
- UNHCR specific learning/training activities.
- Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint essential).
This vacancy is now closed.
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