Snr Inter-Agency Coordination Officer

Senior Inter-Agency Coordination Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Turkey continues to host the largest refugee population in the world, providing protection to nearly three million refugees and asylum-seekers. By the end of 2015 the Government of Turkey hosted 2,750,000 refugees. With 2,5 million Syrians granted temporary protection by the Turkish Government, Syrians constitute the largest refugee group. In addition, Turkey hosts over 260,000 non-Syrians persons of concern to UNHCR. 

The Government of Turkey undertakes the leadership in the protection of and assistance to all persons of concern in Turkey. UNHCR¿s overall strategy is to support Turkey in developing and implementing its national refugee response strategy, as well as coordinate the response of various humanitarian actors.

UNHCR Turkey co-leads two major appeals, the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) with UNDP, and the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RRMRP) with IOM. In addition, it is leading the Pillar 4.1 (International Protection and Migration) of the Turkey UN Development and Cooperation Strategy (UNDCS) 2016-2020.
In the context of 3RP, UNHCR is coordinating the Refugee Response and UNDP is coordinating the Resilience Response. The 3RP coordination is also evolving from heavily field based to an increased focus on the national level coordination to resonate with the shift in the government coordination structure.

For non-Syrian persons of concern, UNHCR will remain the lead agency, working closely with concerned authorities to further strengthen the national asylum framework, and advocate for increased participation of UN and NGO partners to this population group. In addition, UNHCR will continue to organise the inter-agency Contingency Planning exercise.

The Senior Inter-agency Coordination Officer, under the supervision of the Deputy Representative (Ops), D1, and in coordination with other units of the Branch Office and the field, ensures that UNHCR maintains predictable and effective leadership in all sectors or areas of activity.  The aim is to ensure a more coherent and accountable response by enhanced coordination with government partners and mobilizing groups of agencies, organizations and NGOs to respond in a strategic manner across all key areas of activity.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR¿s leadership and participation in the inter-agency coordination for broader humanitarian response is enhanced and ensured.
- Key refugee partners for all sectors are included in inter-agency coordination, respecting their respective mandates and programme priorities.
- Sectorial participants are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards and relevant commitments that the Government has undertaken under international refugee laws and human rights laws.
- Responses are in line with existing policy guidance, technical standards, and relevant Government human rights legal obligations.
- Adequate contingency planning and preparedness for new emergencies is in place.

Responsibility
- Assist the Deputy Representative (Ops) to ensure coordinated support is provided to the country team/Syrian Response Group for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the Syria crisis and the Mediterranean Initiative Response, effectively monitor the implementation of the sector strategies and the country response plan.
- Advise and provide guidance on the organization and periodicity of situation reports.
- Support the Deputy Representative (Ops) in maintaining a dialogue with donors on the overall inter-agency funding/resource status of the humanitarian programmes, organizing periodic meetings with donors as well as preparing appropriate briefing materials for visiting delegations.
- Support the Deputy Representative (Ops) in all aspects related to inter-agency and partner communication with a focus on NGO partnerships.  This includes inter-agency and inter-sector meetings as well as regular meetings with the relevant NGOs forums and with the newly established Joint Working Groups (Government and UNHCR) under the leadership of the Office of the Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister.
- Communicate a coherent partnership policy ensuring UNHCR¿s leadership in coordinating the response to refugee operations and maintain an inclusive inter-agency approach with humanitarian actors in the country.
- Promote emergency response actions while at the same time considering the need for early recovery planning as well as prevention and risk reduction concerns.
- Ensure effective links with other sectorial groups.
- Ensure that sectorial coordination mechanisms are adapted over time to reflect the capacities of local actors and the engagement of development partners.
- Represent the interests of the sectorial group in discussions with stakeholders on prioritization, resource mobilization and advocacy.
- Ensure that refugee responses build on local capacities.
- Ensure appropriate links with national and local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors (e.g. peacekeeping forces) and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them.
- Ensure utilization of participatory and community based approaches in sectorial needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response.
- Update agreed response strategies and action plans for the sector and ensuring that these are adequately reflected in overall country strategies.
- Draw lessons learned from past activities and revising strategies accordingly.
- Advocate for donors to fund refugee actors to carry out priority activities in the sector concerned, while at the same time encouraging sectorial group participants to mobilize resources for their activities through their usual channels.

Authority
- Represent the inter-agency coordination in the meetings.
- Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in place to review impact of the sectorial working group and progress against implementation plans.
- Ensure adequate reporting and effective information sharing.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced university degree in Law, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Business Administration, Social Science or related fields. 
- At least 10 years (12 years with university degree) of relevant professional experience in progressively responsible functions in coordination and at least 6-8 years in an international context.
- Field experience in large operations that involved credible representation of UNHCR in the inter-agency context and with government partners.
- Thorough knowledge of UNHCR's protection mandate (refugee protection principles and framework) and core mission.
- Good knowledge of the UN system, its operational procedures and exposure to provision of support services in an International Organization.
- Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS applications.
- Excellent drafting and writing skills.
- Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Working experience in refugee settings.
- Experience with operational research, teaching or administration.
- Demonstrated expertise in community services, community development/organization, social work, social surveys/assessment, counselling, or related areas.
- Exposure to UNHCR specific training/learning activities
- Knowledge of other relevant UN languages.
- Knowledge of Turkish language.