Government Liaison Consultant

The consultancy will advise and support the broader goal of positioning UNHCR as a predictable, trustworthy and solutions-oriented partner to the Indian authorities. The consultant will also play a role to provide support and advocacy with government counterparts at Central/State level.

The scope of the Consultancy includes but not limited to:

• Strengthen and enhance UNHCR’s engagement with government counterparts, with particular focus on counterparts from the GoI’s security apparatus including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, National Security and Intelligence Service and promote regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues.
• Contribute to the formulation and communication of UNHCR’s positions on protection, assistance, solutions and inclusion of refugees, providing suggestions for briefing notes, talking points and issues papers for relevant discussions with security and other government stakeholders.
• Provide periodic analysis of key political, security, socio-economic, and other developments, trends and decisions that may impact UNHCR’s Protection and Solutions Strategy and to liaise with key influencers and forums as necessary.
• Present key messages of UNHCR Protection and Solutions Strategy to relevant interlocutors.
• Perform other related duties as required.

The consultant’s activities will include:

• Opening up space for dialogue and engagement with relevant government counterparts including security actors at State and Central level on thematic areas of relevance to the protection of refugees and UNHCR’s work as related to the situations mentioned above.
• Contributing to the development/updating of UNHCR proposals for action including non- papers/Aide Memoires and arranging for consultations on the content of such proposals with key security and other interlocutors at Central/State level in coordination with relevant colleagues.
• Negotiating space for UNHCR/partner access to refugee communities across all States with refugee concentrations to undertake protection monitoring, identify persons at risk, make referral to services or process for solutions.
• Raising awareness and discussions with the relevant organization of capacity building with key interlocutors at State level on refugee protection/UNHCR’s role.
• Provide advisory vis-à-vis  Government relations to UNHCR staff, as required.

Required/mandatory qualificatoins and expertise:

• University degree in Law, Human Rights, International Development, Political Science, International Relations or a related field.
• Previous experience in Government of India civil service at senior level
• Excellent analytical and drafting skills
• Fluency in English
• UN/UNHCR experience

Source: https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/New-Delhi-India/Government-Liaison-Consultant_JR2449544