Organization Mission

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Context

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Multi-Country Office in Cameroon, which covers for Republic of Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and São Tomé and Principe, is present throughout the country and works in collaboration with the government and other humanitarian and development partners to provide protection and assistance to these people in situations of forced displacement.
With a complex protection environment with persistence of certain crises, Cameroon hosts a total of 413,000 refugees, mainly coming from the Central African Republic and Nigeria, who have been in the country for over six years. The humanitarian solutions applied needed to be adapted to the needs of forcibly displaced and stateless people, leading to a change in the response provided. UNHCR continues supporting the Government in the implementation of Global Forum on Refugees’ pledges (GCR) in various domains such as protection, health, education, employment, and socioeconomic opportunities forging new alliances with humanitarian, development, financial institutions and private sector actors to bolster refugee inclusion in national services, development plans and activities and be more self-reliance by end 2026.
The UNV Associate Development Officer will support UNHCR Cameroon’s shift toward a project-based approach to resource mobilization, in response to declining humanitarian funding. This strategic transition aims to enhance the sustainability and impact of interventions in a complex protection environment. The Officer will contribute to advancing refugee inclusion efforts, supporting access to services and livelihoods, and addressing ongoing protection challenges linked to regional insecurity and intercommunal tensions. Working closely with the Assistant Development Officer, the Officer will help strengthen partnerships with development actors and government counterparts, promote socio-economic inclusion, and support coordination under the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. The role includes engagement in convergence areas in the East and Far North, in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, to align humanitarian and development efforts for durable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative for Operations, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
The UNV Associate Development Officer will support UNHCR Cameroon’s efforts to strengthen development-oriented responses to forced displacement, with a focus on inclusion, resilience, and durable solutions. The assignment will involve the following key responsibilities:
1. Supporting Inclusive Multi-Stakeholder, Multi-Year Planning (20%)
• Contribute to the development of multi-year, multi-partner protection and solutions strategies.
• Advise on long-term trends to enhance opportunities for solutions, resilience, and inclusion of persons of concern.
• Facilitate the integration of these strategies into national and local development plans, leveraging the roles and resources of host governments and development actors.
2. Strengthening and Managing Development Partnerships (20%)
• Identify and pursue opportunities arising from government and partner pledges to support development and resilience.
• Provide technical support in building and maintaining relationships with development cooperation agencies and peacebuilding actors.
• Ensure the inclusion of refugee and displacement-related concerns in development programming.
• Support engagement with the World Bank Group, African Development Bank, and other multilateral development banks to influence policy and programming.
3. Support for Evidence-Based Planning (40%)
• Provide relevant data and analysis to development actors for planning, programming, and advocacy.
• Contribute to analytical work that strengthens the evidence base for development responses to forced displacement.
• Collaborate with government institutions, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to design and implement monitoring systems that track progress toward inclusion and resilience goals.
4. Strengthening Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus Efforts (20%)
• Liaise with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office to ensure UNHCR’s active participation in Nexus coordination mechanisms.
• Monitor the inclusion of refugee and displacement needs in the planning and programming of UN agencies and development partners.
• Support resource mobilization efforts for climate-sensitive and protection-focused activities that align with Nexus priorities in convergence areas, particularly in the East and Far North regions.

Required Skills and Experience

Area of education/degree in: Development Economics; Development Studies; Socio-economic Development; International Relations; Political Science; Law.
Minimum experience: 3 years
The ideal candidate will bring at least three years of experience in a large international development institution, including one year in field operations. Practical experience in development programming, particularly in areas such as economic growth, governance, fragility, and conflict, is essential. Expertise in social protection, local governance, community development, or private sector outreach is highly desirable. Familiarity with technical sectors such as education, WASH, health, or energy, and knowledge of the governance structures of multilateral development banks or bilateral development agencies, is a strong asset.
This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to UNHCR’s strategic shift toward sustainable, development-linked solutions for displaced populations in Cameroon.

Core Competencies

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Building Trust
☒ Client Orientation
☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning
☒ Communication
☒ Empowering Others
☒ Judgement and Decision-making
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Working in Teams

Living Conditions

Cameroon is a family duty station with a relatively calm, albeit volatile, political environment throughout the country. Most accommodations in the areas considered safe are located 10 to 15 minutes from the UNHCR office, although travel times may be slightly longer due to school drop-offs. Having a car can be useful for travel needs and easy commuting within the city. The office may facilitate to access UN plates if required. In Yaoundé, there is a reliable taxi service available for airport transfers. Additionally, staff increasingly use Yango, an online car service that offers freedom of movement throughout the city, with rates ranging from 500 XAF to 5,000 XAF (approximately $1 to $8), depending on the distance.
The country is with a tropical climate. There are two rainy seasons (April-May and September-October). The average temperature is 25 degrees Celsius.
Usually the international staff main housing areas go from Bastos and Golf and UNV should be aware that they are exposed to a number of tropical diseases and should complete all medical formalities specified in the offer of assignment before travelling and bring with them sufficient and appropriate medical supplies. The following vaccinations are required and/or recommended prior to travel or upon arrival: Covid-19, yellow fever (required for travelers arriving), polio, rabies, tetanus/diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), malaria (prophylaxis is recommended for almost all the country). UN staff has 24-hour access to a fully operational UN medical clinic, run by the UN Doctors, during office hours. There is also a selection of other health facilities available in Cameroon.