Deadline for Applications

December 8, 2025

Hardship Level

B

Family Type

Family

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

NOA

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-01-01

Standard Job Description

Assistant Inter-Agency Coordination Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Inter-Agency Coordination Officer is usually located in Country Operations, Multi-Country Offices, Regional Bureaux, and Regional Refugee Coordinator”s Office or in the Partnership and Coordination Service (PCS) in Headquarters. S/he plays a crucial support role in ensuring UNHCR”s approach to partnership and inter-agency processes are coherent. The main aim is to assist senior management, as well as partner agencies, to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response, coordinate other actors – including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response – and support the adherence to UNHCR inter agency commitments in IDP situations. This should be done in line with UNHCRs Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the 2019 IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments.

The Assistant Inter-Agency Coordination Officer ensures that support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis, of any joint assessments or interagency plans at the field level The Assistant Inter-Agency Coordination Officer will support all the inter-agency planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the Inter-Agency Coordination Officer in maintaining a constant dialogue with sector partners on the overall protection context in close collaboration with all partner agencies (UN and NGOs). A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic working group meetings, as well as to support the broadening of inter-agency information through meeting reports, situation updates and newsletters.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR”s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Include partners in the refugee response, respecting their respective mandates and programme priorities.
– Provide appropriate support for operational planning and forward looking coordination of the inter-agency humanitarian and development response.
– Facilitate humanitarian response coordination activities and support coordination meetings as required, including by preparing meetings, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
– Manage the flow of information to/from the supervisor and other senior staff, including heads of field offices and field based coordination staff; identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the Supervisor.
– Draft correspondence, documents and reports, and prepare tables and ensure follow-up.
– Prepare background information for meetings to be attended/chaired by the Supervisor (i.e. agenda, information on the person/organization, information on the topic).
– Assist the Sector Coordinators when necessary.
– Assist in ensuring appropriate coordination with all refugee partners (including national and international NGOs, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, UN agencies, civil society actors ), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate sectorial coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the national and local level.
– Ensure appropriate links with national and local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them.
– Contribute to the development and maintenance of a common strategic framework and appropriate guidelines on the IA response by way of facilitating relevant group discussions.
– Identify geographical and thematic gaps in IA Coordination, and facilitate the appropriate response to those gaps.
– Establish technical groups or task forces as necessary to resolve ad-hoc issues as they arise.
– Ensure approval by all relevant national and sub-national authorities of the strategic documents produced by the IA Coordination Unit.
– Provide stakeholders with regular reports.
– Ensure review of coordination related information management products and work closely with the information management team.
– Perform regular field visits and take part in regional coordination meetings.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Social Sciences;
Development Studies;
Journalism;
International Relations;
Political Affairs;
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Relevant experience in humanitarian or development programme implementation, including experience in facilitating inter-agency coordination at sector or macro-level. Good knowledge of the UN system, NGOs and related planning and coordination practises.

Desirable
Expertise in emergency response and preparedness planning and monitoring, including a good understanding of related standards and indicators. Experience in change management and innovation. Work experience in refugee settings.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
ER-Inter-Agency Leadership/Coordination
ER-Inter-Agency Resource Mobilisation
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
CO-Public Speaking
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

1) Strategic Engagement Skills: this position is a face of UNHCR vis- a- vis member agencies of CRRP and in particular of lead and co-lead agencies of the sectors and therefore requires in depth knowledge of the roles of agencies in coordination structure. Incumbent should be well accustomed with IASC Framework with a strong understanding of the ongoing process of the Humanitarian Reset undertaken under the auspices of the overall UN Reform. Position requires strong diplomatic skills for facilitation of the communication between the donors and various sectors, as well as between the sectors. Incumbent requires in-depth knowledge of socio, eco, political knowledge of the operational context, and technical knowledge to allow smooth interaction with various sectors and establishing necessary inter- sector relations/ collaboration.

2) Interpersonal Skills: Position requires effective skillset allowing for seamless communication with UN agencies and NGOs, as well as external entities interested and engaged in the work of the ISWG/ CRRP. As such, not only the proven language skills (minimum English and Persian) but also translate/ interpretation with understanding of the UNHCR mandate/ United Nations Principles and Government position is equally important. Incumbent’s ability to navigate sensitive discussions with maturity to manage all stakeholders are required.

3) Organization, facilitation and coordination Skills: this position primarily coordinates in continuity multiple actors, as well as members of the ISWG, in addition to internal coordination with Snr Management, External relations and technical units participating in ISWG (Protection and Programme inter alia). It is vital incumbent is organized to handle large amount of information and follow up until the result is reached by prioritizing in adequate manner the tasks at hand, and in accordance with the Work plan.

4) Confidentiality and Integrity: this position will be exposed to the key information on day to day to long term planning. As such, person should demonstrate highest level of integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.

5) Networking: this position requires creative way of reaching out to the potential stakeholders and possess power of influence.

This position covers coordination function and work very closely with the Snr Management of UNHCR Iran to seize the opportunity to bring positive impact for the refugees, and other persons in need of international protection, as well as most vulnerable groups among the host communities. As such, proven drafting, interpersonal, strategic and analytical thinking, maturity as well as integrity and confidentiality are key components of this position together with proven performance history in similar lines of the work. This position also requires the flexibility in working hours as a nature of the work includes adjustment with other actors participating in coordination under the CRRP.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

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,

Desired languages

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has generously hosted forcibly displaced persons for over 40 years. Despite numerous challenges, and in the absence of equitable international responsibility sharing proportionate with the number of people being hosted, the country has upheld refugee-inclusive policies, ensuring continued quality access to essential public services, in particular including healthcare and education. In 2024, some 3.8 million people are recognized as refugees and refugee-like, making Iran the largest refugee-hosting country in the world.

Despite economic challenges, the Government of Iran has maintained its inclusive policies, enabling refugees and undocumented Afghans to access health and education services within the national system. UNHCR supports the Government through the provision of protection and humanitarian assistance for refugees and also contributes to enhancing national services, which benefit forcibly displaced and stateless persons and host communities in urban areas and in the 20 refugee settlements across the country.

Following the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in August 2021, UNHCR rapidly scaled up its operation in Iran to respond to the large number of Afghans seeking safety in the country. Despite challenges, Iran has maintained its inclusive approach, providing forcibly displaced Afghans access to healthcare and education within the national systems as well as livelihood opportunities. However, economic challenges and an increased refugee population are making it harder for the Government of Iran to sustain its support and amplified their calls for improved international solidarity and responsibility-sharing to better assist refugees.

In the absence of short to medium-term opportunities for durable solutions, the majority of Afghans in Iran will remain reliant on both external assistance and the continuation of inclusive policies extended by the Government of Iran in areas of health and education. Against this backdrop and in a domestic and wider context which is increasingly constrained and polarized, the most strategic ‘investment’ is through international responsibility-sharing with a focus on promoting social cohesion and resilience, using humanitarian-development nexus approaches. Initiatives to bolster the resilience of Afghans are particularly critical, promoting participatory and community-based empowerment approaches, which equip them with the tools to overcome challenging circumstances themselves.

UNHCR’s Iran operation is guided by the “Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees” (SSAR). The SSAR is the result of a quadripartite consultative process initiated in 2012 between Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and UNHCR to identify and implement lasting solutions for Afghan refugees in the region. The SSAR is a regional multilateral platform that offers a comprehensive and integrated framework for joint interventions aimed at facilitating voluntary return and sustainable reintegration, while at the same time assisting host countries. Denmark was one of the first countries to have joined the SSAR Support Platform core group established in 2020 to mobilize a diverse range of key stakeholders, galvanize political, financial, and technical support for the SSAR’s implementation, and raise visibility of the Afghan situation.

In the context of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), the planned response aligns to SSAR Pillar 3: Enhanced support for refugee-hosting communities, preserving protection space in host countries and third country solutions, and is in keeping with Denmark’s Membership and active participation in the Global Core Group of the SSAR Support Platform which serves to ‘galvanize structured regional coordination to increase political, financial, and technical support from existing and new partners for the SSAR’.

The Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Afghanistan situation was first developed in 2021, initially as a 6-month Refugee Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan, to support a coordinated response to Afghan refugees seeking international protection in neighbouring countries (Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan). Annual RRPs have subsequently been developed for 2022 and 2023 respectively, covering the whole of the refugee response in Iran and spanning the assistance spectrum. For 2024, a multi-year RRP was developed covering the period 2024-2025. The transition to a multi-year plan better aligns with the protracted situation of Afghans in Iran, helps contribute to more sustainable/longer-term outcomes, and lightens the planning and reporting process for partner organizations. In conjunction with RRP partners, UNHCR prioritizes the adoption of humanitarian-nexus approaches to Afghans displaced in Iran, particularly those in situations of protracted displacement. UNHCR supports the Government in maintaining its inclusive policies by strengthening health and education systems and service provision in refugee hosting areas.

As of January 2026, following the phaseout of the regional RRP, Iran will continue With a Country Refugee Response Plan (CRRP), benefiting from established dynamics between the 14 organizations currently cooperating under the RRP. In reinvented CRRP, and considering the funding challenges faced by UN agencies operating in Iran, as well as participating NGOs, there is a further need to strengthen the synergies between the agencies working across the sectors, to ensure optimized use of the available resource and in synching the activities, as well as areas of intervention, for mutual contribution to the common objectives. In this regard, an Inter sector working Group (ISWG) will be established to discuss operational issues that require cooperation between sectors, and propose ways forward to the CRRP principals.

The Assistant Inter-Agency Coordination Officer (AICO) reports to the Deputy Representative and is responsible for the work of ISWG. Typically, this involves direct engagement with Sector Leads and Co- leads on all issues related to the planning, including the consolidation of the CRRP Work Plans, as well as ensuring that sectors are fully engaged in implementation of CRRP plans. Responsibilities also include conveying regular ISWG meetings based on the agenda agreed among the sectors, coordination of the presentations during the meetings and the preparation of the meeting minutes and further circulation among the partners. The AICO participates in CRRP Principals meetings with a role of a Secretariat to the CRRP lead, providing insight and regular updates to the CRRP on the achievements and challenges at the sector level. In addition, the AICO is responsible for coordination with External Relations on the matters related to SSAR, including through preparation of materials for the needs of the local SSAR group concerning the CRRP and ISWG. The AICO also maintains regular contacts with participating agencies and ensures that the Information- sharing repository (maintained by UNHCR IM) is regularly populated/updated with documents produced by agencies and external parties, including the sharing of the relevant topics of interest to CRRP.

Regular contacts with external parties, including UN office, donors and international organizations, are made to provide the supervisor’s contacts with background information on relevant topics prior to meetings, to respond queries on behalf of the supervisor at his/her discretions and to obtain assistance of others on matters of relevant to the office.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Public Speaking, ER-Inter-Agency External Relations, ER-Inter-Agency Leadership/Coordination, ER-Inter-Agency Resource Mobilisation, IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Development Studies, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Affairs, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test and/or Interview.

No late application will be accepted.

The English version is considered original and authoritative, translation to other language(s) serve the purpose of advertisement of local positions where applicable but are not considered as official translations

مسئول هماهنگی بین‌سازمانی

Functional clearance

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance