Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA8
Target Start Date2025-07-01
Deadline for ApplicationsJune 18, 2025
Terms of Reference1. General Background
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is usually located in UNHCR Country Office Malaysia. S/he plays a crucial support role in ensuring UNHCRโs approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the Government on coordination, response delivery and protection issues. Typically, this involves joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. The main aim is to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the GCR - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. This should be done in line with UNHCRโs Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, s/he advises the senior management on issues and processes concerning the relationship with the Government and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector, media and other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to support the effectiveness of UNHCRโs leadership roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern to UNHCR (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer ensures that support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis concerning the relationship with the Government. The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support all planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the supervisor in maintaining a constant dialogue with the Government on the overall protection context. A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic meetings with the Government, as well as to support the broadening of mutual information through meeting reports, situation updates and newsletters.
The role involves engagement with various levels of Governmentโnot only central but also state and municipal authorities. The incumbent will also liaise with religious authorities, given their influence on social cohesion and the promotion of asylum and protection values. Additionally, the position will maintain links with the private sector, particularly through networks established by PSP (Private Sector Partnerships).
The incumbent must demonstrate the following core competencies:
โข Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
โข Strategic thinking and political acumen to navigate complex government and stakeholder environments.
โข Excellent writing and reporting abilities for clear and impactful communication.
โข Government relations and public affairs expertise to support advocacy and coordination.
โข Cultural and religious sensitivity, especially in engaging with local authorities and communities.
โข A solid understanding of humanitarian and development frameworks, including refugee protection and international law.
โข Fluency in English and Bahasa Malay is essential.
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 UNHCRโs core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
- Assist in the establishment of close working relations with Government Officials and/or other external parties.
- Provide suggestions for promoting UNHCRโs policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Support coordination meetings as required, including by preparing meetings and background information, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
- Manage the flow of information to/from the supervisor and other senior staff; identifies priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the supervisor.
- Draft correspondence, documents and reports, and prepares tables and ensures follow-up.
- Assist in ensuring appropriate links with the Government through establishment/maintenance of appropriate coordination and information exchange.
- Act on behalf of the supervisor to convey, clarify and explain UNHCRโs positions to Government or other external parties as applicable.
- Inform the supervisor on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with external parties.
- Act as interpreter during meetings held by the supervisor with senior officials or other external parties.
- Accompany the supervisor and Headquarters visitors to camps, border missions and provincial cities.
- May be required to coordinate the work of lower level staff.
- Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
Through Performance Evaluation โ Mid โ year and Final evaluations.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
Field(s) of Education
Law/International Law;
Political Science;
Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field.
b. Work Experience
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree.
c. Key Competencies
Desired Functional Skills
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation;
MG-Negotiation;
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
MS-Networking;
Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies:
Empowering and Building Trust
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Stakeholder Management
Political Awareness
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Language Requirements: Fluency in Bahasa Malay (min. B2 level) and English (min. B2 level)
Additional Information:
This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 31/12/2025 with the possibility of extension.
Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
UNHCR does not sponsor work visa or work permit and applicant who is not Malaysian national should already have their status confirmed that they are able to secure a work visa at the time of the application.
Standard Job Description
Assistant Government Liaison Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is usually located in country operations. S/he plays a crucial support role in ensuring UNHCR's approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the Government on coordination, response delivery and protection issues. Typically, this involves joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. The main aim is to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the GCR - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. This should be done in line with UNHCR's Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, s/he advises the senior management on issues and processes concerning the relationship with the Government and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector, media and other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to support the effectiveness of UNHCR's leadership roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern to UNHCR (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer ensures that support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis concerning the relationship with the Government. The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support all planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the supervisor in maintaining a constant dialogue with the Government on the overall protection context. A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic meetings with the Government, as well as to support the broadening of mutual 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
- Assist in the establishment of close working relations with Government Officials and/or other external parties.
- Provide suggestions for promoting UNHCR's policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Support coordination meetings as required, including by preparing meetings and background information, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
- Manage the flow of information to/from the supervisor and other senior staff; identifies priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the supervisor.
- Draft correspondence, documents and reports, and prepares tables and ensures follow-up.
- Assist in ensuring appropriate links with the Government through establishment/maintenance of appropriate coordination and information exchange.
- Act on behalf of the supervisor to convey, clarify and explain UNHCR's positions to Government or other external parties as applicable.
- Inform the supervisor on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with external parties.
- Act as interpreter during meetings held by the supervisor with senior officials or other external parties.
- Accompany the supervisor and Headquarters visitors to camps, border missions and provincial cities.
- May be required to coordinate the work of lower level staff.
- 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
Law/International Law;
Political Science;
Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified.
Desirable:
Not specified.
Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
SO-Networking
(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.
Required Languages Malay
,English
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking
EducationBachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
RemoteNo