Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeInternational Deployee
Target Start Date2025-05-12
Deadline for ApplicationsMay 5, 2025
Terms of ReferenceSince the Olympic Games Rio 2016 UNHCR has been engaging with the sport world around mega-sporting events. The Refugee Olympic and Paralympic teamsโ participation provided an unparallelled opportunity to engage new audiences on refugee issues through the Rio Games. This opportunity opened the eyes of the organization to the possibilities around engaging with the world of sport to advocate for the refugee cause, to engage the public, develop partnerships and mobilize resources.
Following the Rio Olympics UNHCR once again engaged with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the newly formed Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) - which the High Commissioner for Refugees agreed to take the role of Vice Chair to the IOC Presidents Chair role - (ORF) in the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, for the first time developing dedicated communication strategies and employing and deploying staff in advance to support with the work to raise awareness on refugee issues. Collaboration with the IPC in Tokyo was more significant as they had less capacity and welcomed UNHCRโs support, while the IOC had their own plans and strategies that didnโt provide much space to UNHCR to engage on and /or communicate about the Refugee Olympic Team members. Fund raising was not a possibility at either the Olympics or Paralympics.
In 2021 UNHCR signed an MoU with UEFA, European footballโs governing body and as a result UNHCR has been given space to communicate about refugee issues at European Finals such as the Champions and Europa League finals and at the Menโs and Womenโs Euros, although the space for UNHCR is relatively limited.
In 2023 UNHCR signed a global MoU with FIFA, the global governing body of Football or soccer. As a result, UNHCR was invited to be a communications and campaign partner at the Womenโs World Cup in Australia/New Zealand. UNHCR was the partner for the round of 16 matches jointly promoting a campaign around Uniting for Peace. UNHCR also engaged in 1 or 2 other activations and was given the right by FIFA to directly fundraise for the organization during the world cup. While this was not successful the opportunity was welcome.
In the coming 4 years the worlds largest sporting events will converge on the United States, with the FIFA Club World Cup taking place in June and July 2025 and the FIFA Menโs World Cup taking place in the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026. In 2028 the Olympic and Paralympic Games take place in Los Angeles. In 2027 the Womenโs World Cup will take place in Brazil. UNHCR will also continue to benefit from opportunities from UEFA around their premium competitions and other opportunities with sport partners are likely to emerge if UNHCR remains prepared to capitalize.
The opportunities outlined above are unparalleled in size, prestige, viewership the potential for resource mobilization and visibility. Having developed and managed the partnerships outlined above UNHCR is in a prime position to leverage these global moments to benefit the organization and the people that we serve. This is especially important given the current unpredictable funding environment. UNHCR would strongly benefit from the strategic vision of an expert in sport marketing and partnerships to leverage these opportunities to the fullest extent, building on the existing partnerships and deepening engagement with their eco-systems to mobilize resources and increase visibility and brand awareness.
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT:
UNHCR is seeking a Senior Advisor on a SYNI assignment to engage across the organization to help unlock the full potential of the FIFA Menโs World Cup 2026 and FIFA Womenโs World Cup 2027 as well as explore opportunities for LA Olympic and Paralympic Games and other sporting moments. The Snr Advisor will develop plans that would enable UNHCR to capitalize on resource mobilization, partnership, visibility and communications opportunities with rights holders, the private sector, media and the football world globally.
The tasks of the Senior Advisor on a Syni assignment will include, to:
โข Work with UNHCR teams โ Partnerships, Communications and fundraising - to map out the global and hosting country landscape of sport and other partners and develop a plan with opportunities for UNHCRโs engagement linked to the FIFA 2026 Menโs and 2027 Womenโs World Cup.
โข Work with UNHCR global and country teams together and individually to understand their needs and capacities and then explore opportunities for engaging with the sport ecosystem in the three hosting countries for the FIFA Menโs WC, the United States, Mexico, and Canada and Womenโs World Cup in Brazil as well as the LA Olympic and Paralympic Games
โข Work with UNHCR global and country team to understand their needs and capacities and then explore opportunities for engaging with the sport ecosystem at the Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics.
โข Make concrete recommendations on opportunities โ with rights holders, franchises, athletes and brands - to increase UNHCRs brand and positive visibility through the FIFA menโs and Womenโs World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games
โข In collaboration with the relevant teams (country and technical) develop practical, actionable plans to leverage the FIFA Menโs and Womenโs WC and the Olympic and Paralympic games, to UNHCRโs benefit.
โข Work with communication teams (country and global) to support thinking around strategic communication plans, to mobilize audiences around refugee issues, building upon existing research.
โข Advise on and develop generic plans for engagement with other partners such as UEFA around other events and competitions.
CONTRACT DATES: 12 May to 30 September 2025
LOCATION: Geneva, Switzerland
WORKING ARRANGEMENT: 100%, Full-time
CONDIITONS OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
โข The staff on the Syni assignment will work full time, including 20% for job research and four days per week with UNHCR
โข The successful candidate will be based with the team in Geneva. 2-3 day in the office and 1-2 days teleworking per week.
โข The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND QUALIFICATIONS:
โข Bachelorโs or Masterโs degree in Law, Political Science, International Affairs, International Development, Communications, Sociology and Philosophy, Environmental Sciences or other relevant field;
โข Minimum of 12 years of professional experience in the world of Sport including sport marketing, partnership development, brand development and resource development/mobilization.
โข Fluent in English and knowledge of another UN language desirable;
โข Excellent written and oral communication skills;
โข Flexibility, teamwork skills, professional and personal integrity.
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Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
RemoteNo