Associate Donor Relations Officer

July 18, 2026

H (no hardship)

Family

PR2

Junior Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-07-01

Associate Donor Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Donor Relations Officer is part of a team that maintains proactive dialogue with governmental donors or UN agencies and organizations, as well as with the regional and local donors aiming at building relationships, raise awareness and mobilize political and financial support for UNHCR's work and priorities.
The incumbent's primary role is pursuing opportunities for donor engagement, strengthening partnerships, sustaining support and fundraising opportunities. Due to the specific nature of these responsibilities, Donor Relations Officer posts are based only in Geneva Headquarters, major donor capitals or Regional Bureaux, s/he with also provide support to counterparts in Field Operations.
S/he is supervised by the Senior Donor Relations Officer and receives guidance from Public Partnerships and Financing Service (PPFS) Chief of Sections and from the Head of Service. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other units within PPFS, Divisions in Headquarters or Regional Bureaux.

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 maintaining close dialogue with, and providing information to, donor governments on UNHCR operations and financial requirements, including in response to donor governments' ad hoc requests for information.
- Keep abreast of UNHCR's operations worldwide, with a specific focus on high-profile and emergency situations, to be able to serve donors' information needs on all aspects of UNHCR's work.
- Assist in identifying and accessing new donors and funding sources as per PPFS strategy.
- Assist in drafting internal and external correspondence, including briefing notes for HC, Head of PPFS to support them in negotiations and follow up of contributions with donors.
- Assist in implementing and reviewing actions and strategies, and maintaining donor profiles and plans.
- Monitor recording and track engagement of contributions and take necessary actions to satisfy donor requirements.
- Help prepare submissions - in collaboration with respective Bureau, Divisions and UNHCR Offices - for specific funding from donors or provide other information donors may require in determining their financial/political support to UNHCR.
- As needed, help Bureaux/Regional Offices/Country Operations with input for their fundraising strategies, in line with DER/PPFS strategic directions.
- Arrange meetings for donors and, where applicable, organize annual bilateral consultations with donor governments.
- Prepare reports using UNHCR information management systems (COMPASS, Cloud ERP, Power BI - Results Data Portal and Wordkay, data portal, funding updates, etc.) as necessary in a timely and efficient manner.
- Provide editorial support and facilitate the finalization of fundraising publications produced by PPFS or the Bureaux, including appeals and other reports.
- Provide support and guidance to the Field on engagement in the Refugee Response Plans and Humanitarian Response Plans.
- Provide guidance and advice on UNHCR's involvement at the IASC on humanitarian financing.
- Perform regional focal point duties as required, including compiling funding-related TPs and background notes on the region for senior management missions and meetings with donors; review funding updates.

- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
International Relations; Political Science; Social Sciences;
Journalism; Communication; Public Policy;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in external engagement with donors, UN agencies, partners, governments. Professional work experience in field operations. Knowledge of UNHCR's operational arrangements, its relief programmes, the funding needs and priorities.

Desirable
UNHCR fund- raising and programme management experience. Good research, policy and report writing skills. Experience in managing donor relations. Understanding of the workings of major donor perspectives, requirements and standards.

Functional Skills
MG-Resource Mobilization Techniques and Guidelines
ER-Donor Reporting and Related Tracking Systems
ER-Donor Relations - Humanitarian Financing
*CO-Strategic Communication
SO-Networking
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
CO-Reporting skills
(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.

This job is advertised in the framework of the JPO Programme and reserved exclusively for candidates with Canadian nationality.

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

The Global Public Partnerships and Financing Service (GPS) leads UNHCR’s overall engagement with public sector donors, in close coordination with the organization’s regional entities and country offices, and actively engaging with interagency platforms. The Service’s work is structured around portfolios covering both humanitarian and non-humanitarian funding streams, encompassing fundraising, contribution management, reporting, funding analysis, and income management and recording. The Service is led by a Head of Service, under the overall supervision of the Director of the Division of External Relations, and works closely with—and provides guidance to—UNHCR teams worldwide.

The Associate Donor Relations Officer will be part of the team managing funding from UN sources, including UN interagency pooled funds, one of UNHCR’s top donors globally. The incumbent will report to the Senior Donor Relations Officer.

DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE
The incumbent should be strategy-focused and client-oriented, with strong attention to detail. Excellent drafting skills in English are essential, with French or Spanish an asset. Proven communication abilities to convey complex issues to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
S/he should be a self-starter with strong people management skills and a passion for teamwork, demonstrating a can-do attitude. The ability to adapt to different portfolios showing political and cultural awareness is a must. The incumbent should ideally have prior experience working in the field, with refugees and/or in a humanitarian context. Experience in interagency works would be an advantage.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Focal point for reporting (pooled funds):
- Ensure compliance of UNHCR contractual obligations for donor reporting (pooled funds).
- Develop a rapport with Bureaux and operations donor reporting focal points (pooled funds).
- Ensure systems are in place in regional bureaux to track status and foster timely submissions of donor reports.
- Ensure UNHCR filing systems including online platforms are up to date.
- Provide guidance and support Bureaux and operations as required.

Contribute to delivering on visibility (pooled funds):
- Participate in annual meetings with OCHA counterparts on donor visibility.
- Support the development of an annual donor visibility plan for pooled funding sources. Monitor implementation.
- Liaise with Bureaux’ focal points and relevant operations as required.
- Liaise with GPS Donor Visibility Focal Point regularly to ensure operations’ visibility efforts are relayed by UNHCR main channels and communicated to pooled funds secretariat accordingly.
- Ensure visibility outputs are filed for future reference and reporting purposes.

Contribution management support:
- Provide support as needed throughout the fundraising process (proposal development, allocation negotiations, recording of income in UNHCR systems etc.)
- Conduct first review of donor proposals submitted by the field for donor focal points’ (DFP) clearance.
- Support DFP on agreement internal clearance process as required.
- Support DFP in organizing quarterly pooled funds contribution management meetings with Bureaux and ensure follow up as required.
- Support the field implement interagency accountability requirements as required.

Support in developing resources for the field:
- Develop Donor Factsheets for major pooled funding sources.
- Develop Guidelines for operations on contribution management for major pooled funds (submission, implementation, reporting, visibility).
- Contribute to internal and external communications on the impact of pooled funds.

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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:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Reporting skills, CO-Strategic Communication, ER-Donor Relations - Humanitarian Financing, ER-Donor Reporting and Related Tracking Systems, MG-Resource Mobilization Techniques and Guidelines, SO-Networking

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Management, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance