July 23, 2026
H (no hardship)
Family
UNOPS IICA1
2026-08-01
Terms of Reference
Title: Associate Capacity Building Officer
Section/Unit: Sustainable Responses Service (SRS Capacity Building Team)
ICA Level: IICA-1
Duration: From: starting asap to: 31/12/2026
1. General Background
UNHCR’s mandated responsibility for finding solutions to refugee situations has long required stronger cooperation with development partners and the inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons within development planning and programming instruments, including national development programmes. However, conventional humanitarian responses are increasingly challenged by the growing scale, complexity, and protracted nature of forced displacement, compounded by state fragility, poverty, and climate change.
To address these challenges, UNHCR has established the Sustainable Responses Service (SRS), which aims to advance approaches that reduce protection risks and empower affected communities until durable solutions are achieved. This service focuses on maximizing self-reliance and access to basic rights through earlier and more predictable development assistance, greater inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in host communities, and enhanced whole-of-government leadership.
The role of humanitarian-development collaboration in increasing socioeconomic opportunities and delivering comprehensive, sustainable solutions for refugees, forcibly displaced persons, and host communities is widely recognized in the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). To successfully transition from short-term aid delivery to more sustainable approaches and operationalize the GCR, UNHCR must strengthen its capacity to engage meaningfully with development actors and work with national governments to promote inclusive responses.
To promote engagement with development actors, UNHCR has invested in employing Economists, Development Officers, focal points, and technical leads from diverse development-related and thematic backgrounds. These roles are critical for supporting joint analysis, planning, and programming with development actors and governments. They also play a key role in raising awareness and building capacity within UNHCR on development programming and processes at the country level.
Much of the knowledge gathered at country and regional levels is only now being consolidated and analyzed. UNHCR is therefore investing in documenting experiences and systematically strengthening knowledge management and staff capacity. Key areas for capacity building include:
Enhancing understanding among HQ divisions, Regional Bureaus, Development Officers, and country-level staff on how to engage effectively with development actors.
Building knowledge of programming cycles of priority development partners.
Strengthening awareness of protection considerations that development actors must integrate when programming and implementing in forced displacement contexts.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The Associate Capacity Building Officer, under the supervision of the Partnership Officer, Capacity Building and Knowledge Management, will contribute to implementing capacity building and knowledge management projects, with particular focus on designing, organizing and facilitating the development of learning products and tools. In specific, the incumbent will contribute to:
1. Facilitate the development of learning tools (onboarding package, community of practice, and e-Learning) for UNHCR staff engaging with development actors, by:
a. Supporting SRS and the Bureaux to document, film, analyse, and draft key case studies – outlining the progress, lessons learnt, and suggested approaches of working to support sustainable inclusion approaches with development actors. The role will play a key authoring role in producing case studies, composing and editing videos, and creating a multimedia/digital Development Playbook;
b. Designing and developing learning tools and platforms (including finalizing a Workday onboarding journey, and updating the Development Partners Community of Practice Sharepoint). These learning resources outline the requirements for sustainable programming and on provide critical information on working with specific development actors, processes, coordination structures and planning cycles;
c. Collaborating with technical sector specialists and development partners to design and host webinars and masterclasses on inclusion and engagement with development actors to further key sectorial strategies (such as the global energy and education strategies);
d. Supporting SRS and the Bureaux to Launch the CoLAB Programme
This new initiative aims to complement DevUP by equipping international staff with the tools, knowledge, and peer support needed to effectively and catalytically engage with development actors and pursue a sustainable response approach in UNHCR’s operations in line with the GCR, and SDGs. This includes co-designing and facilitating masterclasses and cohort calls, coordinating stretch assignments, tracking engagement, and providing feedback to participants; and
e. Supporting SRS in delivering on forthcoming requests and initiatives related to capacity building and knowledge management.
f. Support the development and launch of an external “Sustainable Responses” website to showcase good practices, raise awareness, and facilitate knowledge-sharing on sustainable response strategies with governments, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders.
2. Support the production of the regular Partnership in Practice bulletin, by:
a. Supporting the Bureaux and SRS in capturing key contributions that should be featured in the bulletin from across the Division;
b. Updating the Development Community of Practice (CoP) site with relevant documents, links and updates featured in the newsletter;
c. Coordinating with copy-editors, and adding final text, images and links to the CoP sharepoint site, and newsletter software to generate and send the newsletter; and
d. Tracking engagement with the newsletter and proposing ways to constantly improve content and update.
3. Support the production of the Development Playbook, by:
a. Assisting the Bureaus and SRS to identify good practices and conceptualize potential case studies and Playbook Labs;
b. Interviewing UNHCR staff and development partners, drafting write-ups, and refining submissions from countries and Regional Bureaus to develop well-articulated case studies;
c. Coordinating the production of the video features and podcasts to embed in the Development Playbook, with coordinate with the hired videographer and editors;
d. Building infographics and images to compliment the development playbook using CANVA;
e. Supporting the production of the final product by liaising with copyeditors and designers; and
f. Updating the playbook sharepoint site with all the relevant assets.
4. Support the development of Peer-exchange learning opportunities, by:
a. Coordinating bimonthly SDO and Economist Knowledge Exchanges;
b. Helping to coordinate mentorship matching, cohort-exchanges, and facilitating skillshare sessions as part of the DevUP training programme;
c. Updating the catalogue of (S)DO profiles and technical expertise and support the linkages between (S)Dos to promote virtual peer-support and accompanying missions.
d. Support Government-to-Government bilateral Dialogues by assisting with consultations with Regional Bureaux and Country Operations, and preparing background documentation as well as pre- and post-dialogue materials.
5. Provide broader support to capacity building opportunities and efforts with technical SRS and Protection team by:
a. Supporting the SRS team, and Head of service on hosting the quarterly Representatives Peer-to-Peer Platform on Solutions;
b. Assisting with the coordination and execution of the upskilling sessions for Snr. Managers on development engagement;
c. Maintaining a training tracker of workshop and training activities across SRS; and
d. Supporting the execution and reporting on capacity building components of the Prospects project.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
Finalize the onboarding package and Workday journey produced by end of Q1 2026.
12 Sustainable Responses in Practice bulletins distributed by end of 2026.
4+ Sustainable Knowledge Exchanges facilitated by end of 2026.
Development Community of Practice site updated monthly.
CoLab 2026 cohorts successfully complete the programme.
6+ DevUP Mentorship Missions completed
1+ Digital Development Playbook exchanges organized by the end of 2026.
1+ Snr. Management skillshare session launched by end of 2026.
Sustainable Reponses Website created and launched by end of 2026
Any other tasks as assigned and agreed with the supervisor.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
University Degree in Law/International Law, Public Policy/Social Science, Development, Economics, International Relations or related field.
b. Work Experience
3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with a Graduate degree; or 1-year relevant experience with a Doctorate degree
Previous experience in capacity building support is essential
Strong experience with web and video editing, as well as familiar with Canva
Experience in developing training materials, as well as organizing or facilitating face to face and/or online workshops is essential
Experience in innovative solutions for content building, including development of different forms of audio-visual learning tools (such as podcasts, interactive infographics and pdfs etc) is an asset
Previous work experience in forced displacement settings; experience in the field and/or with development actors is an asset
Experience of working on topics related to the humanitarian-development nexus (in forced displacement or fragile settings) is an asset
c. Key Competencies
Good knowledge of refugee issues, durable solutions and the GCR;
Good knowledge of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and the search for durable solutions of refugees and the variety of aspects related to solutions;
Good understanding of the functioning of UNHCR;
Excellent drafting and writing skills;
Excellent English language skills. Knowledge of French or another UN official language is an advantage;
Strong organization and administrative skills;
Strong visual design, web-editing, video-editing, and familiarity with Canva
Strong coordination, stakeholder engagement and inter-personal communication skills;
Good prioritizing and self-management skills to work both independently and as part of a team.
Language requirements:
Excellent written and spoken English is required.
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This position doesn't require a functional clearance
Remote
No