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Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
1 day ago
Full-time
On-site
Cali, Colombia Colombia

Deadline for Applications

March 24, 2026

Grade

GS5

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

Hardship Level

A (least hardship)

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Target Start Date

2026-03-12

Target End Date

2026-12-31

Standard Job Description

Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will be part of the livelihoods unit within the Operation. The incumbent will support in operationalizing the strategic vision to align livelihoods and economic inclusion efforts with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which underscores the need to mobilize additional actors and to adopt a whole-of-society approach to strengthen refugee self-reliance and help ease pressure on host countries. S/he will contribute to the objectives of the unit under the direct supervision of the (Senior) Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer.
The Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will collaborate closely with UNHCR livelihoods partners, government agencies, private sector and financial services providers as well as other relevant stakeholders to enhance the economic inclusion and improve self-reliance of both persons of concern (PoC) and host community members. The incumbent will also be expected to deliberately explore opportunities of collaboration with other UNHCR cross cutting areas such as protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. To document good practices, results and to generate knowledge, the Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will work closely with the supervisor to build on UNHCR databases and support regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders. S/he will assist to mobilize refugees of different age, gender and background and to ensure that all stakeholders well understand the potential of economic inclusion of refugees and host community members, and to help communicate opportunities to PoC.


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
- Explore partnerships with relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion of UNHCR PoC. This includes working with economic development agencies to adapt their programmes to become inclusive of UNHCR PoC, working with the private sector to enhance inclusion of UNHCR PoC in their labour force and supply chains, working with financial service providers to enhance financial inclusion, and working with public and private sector service providers to include UNHCR PoC in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, saving accounts, poverty alleviation and social protection, etc.).
- Support work with the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to collect information about the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work.
- Support the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of the engagement of development programmes.
- In case UNHCR is implementing specific livelihoods activities, work closely with and provide technical assistance on livelihoods interventions to help ensure they are market-based, and that the role of UNHCR has been strategically determined in consideration of its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other partners.
- Prepare field reports and other relevant reports relating to livelihoods and make recommendations for interventions that enhance refugee economic inclusion to the designated officer.
- Provide overall support to the supervisor including assistance in the organization of meetings, workshops and working sessions.
- Organize and participate in workshops, training programmes, monitoring visits and working groups with regards to livelihood programming.
- Draft routine documents, contribute to assessments, and participate in inter-agency 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 G5- 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Management, Socio-Economics Development Economics/International Economics Rural Development
Financial Management Agriculture
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in facilitating the economic inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied field contexts. Experience in working in partnership with private sector, NGOs, UN organisations, development actors, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education and training, etc.

Desirable
Knowledge of refugee protection principles and framework. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.

Functional Skills
LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights
(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

Propósito del puesto:

Liderar técnica y operativamente el diseño, implementación, aseguramiento de calidad y generación de evidencia del programa de Graduación de ACNUR en Cali, responsable de revisar la fidelidad metodológica, la articulación con las unidades de protección y soluciones duraderas, y el desarrollo de un marco robusto de resultados, y garantizar que las personas participantes – especialmente población en situación de vulnerabilidad, incluyendo población desplazada forzosamente, personas refugiadas y migrantes y comunidades de acogida – logren avances sostenibles hacia su autonomía socioeconómica.
Será responsable de diseñar, ejecutar, supervisar y evaluar todas las fases del programa, articulando con actores institucionales, socios implementadores, sector privado, gobierno local y equipos internos.

Funciones principales:

Dirección Estratégica y Operativa
• Liderar la planificación, ejecución y supervisión integral del proyecto.
• Coordinar equipos técnicos (gestores sociales, psicosocial, gestores de medios de vida).
• Fomentar un ambiente de trabajo colaborativo y orientado a resultados.
• Desarrollar planes de trabajo, indicadores, cronogramas y presupuestos.
• Identificar riesgos del programa y proponer medidas de mitigación.

Gestión y liderazgo técnico del Programa del Modelo de Graduación
• Garantizar que el enfoque del programa esté alineado con estándares internacionales y metodologías basadas en evidencia.
• Adaptar el modelo de Graduación al contexto de movilidad humana en Cali.
• Definir y actualizar teoría de cambio, modelo operativo, secuencia de intervención y estándares de calidad.

Coordinación institucional y alianzas
• Coordinar con unidades de ACNUR (Protección, Medios de Vida, Soluciones Duraderas, Programa, Administración).
• Liderar la relación con socios implementadores, autoridades locales, sector privado y organizaciones comunitarias.
• Promover alianzas para fortalecer los componentes del modelo: medios de vida, inclusión financiera, protección social, formación, empleabilidad y acompañamiento psicosocial.
• Representar el programa en espacios de coordinación, mesas técnicas y escenarios de cooperación.

Seguimiento, evaluación y reporte
• Diseñar y supervisar el marco de resultados (indicadores, scorecards, RRF, medición de autosuficiencia, costo-efectividad).
• Garantizar la recolección de datos de alta calidad para análisis y toma de decisiones.
• Asegurar levantamiento de línea base, seguimiento y evaluación final.
• Liderar informes narrativos y financieros para aliados, donantes y dirección.
• Asegurar que las acciones cumplan los estándares institucionales de protección, ética y salvaguarda.
• Generar evidencia para escalamiento y política pública.

Enfoques Transversales
• Integrar enfoques de protección, género, edad, discapacidad y diversidad.
• Garantizar el cumplimiento de normas de protección de datos y protocolos de confidencialidad.
• Promover la participación comunitaria y el diseño centrado en las personas beneficiarias.

Requisitos académicos:
• Maestría o doctorado en Economía, Desarrollo, Políticas Públicas, Ciencias Sociales, o afines.

Experiencia requerida:
• 5-7 años en diseño y dirección de programas de inclusión económica, reducción de pobreza, medios de vida o protección social.
• Experiencia comprobada en implementación de programas de Graduación o modelos transferencias monetarias para superación de pobreza / Livelihoods Graduation.
• Experiencia en diseño de marcos de resultados, evaluaciones de impacto y escalamiento.
• Experiencia con población refugiada, desplazada o en contextos humanitarios-prolongados.
• Coordinación con gobiernos locales, ONG, cooperación internacional o empresas privadas.
Competencias técnicas
• Conocimiento en metodologías de graduación, inclusión económica y desarrollo basado en evidencia.
• Gestión de programas complejos.
• Conocimiento en teoría de cambio, M&E y aprendizaje adaptativo.
• Enfoque de protección y género.
• Conocimientos sobre medios de vida, mercado laboral e inclusión financiera.

Functional Clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

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

Spanish

,

English

,

Desired languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights

Education

Certifications

Agriculture - Other, Development Studies - Other, Economics - Other, Financial Management - Other, Rural Development - Other

Work Experience

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

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