Government Liaison Officer (NOC)- Estonia

UNHCR in Estonia has a small presence in Tallinn, and works closely with Government authorities, civil society - including a number of partner organizations - as well as other relevant stakeholders to promote the rights and well-being of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons.

The UNHCR office in Estonia reports to UNHCR's Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries, which is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Estonia used to receive a relatively modest number of asylum applications each year. Since February 2022, Estonia has received a high number of refugees from Ukraine, amounting to more than 3% of Estonia's population. As of August 2023, more than 31,000 holders of temporary protection have registered their place of residence in Estonia. Further, more than 5,000 Ukrainians have received subsidiary protection.
Most refugees from Ukraine are women and children. From the outset of the war in Ukraine, the Estonian Government and civil society have responded with steadfast solidarity towards refugees from Ukraine, including by providing access to employment and public services. Challenges facing refugees from Ukraine include access to suitable accommodation, access to decent work for women, and access to medical support.
Following the large increase in the number of refugees due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, UNHCR stepped up its response and operations in Estonia. As of 2023, Estonia is included in the Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Refugee Situation, complementing the government-led response. The plan is coordinated by UNHCR and has been developed by 14 humanitarian organisations in Estonia.
In addition to refugees from Ukraine, Estonia also hosts refugees from other countries, such as Syria, Afghanistan, Russia and Iraq. Further, Estonia is making efforts to enhance the inclusion of stateless persons (referred to by Estonian authorities as "persons with undetermined citizenship", of whom there are approximately 70,000 in the country), including by offering citizenship agreements with free language courses. Estonia has not acceded to the Statelessness Conventions and does not have a statelessness determination procedure.

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Government Liaison officer will function as UNHCR's primary interlocutor in Estonia for government counterparts, civil society and other stakeholders. Moreover, the Government Liaison Officer is tasked with the day-to-day management of UNHCR's office in Estonia, including the supervision of other staff in the office. The Government Liaison Officer, with support from UNHCR's office in Stockholm, will monitor and contribute towards the implementation of UNHCR's operations in Estonia. The Government Liaison Officer is UNHCR's primary interlocutor for NGO partners who play a role in the implementation of UNHCR's programmes. Further, the Government Liaison officer, in close coordination with the inter-agency coordinator, plays an important role in supporting the inter-agency coordination efforts in the context of the RRP for the Ukraine refugee situation. Finally, where appropriate, the Government Liaison Officer may support UNHCR's engagement with media.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
6-years relevant experience with undergraduate degree; 5-years relevant experience with graduate degree or 4-years relevant experience with doctorate degree.
Field(s) of Education: Political Science; Economics; Law/International Law; Business Administration; or other relevant field.
Language requirements: Fluency in Estonian and English is essential.
. No late applications will be accepted.
. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
. The applicant should be a resident of Estonia at the time of applying for the position.

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.
Read more and apply here

The deadline for applications is 19 October 2023 (23:59, Central European Time).