Associate External Relations Officer

Host entity: UNHCR

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Communication, advocacy, public information, Art, design, culture

Application deadline: 09/09/2026

Mission and objectives

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Assignment context

Nine years since over 700,000 Rohingya from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh, over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees now live in Bangladesh, mostly in Cox’s Bazar, in the world’s largest refugee settlement, and some 35,000 on the island of Bhasan Char. As the humanitarian condition in camps worsens, this crisis officially became a protracted situation, facing steep decline in funds and forcing humanitarian actors to focus on the most critical and life-saving needs. In a context of strategic advocacy towards donors, civil society, media and academia, the Associate External Relations Officer will be part of the Dhaka-based External Relations team, which works closely other members of the team in Cox’s Bazar, and in close coordination with the Communication team in both locations.

The incumbent is expected to work on and assist in various external relations activities, including preparing communication and outreach materials for external audiences, as well donor reports or funding briefs. The incumbent will plan and organize activities to increase UNHCR’s outreach capacity, engage with a range of external stakeholders and entities to present UNHCR’s work.

While based in Dhaka, s/he is expected to regularly travel to Cox’s Bazar, to support and coordinate with relevant. S/he shall be a team player and able to work under pressure.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Senior External Relations Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Keep abreast all developments in operations to prepare appropriate briefings and reports. Prepare periodic reports, i.e., donor updates, internal sitreps, briefing notes for senior managers, and activity-specific reports as required.

• Assist with preparing funding submissions for donors and draft any required after-action reports.

• Contribute to developing and maintaining working relationships with the government, NGOs, and UN agencies to ensure cooperation in inter-related activities.

• Support the UNHCR in its coordinating role by preparing and distributing minutes, assisting in the organization of meetings; occasionally chairing meetings, and serving as the general secretariat for the relevant Cluster.

• Support the senior management in preparation for meetings and missions, drafting of talking points.

• Support the team in organizing and accompanying missions for VIP visitors, delegates to visit refugee sites or the activities of UNHCR implementing partners.

• Support the Public Information (PI) team in country, contribute to press events, interviews, PI missions and other activities related to information dissemination to the general public to promote UNHCR activities.

Skills and experience

• Previous experience in inter-agency coordination/ external engagement (preferably within INGOs/ UN/ UNHCR)

• Proven experience in donor and other stakeholders reporting, high-quality drafting

• Prior experience of work with the matters/ thematic areas related to Refugees is desirable

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Integrity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions

The position is based in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, which is the centre of national government, trade and culture and home to over 15 million people, making it the fourth most densely population city in the world. Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, high temperatures and humidity. There are three distinct seasons: a hot humid summer from March to June; a cool, rainy monsoon season from June to October; and a cool dry winter from October to March. Air quality is poor, particularly during the dry season.

Dhaka is a Category C duty season with a 3-year Standard Assignment Length. It is a family duty station, and educational facilities from primary to secondary school are available. There are some private hospitals in Dhaka that can provide basic care. Vaccination against the Japanese Encephalitis virus is strongly recommended. Leisure and recreational facilities are available. UNDSS-cleared hotels are available, with the rates differing depending upon availability and the season. MOSS compliant apartments are available. UNDSS recommends that international staff members reside in the diplomatic area of Dhaka, where the UNHCR office is located.

Dhaka has many restaurants, grocery stores and an excellent bakery. Home delivery services are available. Banks and ATM machines are available, and major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Foreign currency can be exchanged easily.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.