Associate External Relations Officer
Quick answer
UNHCR is hiring an in-office Associate External Relations Officer in South Africa to lead regional advocacy, resource mobilization, and donor engagement strategies.
- Role
- Associate External Relations Officer
- Organization
- UNHCR
- Location
- South Africa Multi-Country Office (covers Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles)
- Work setup
- On-site
- Level
- Mid
- Category
- Communications & Marketing
- Apply by
- 2026-07-11
The role
The Associate External Relations Officer will act as a key diplomatic and advocacy lead for UNHCR's South Africa Multi-Country Office, managing relationships with governments, donors, and media partners. The role involves designing and implementing communication strategies, mobilizing financial resources, and drafting critical reporting and briefing materials to support humanitarian operations across nine countries. This position serves as an essential interface between UNHCR and external stakeholders to secure political support and funding for refugee protection and assistance programs.
What you'll do
- Design and implement comprehensive communications and advocacy strategies for UNHCR operations.
- Manage donor relations by organizing briefings, meetings, and preparing high-quality funding proposals.
- Draft situation reports, press releases, and advocacy materials to inform key stakeholders and the public.
- Coordinate with internal units to secure and disseminate information for corporate communication processes.
- Represent UNHCR in inter-agency forums and serve as a spokesperson for media and public inquiries.
What it takes
- University degree in Political Science, Social Science, International Relations, Journalism, or Communications.
- Minimum 1-3 years of relevant professional experience depending on degree level.
- Proven track record in humanitarian operations within a field environment.
- Exceptional drafting and public-speaking skills in English.
- Deep understanding of regional politics, humanitarian landscapes, and development debates.
What you'll bring
Frequently asked questions
Is this position remote?
No, this is an in-office role based in the South Africa Multi-Country Office, requiring travel across the nine countries covered by the operation.
What is the compensation for this role?
The compensation is not explicitly specified in the job posting; candidates are referred to the UNHCR Salary Calculator on the ICSC website.
What is the deadline to apply?
Applications must be submitted by July 11, 2026.
What are the core qualifications required?
Candidates must have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field and at least 1-3 years of relevant experience, along with excellent communication skills and experience in humanitarian operations.
How to apply
Apply directly on UNHCR's site. We link straight through — no resume parsing, no profile to fill out.
This listing is aggregated from a third-party source and its summary may be auto-generated, so details can be inaccurate or out of date. ForGood is not the employer and is not liable for the content — please verify everything on UNHCR's official posting before applying.