Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer

November 19, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2027-02-01

Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will be key 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. Promoting economic inclusion of refugees is a key development area that will enable the achievement of these objectives and contribute to the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals.

Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the GCR into impactful results for persons of concern (POC). Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer, with support from the Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Unit in the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), works towards the following objectives:
1) improve the enabling environment for refugees to work through advocacy on the right to/at work, access to economic opportunities and service;
2) seek new and strengthen existing partnerships including with the private sector, development actors, government institutions and specialized agencies to advance economic inclusion of refugees; and
3) enhance ongoing livelihoods and economic inclusion programming through evidence-based and market-driven approaches to improve economic inclusion outcomes.

The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer should be proactive, always looking for new opportunities and persuasive in mobilizing donors and new partners around new models of economic and social integration.
The incumbent will interact with the government counterparts and other stakeholders with specific mandate in livelihood activities as well as with the refugee communities. Within UNHCR, the Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will work under the supervision of the head of livelihoods and closely with multi-functional teams on matters including but not limited to protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. S/he will support the office's involvement with livelihoods and economic inclusion, working with relevant external stakeholders from government line ministries, development actors, private sector, UN agencies, international organisations, NGOs, research institutions and universities.

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
- Maintain close contact and cooperation with partners to facilitate the economic inclusion of refugees, such as line ministries, private sector and development actors in accordance with UNHCR Global and Country level policies, priorities, and strategies, in particular the Global Compact on Refugees. This includes advocating with public and private sector services providers to include UNHCR POC in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, saving accounts, poverty alleviation and social protection, etc.).
- Work with the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to assess the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work and recommend/implement advocacy initiatives and policy reforms to improve UNHCR POC's economic inclusion, rights and access to work.
- Build on UNHCR databases to support regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders. This includes supporting the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys utilising community-based strategies to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of development programmes.
- Conduct necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant private and public stakeholders, including impact assessments on local economies and surveys that help to identify investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of UNHCR POC.
- In case UNHCR is implementing specific livelihoods activities, strengthen, guide and monitor the 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.

- 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 P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Management;
Socio-Economics Development;
Economics/International Economics;
Rural Development;
Financial Management;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Technical competencies in sub-sectors relevant to livelihoods programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc. 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 with and developing partnerships 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 about latest development in the livelihoods sector, including broader UN processes on the SDGs and the Global Compact on Refugees.

Functional Skills
LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights
MG-Project Management
SO-Networking
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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.

Essential Attributes
1. Demonstrated senior-level experience designing and leading evidence-based, market-oriented livelihoods and economic inclusion strategies and programmes for forcibly displaced, vulnerable or marginalized populations.
2. Demonstrated experience developing strategic partnerships with government, private-sector and development actors to expand access to employment, entrepreneurship, financial services and other economic opportunities.
3. Demonstrated experience influencing legal, policy and institutional frameworks to remove barriers to refugees' economic inclusion, including access to the right to work, rights at work and relevant national systems.
4. Demonstrated expertise in multiple economic inclusion areas, including at least three relevant fields such as employment, entrepreneurship, private-sector development, financial inclusion, skills development, local economic development or poverty reduction.
5. Demonstrated experience translating economic analysis and partnerships into scalable programmes, investment opportunities and measurable economic inclusion outcomes.
6. Fluency in Portuguese and English is required, including the ability to engage effectively with external counterparts in both languages.

Desirable Attributes
1. Experience developing private-sector partnerships at scale, including engagement with employers, business associations, financial institutions and other market actors.
2. Experience integrating refugees and other forcibly displaced populations into national and local employment, entrepreneurship, vocational training, financial-inclusion and social-protection systems.
3. Strong experience in socioeconomic research, market assessments, M&E and measurement of economic inclusion outcomes.
4. Experience linking livelihoods and economic inclusion programming with protection, durable solutions, education, cash and other relevant areas.
5. Experience developing innovative and scalable economic inclusion models in middle-income and/or decentralized contexts.
6. Familiarity with the Brazilian asylum system, migration legislation, refugee protection framework, and relevant public policies and institutions, as well as knowledge of durable solutions and economic inclusion initiatives for refugees and other forcibly displaced populations in Brazil, would be considered an asset.

Portuguese

,

English

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Nature of Position:

Brazil hosts an expansive and diverse refugee population, more than 1 Million individuals requiring international protection. The country serves as a vital entry point for refugees primarily from Venezuela, entering through the state of Roraima, and from countries such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Syria, and Ukraine, arriving via humanitarian visas through São Paulo international airport. There has been a notable increase in the number of Cuban asylum-seekers, highlighting Brazil's evolving refugee demographics.

UNHCR collaborates closely with the Brazilian government alongside civil society, academia, private sector, and development actors, to facilitate access to basic rights and promote socio-economic integration for refugees. This includes bolstering national and local policies for receiving, protecting, and integrating refugees and other individuals in need of protection. UNHCR's protection efforts extend across the country, targeting vulnerable groups such as survivors of gender-based violence, indigenous populations, and unaccompanied children.

Despite Brazil's robust legal framework granting refugees equal rights and unrestricted access to public services, practical challenges remain. Refugees face barriers such as language differences, limited local service capacity, and status-specific impediments affecting their full economic participation. National strategies like Operation Welcome address these challenges, setting standards for reception and assistance, and facilitating relocation across Brazil to foster integration, particularly for the Venezuelan population.

Special attention is required for indigenous refugees from Venezuela, who experience significant socio-economic integration obstacles. Tailored initiatives are essential to support their transition from emergency shelters while respecting cultural rights.

With the recent influx of Afghan refugees, particularly following the humanitarian visa policy, the local systems in São Paulo are adapting to manage increased arrivals and new community dynamics. Similarly, the growing Cuban refugee population poses challenges requiring UNHCR's continued support in documentation and integration.

The Multi-Year Multi-Partner Strategy for Brazil (2026–2029) aims to enhance local integration as a priority, leveraging Brazil's leadership in refugee protection to fortify access to rights through the forthcoming National Policy on Migration, Asylum, and Statelessness. However, challenges such as housing precarity, organized crime vulnerabilities, and socio-economic barriers for women and girls remain significant obstacles that need addressing to ensure successful integration.

UNHCR's vision is that by 2029, forcibly displaced and stateless people in Brazil will enjoy a safe, inclusive, and sustainable environment, with fully protected rights and pathways to self-reliance and societal integration.

In the Brazil Country Office, the Associate Livelihood & Economic Inclusion Officer plays a key role in advancing UNHCR’s economic inclusion and self-reliance agenda for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. The position supports the implementation of UNHCR’s strategic objectives under the Multi-Year Multi-Partner Strategy for Brazil (2026–2029), contributing to sustainable solutions and improved socioeconomic outcomes through access to livelihoods, employment, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and social protection systems.

The position contributes to the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of economic inclusion interventions, ensuring that programs are aligned with national policies, labor market opportunities, and the evolving needs of forcibly displaced populations across Brazil. Through evidence-based analysis and strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, the Associate Livelihoods & Economic Inclusion Officer supports initiatives that enhance access to decent work, vocational training, recognition of qualifications, financial services, entrepreneurship opportunities, and income-generating activities.

Operating in a dynamic and diverse context, the incumbent supports the integration of economic inclusion approaches across UNHCR programmes and field locations, promoting coherent implementation and knowledge-sharing throughout the operation. The role requires the ability to analyze labor market trends, identify barriers to socioeconomic inclusion, and translate strategic priorities into practical interventions that strengthen refugees’ resilience, self-reliance, and participation in local economies.

The Associate Livelihood & Economic Inclusion Officer works closely with government institutions, private sector partners, development actors, financial institutions, civil society organizations, UN agencies, academia, and refugee-led organizations to expand opportunities for economic participation and social inclusion. The position contributes to the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships aimed at fostering sustainable employment pathways, workforce integration, entrepreneurship support, and access to economic opportunities for persons of concern.

The role promotes a collaborative and solutions-oriented work environment, supporting cross-functional coordination with protection, programme, durable solutions, education, cash-based interventions, and external relations teams to ensure that economic inclusion considerations are effectively incorporated into operational planning and implementation. Particular attention is given to age, gender, diversity, and inclusion considerations, ensuring that interventions address the specific needs and barriers faced by women, youth, persons with disabilities, Indigenous populations, LGBTQI+ individuals, and other vulnerable groups.

The position also supports resource mobilization efforts, reporting, partner engagement, and the generation of evidence and good practices to inform programming and advocacy. Through continuous monitoring, market assessments, stakeholder engagement, and analysis of socioeconomic trends, the Associate Livelihoods & Economic Inclusion Officer contributes to the adaptation and improvement of interventions, promoting accountability, sustainability, and measurable impact.

By strengthening access to economic opportunities and supporting the inclusion of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons in national systems and local economies, the Associate Livelihood & Economic Inclusion Officer contributes to UNHCR’s commitment to fostering self-reliance, reducing dependency on humanitarian assistance, and enabling durable solutions while maintaining a safe, inclusive, and accountable operational environment in Brazil.

Living and Working Conditions:

Brasília, the capital of Brazil, is classified as A family duty station and offers a high standard of living compared to many locations in the region. As the seat of the Federal Government and host to numerous embassies, international organizations, and UN agencies, the city provides a stable and professional working environment. 

The city has well-developed infrastructure, including reliable utilities, internet connectivity, public transportation, and access to a wide range of commercial and banking services. Housing is readily available, with options ranging from apartments in the city center to family homes in residential neighborhoods. Rental prices vary depending on location and size but are generally higher in central areas. 

Brasília offers high-quality healthcare through both public and private facilities. Several internationally recognized hospitals and medical centers are available, and a wide range of specialists can be accessed. International and bilingual schools are also available, making the city suitable for staff members relocating with family. 

The security situation is generally stable. As in any large urban center, standard security precautions are recommended, particularly regarding personal belongings and movement in certain areas after dark. However, Brasília is considered safer than many other major Brazilian metropolitan areas. 

The climate is tropical savanna, characterized by a dry season from May to September and a rainy season from October to April. Temperatures remain generally mild throughout the year, typically ranging between 15°C and 30°C. 

The working environment is professional and multicultural, with frequent interaction among government institutions, diplomatic missions, international organizations, civil society, and development partners. English, Portuguese, and Spanish are commonly used within the international community. 

Brasília offers a good quality of life, with extensive green spaces, recreational facilities, cultural events, restaurants, and sports opportunities. The city's unique architecture, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contributes to a pleasant living environment and a strong sense of community among expatriates and national staff. 

Overall, Brasília provides comfortable living conditions, reliable services, quality healthcare and education, and a conducive environment for both professional and family life. 
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights, MG-Project Management, SO-Networking

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration/Management, Bachelor of Arts: Financial Management, Bachelor of Arts: International Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Rural Development, Bachelor of Arts: Socio-Economic Development

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance