Result of Service

The assignment will involve four key deliverables:

(1) Inception report (indicative by 15 September 2023): The report shall set out the methodology and work plan for the execution of the assignment as described in these Terms of Reference and be prepared within four weeks of signing the contract. The report will be further informed by discussions with the UNRWA and other key stakeholders, and shall address the following:

• Scope and feasibility assessment of the assignment,
including comments on the Terms of Reference, if any;
• Roles and responsibilities of the parties;
• Detailed methodology, including strategy and tools to be used;
• Work scheduling and detailed timeframe for deliverables.

(2) Decision report (indicative by 30 November 2023): The report is to be submitted within two months from the submission of inception report and shall address the following non-exhaustive list of topics. UNRWA under the coordination of ERCD will provide comments on the decision report to be worked in. Once integrated, a first final decision report will be presented to the UNRWA management through ERCD. The Consultant may be asked to present orally the conclusions of this report to UNRWA management as need be.
The decision report should serve as a basis for a final decision on the establishment of a presence in Germany, including a recommendation on the type of representation, resource requirements, identification of risks and risk management strategy, and next steps to finalize the establishment of a presence:

• Examine different options of and provide a recommendation for an UNRWA representation in Germany taking into account various risks for UNRWA, best way of assuring (legal) oversight by ERCD, opinions of stakeholders such as GFFO and BMZ, and experience of other UN agencies with representation offices in Germany. This could include a) UNRWA Association only or b) Hybrid model of UNRWA Association and permanent UNRWA staff as part of ERCD or c) UNRWA permanent staff in Germany only.
• Assess the German context, identify risks and challenges for an UNRWA presence and certain activities and develop a risk management strategy (Do no harm).
• Identify the scope of functions, activities and responsibilities of an UNRWA presence in Germany taking into account risk management requirements, opinions of stakeholders and experiences of other UN representations in Germany. For the Hybrid model, develop a division of labour between permanent UNRWA staff and the UNRWA Association.
• Identify legal requirements for all models taking into account the identification of the scope of activities and responsibilities, risk management requirements and ensuring sufficient oversight by ERCD on activities. Develop draft legal documents (such as a draft statute or “Satzung” for UNRWA Association). Identify potential law firms and related fees to assist with process.
• Identify potential candidates for the Board of the Association in consultation with UNRWA colleagues.
• Identify operational requirements for establishing an UNRWA representation in Berlin, Germany, taking into account best practices and experiences from other UN representations and other UNRWA Associations as well as possible support from the German side (GFFO, BMZ, City of Berlin, Foundations, NGOs, Civil Society, etc.)
• Identify human resources requirements, develop staffing profiles for all models.
• Identify options for office space, costs and identify potential cost coverage from third parties, identify potential realtor agents.
• Develop cost requirements to establish all models of an UNRWA presence including association (legal fees, realtor agent fees, office equipment, etc.)
• Develop annual financial requirements/budgets for all models including staffing and operational costs (i.e. rental costs, resource costs, travel budget, etc.)
• Based on experiences of other UNRWA Associations, other UN Associations in Germany develop a rough forecast of potential income from private donors for the German UNRWA Association in the first years in close cooperation with the Chief of Private Partnerships (PPD). In parallel, the PPD will conduct a market assessment that can feed into this analysis. Assess how much seed funding from UNRWA is needed in the first years until an UNRWA Association in Germany is financially sustainable.
• Develop proposals on how the seed funding for the association should be raised for the first two years after establishment and suggestions on who would be interested donors.
• Spell out in detail with a timeline how the process of establishing an UNRWA representation will be conducted for both models.

(3) Support to establishing an UNRWA representation in Germany (By 31 December 2023): Based upon the decision report, Senior Management will take the final decision on whether to establish an UNRWA representation according to the model chosen in Germany. After a positive decision the consultant will be tasked until the end of the contract period to support the implementation of the necessary steps to establish the German UNRWA representation. This might include tasking a lawyer to register the Association, preparing necessary additional documents, assisting in the recruitment process for staff, assisting in the outreach to potential Board Member candidates, assisting to secure office space and to equip the office.

(4) Support ERCD in Donor Relations to Germany (July-December 2023): The consultant will be tasked to support the securing of funds and meeting reporting requirements in the Germany portfolio under the instruction of the Senior Donor Relations Officer in ERCD for Germany.

The consultant will report directly to the Senior Donor Relations Officer for Germany in ERCD and work closely with the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), Private Partnerships Division (PPD), ROEU and other departments, as needed. Work Location

Remotely, based in Germany.

Expected duration

4.5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will report directly to the Senior Donor Relations Officer for Germany in ERCD and work closely with the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), Private Partnerships Division (PPD), ROEU and other departments, as needed.

• Based on an assessment of the political landscape and public opinion as well as the potential private donor landscape, develop a recommendation for model of an UNRWA representation including an Association (“Verein”) under the oversight of ERCD in UNRWA HQ Jerusalem. Identify functions, activities and responsibilities of the UNRWA Association in Germany.
• Conduct interviews with various stakeholders on the German side to take into account expectations towards UNRWA and with other UN representations in Germany and other UNRWA Associations in Spain and the US to identify lessons learned.
• Based on an analysis of the German context, conduct a risk assessment and develop a risk management strategy for the establishment and good functioning of an UNRWA representation with a particular focus on the Association.
• Identify legal requirements to establish an UNRWA representation and Association in close coordination with ERCD and DLA and identify possible legal assistance in Germany.
• Identify potential Board Member Candidates for the UNRWA Association.
• Develop a rough forecast for potential fundraising income by the Association in the first years based upon experience of other UNRWA Associations and other UN Associations in Germany in close coordination with the Chief of Private Partnerships who will conduct a market assessment for Germany. Identify possible financial support for seed funding or pro bono services from third parties (GFFO, BMZ, city of Berlin, etc.)
• Develop, in close coordination with the ERCD, a costed operationalization plan for UNRWA to set up a representation in Germany including and Association by:
• Identifying human resources requirements, developing staffing profiles.
• Identifying options for office space, costs and identifying potential cost coverage from third parties, identifying potential realtor agents.
• Developing cost requirements to establish all models of an UNRWA presence including the association (legal fees, realtor agent fees, office equipment, etc.).
• Developing annual financial requirements/budgets for both models.
• Develop a plan for the next steps in close coordination with ERCD and DLA and after final decision on the establishment of an UNRWA representation and Association is taken support the implementation of these steps.
• Support ERCD’s liaison work with GFFO, BMZ, KfW and GIZ on public resource mobilization under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Donor Relations Officer as assigned.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Conditions of the service:

• The duration of the consultancy is till end of December 2023 with possible extension in 2024.
• Expected start date of as soon as possible.
• The remuneration for this consultancy is equivalent to P3= $290/day.
• The consultant will work remotely from Germany.

Qualifications/special skills

• A university degree from an accredited educational institution in education, international relations, international development, communication, social / political sciences or related fields.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in development/humanitarian aid settings with international and/or German organisations.
• Experience establishing a UN /NGO presence and/or Association (“Verein”) in Germany is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral command of German and English.
• Effective communication, coordination and rapport building skills.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations remotely with colleagues in Jerusalem and Brussels in a team environment.
• Respect for diversity and adaptability.

Additional Information

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949. It is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of 5.9 million registered Palestine refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. Germany has offered consistent financial support to UNRWA since 1952. Today, Germany is UNRWA’s second largest donor, with contributions of EUR 190 million to the Agency in 2022.

In Germany, Parliament, Media and the Public are following the Israel-Palestinian conflict very closely. There is strong sensitivity towards any form of antisemitism. German Humanitarian Assistance and Development Cooperation funds received by international organisations and non-governmental organisations are under strong scrutiny. This includes funding received by UNRWA. In order to provide for a stronger UNRWA engagement and presence in these public debates and to respond to criticisms of UNRWA, it is necessary to establish a presence by the Agency through an office in Berlin.

At the same time, the establishment of an UNRWA Association (“Verein”) would enable UNRWA to mobilize additional funding resources from private individuals or enterprises in line with UNRWA Resource Mobilization Strategy. The Association would require a non-profit charity status, granting private donations the important tax-deductible status.

Like the existing UNRWA Associations in Spain and the USA, the proposed Association in Germany would operate under the supervision of the UNRWA External Relations and Communications Department (ERCD) and cooperates closely with the UNRWA Representative Office to Europe.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.