The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, continues to play a critical role in protecting and assisting people forced to flee conflict, persecution, and human rights violations across the globe. As forced displacement reaches record levels worldwide, UNHCR’s work has never been more important. In Kenya—one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries—this mission is particularly significant.
To strengthen its partnerships and ensure effective delivery of donor-funded initiatives, UNHCR is currently recruiting a Project Manager – EU, based in Nairobi, Kenya.
This position offers a unique opportunity for experienced development and humanitarian professionals to contribute directly to large-scale, EU-funded projects that support refugees and asylum seekers, while working within a diverse, international, and values-driven organization.
Kenya’s Refugee Context and UNHCR’s Role
Kenya remains the fifth-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and the thirteenth-largest globally. As of October 2025, the country hosted approximately 869,501 refugees and asylum seekers, alongside nearly 9,800 stateless persons. UNHCR’s Kenya operation is therefore complex, multifaceted, and strategically important.
UNHCR operates through a Branch Office in Nairobi, with Sub-Offices in Kakuma and Dadaab, two of the world’s most well-known refugee-hosting areas. In addition, a Joint Refugee Service Centre—run in partnership with the Government of Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services—provides integrated protection services to affected populations in Nairobi.
Guided by the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and UNHCR Kenya’s 2023–2026 Multi-Year Strategy, the operation prioritizes refugee protection, durable solutions, and the inclusion of refugees into government-led systems. A key pillar of this strategy is the Shirika Plan, which focuses on strengthening national systems and promoting self-reliance through close collaboration with government, donors, UN agencies, and implementing partners.
About the Project Manager – EU Role
The Project Manager – EU position is designed to ensure the effective implementation, coordination, and reporting of EU-funded projects managed by UNHCR in Kenya. The role reports directly to the Strategic Partnership Advisor, under the overall supervision of the UNHCR Representative, and works closely with teams across Nairobi, Kakuma, and Dadaab.
This is a UNOPS LICA 8 position, family duty station, with a target start date of 1 January 2026 and an application deadline of 13 December 2026.
At its core, the role combines project management, donor relations, coordination, and reporting, making it ideal for professionals with strong organizational skills and experience working with EU-funded humanitarian or development programmes.
Key Responsibilities and Scope of Work
The Project Manager – EU will be responsible for overseeing official project management processes for two EU-funded projects. This includes working closely with internal UNHCR units and field teams to ensure activities are implemented effectively, on time, and in line with donor requirements.
Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting the management and coordination of EU-funded projects across multiple locations.
- Liaising with other project teams benefiting from EU funds to prepare joint reports and documentation.
- Ensuring that narrative and financial reports to the European Union are drafted in a timely manner and meet high quality standards.
- Reviewing and consolidating inputs from field offices before submission to senior management.
- Supporting grant management, earmarked funding, and programming in field operations.
- Contributing to donor management systems, including coordination of meetings, steering committees, and donor engagements.
- Tracking lessons learned and best practices to strengthen project implementation.
- Coordinating with the Communications team to ensure donor visibility and compliance with contractual obligations.
The role also requires flexibility to support new EU funding initiatives as they arise, as well as the ability to balance competing deadlines in a fast-paced operational environment.
Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies
UNHCR is seeking candidates with a strong academic and professional background relevant to humanitarian or development work. An undergraduate degree in sociology, social sciences, project management, finance, or a related field is required, while an advanced degree is considered an asset.
The ideal candidate will bring:
- At least 7 years of professional experience in a development-focused organization.
- A minimum of 4 years of direct experience managing or fundraising for EU-funded projects or programmes.
- Strong familiarity with UNHCR’s Results-Based Management (RBM) framework and EU reporting requirements.
- Experience engaging with donors, UN agencies, government counterparts, and implementing partners.
- Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and cross-functional teams.
Additional advantages include certification in project management, training in EU fundraising, and prior experience supporting donor briefings or field missions.
Key competencies emphasized for this role include excellent written and oral communication skills, strong organization and planning abilities, attention to detail, and the capacity to produce high-quality materials tailored to specific audiences.
Living and Working in Nairobi
Nairobi is considered a good family duty station with access to quality medical care, international schools, recreational facilities, and reliable banking and communication services. Housing is generally affordable, and the city offers a vibrant cultural and professional environment. While Nairobi itself has no malaria risk, staff are advised to follow health requirements when traveling within Kenya, including yellow fever vaccination upon entry.
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Why Work with UNHCR?
A career with UNHCR means joining a global workforce of nearly 19,000 staff in 137 countries, united by a shared commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of forcibly displaced people. UNHCR values professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity, and actively promotes inclusion, including accommodations for candidates with disabilities.
Importantly, UNHCR does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process, and applications are only accepted through its official online platform.
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How to Apply
If you are an experienced project manager with strong EU donor experience and a passion for humanitarian impact, this role offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to refugee protection and solutions in one of UNHCR’s most important operations.
