Associate Programme Officer -Gondar, Ethiopia

Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Programme Officer may be based in HQ, field/regional bureau, typically reporting to and be guided by the Program officer and may supervise a small team of local staff. He/she may refer to UNHCR’s Programme Manual (Chapter IV), UNHCR’s corporate and regional strategic priorities, operation plans and other relevant institutional rules and regulations for further guidance.

The Associate Programme Officer will provide programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. S/he will coordinate with the other sections/units to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle.

The incumbent will work in line with the overall UNHCR directions which crucially require working with partners, including with persons of concern, governmental institutions and the private sector, ensuring that programme management is approached as per UNHCR’s Strategic Directions, Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), and corporate positions on SDGs.

The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

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

– Support in assessing and analysing the needs of persons of concern in a participatory manner, using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning.

– Provide support on programmatic aspects of developing multi-year protection and solutions strategies and annual plans with corresponding priorities taking into account corporate priorities.

– Support Results Based Management and programme capacity in light of evolving requirements, programming approaches and gaps.

– Assist the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions.

– Support the revision and analysis of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s) in the Area of Responsibility AoR), ensure quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.

– Assist in the provision of overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders in order to maximize the protection and solutions response for persons of concern.

– Provide support to ensure a consistent application of the framework for implementing with partners, including the effective implementation of the policy on selection and retention of partners, management of partnership agreements, risk-based project performance monitoring, and risk-based project audits, among others.

– Contribute to ensure consistent and coherent monitoring approaches, tools and systems across the region, in line with global standards and polices.

– Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contribute to improvements of programming tools and processes.

– Oversee a timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audits observations and recommendations that relate to programmatic issues.

– 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

• Economics; Business Administration;
• Social Sciences; or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Programme Management Certification Programme in Programme Management (CP-PM) (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience in programme management including familiarization with the OMC and sound knowledge of Results Based-Management.
• Demonstrated experience in field operations, sound knowledge on the centrality of protection in programming, Joint Needs Assessments and the principles of targeting.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated experience in coordination within an inter-agency context and other actors, in a refugee or humanitarian context.
• Sound experience in program management training and capacity building activities.

Functional Skills

• MG-Project Management
• PG-Results-Based Management
• PG-UNHCR’s Programmes
• PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate) (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.

• Generic JD applies.

Nature of Position:

The Associate Programme Officer will report to the Head of Office and will supervise Programme national staff. He/She will support the Country office in developing and implementing UNHCR Country Plan and ensure that UNHCR interventions and projects are aligned with the Ethiopia strategic objectives. Working closely with the programme unit at the branch office, the Associate Programme Officer will work in coordination with UNHCR sector leads and different units at the at the different field offices and will provide support to all the field offices in Amhara region. The incumbent will be responsible to manage a number of partnerships (PPAs) through all phases of the project cycle. He/She will:

• Support in assessing and analysing the needs of persons of concern in a participatory manner, using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning.
• Provide support on programmatic aspects of developing multi-year protection and solutions strategies and annual plans with corresponding priorities taking into account corporate priorities.
• Support Results Based Management and programme capacity in light of evolving requirements, programming approaches and gaps.
•  Assist the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions.
• Support the revision and analysis of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s) in the Area of Responsibility AoR), ensure quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
• Assist in the provision of overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders in order to maximize the protection and solutions response for persons of concern.
• Provide support to ensure a consistent application of the framework for implementing with partners, including the effective implementation of the policy on selection and retention of partners, management of partnership agreements, risk-based project performance monitoring, and risk-based project audits, among others.
• Contribute to ensure consistent and coherent monitoring approaches, tools and systems across the region, in line with global standards and polices.
• Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contribute to improvements of programming tools and processes.
• Oversee a timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audits observations and recommendations that relate to programmatic issues.

Living and Working Conditions:

The incumbent will be based in Gondar Office. Gondar, also spelled as Gonder, is a city and woreda in Ethiopia. Located in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, Gondar is north of Lake Tana on the Lesser Angereb River and southwest of the Simien Mountains. As of 2016, Gondar has a population of 299,969.

Gondar previously served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the subsequent Begemder Province. The city holds the remains of several royal castles, including those in the Fasil Ghebbi UNESCO World Heritage Site for which Gondar has been called the “Camelot of Africa”.

Staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with extremely limited resources. The office deals primarily with several local camp environments with inherent risks to staff safety and health. Regardless of information campaigns, there are realistically few, or no

COVID-19 protocols adhered to in the communities. Staff are required to wear masks but will often work and live within large groups of people who do not.

There is a referral medical hospital in Gondar but with limited equipment. Staff with medical conditions should come with at least 3 months of prescribed medication.

The town has a central market where most of the common items can be found.

Also, there are government schools but focused mainly on the National Educational Curriculum.

Staff reside in commercial accommodation, mainly hotels. The town generally lacks apartments for rent save for the new city where it is mainly characterized of upcoming duplex buildings largely meant for family homes.  There is running water as well as national power in the city whereby both services are not reliable. The office relies on WiFi for internet connectivity. Staff need to be aware therefore that internet may not be accessible after working hours.

Although there are functioning banks in Gondar, transacting in dollars is not possible. Staff are also advised to always have a cash reserve on them. It is recommended that first time travelers to the duty station dispense sufficient funds from the ATMs in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Ethiopian regulations do not permit the transportation of more than $ 4,000 or its equivalent into the country.

The security situation is fluid and staff members should always get the latest travel advice and support prior to travel to Gondar.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

• MG-Project Management,
• PG-Results-Based Management,
• PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate),
• PG-UNHCR’s Programmes

• Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration (Required),
• Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics (Required),
• Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law (Required),
• Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science (Required)

Certifications

• CP-PM Certification Programme for Programme Management – UNHCR, Programme Management – Other

Competencies

• Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

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Compendium

Additional Information

• An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by competency-based interview.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• This position doesn’t require a functional clearance