Programme Officer -Mekele, Ethiopia

Job Description

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Addis Ababa, Eth Fed Dem Rep

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2022-11-21-08:00

December 15, 2022

Programme Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Programme Officer may be based in HQ, field/regional bureau, typically reporting to and be guided by the Senior Program officer and may supervise a small team of local and international 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 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.

S/he 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), 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.

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

– Review and analyse plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s), ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.

– Support 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 in line with global standards and polices.

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

– Identify potential gaps and problems and in cooperation with other relevant sections recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the efficient implementation of programme activities.

– 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 ,Education & Professional Work Experience

For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree. Field(s) of Education Economics Business Administration Social Sciences or other relevant field.

Essential

Demonstrated experience in programme management including familiarization with the OMC and sound knowledge 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

PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards) PG-Results-Based Management PG-UNHCR’s Programmes (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.

In addition to the key skills and competencies outlined in the standard job description, incumbent should have skills on stakeholder management (government, NGO, corporate) and coordination, coupled with tact and strong negotiations skills with extensive experience in programme/project management. S/he should have a track record of working with functionally and culturally diverse teams in an emergency setting. Strong interpersonal, advocacy, communication skills are a plus.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Programme Officer position reports to the Senior Operations Coordinator/Head of Sub Office in Mekelle and supervises 2 national staff. The incumbent is expected to function with little supervision, actively collaborating with colleagues in Shire, Amhara and Afar and coordinating programmatic activities across the whole Northern region. As an evolving IDP situation, the incumbent would preferably be experienced in working in IDP programs, on top of good experience of work in refugee operations, and in the management of inter-agency programme related processes including submissions for resources, contributing to the preparation of contingency plans, leading the MFT in preparation of inputs for the Humanitarian Response Plan and in the preparation donor funding proposals.

In the performance of duties, the incumbent will be guided by 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 Programme Officer will provide guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. The incumbent will coordinate with the other sections to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle.

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

Key Skills and Competencies Required for this Position

In addition to the key skills and competencies outlined in the standard job description, incumbent should have skills on stakeholder management (government, NGO, corporate) and coordination, coupled with tact and strong negotiations skills with extensive experience in programme/project management.  S/he should have a track record of working with functionally and culturally diverse teams in an emergency setting. Strong interpersonal, advocacy, communication skills are a plus.

Living and Working Conditions:

Mekelle, is the capital city of Tigray Region in Ethiopia. Mekelle was formerly the capital of Enderta Awraja in Tigray. It Mekelle, is the capital city of Tigray Region in Ethiopia. It is located around 780 kilometers (480 mi) north of the capital Addis Ababa, with an elevation of 2,254 meters above sea level. Administratively, Mekelle is considered a Special Zone, which is divided into seven sub-cities. Mekelle is the economic, cultural, and political hub of northern Ethiopia. Mekelle has grown rapidly since 1991. In 1984 it had 61,583 inhabitants, in 1994, 96,938 (96.5% being Tigrinya), and in 2006 169,200 (i. e. 4% of the population of Tigray). Mekelle is 2.6 times larger than Adigrat, the second largest regional centre. It is the fifth largest city in Ethiopia, after Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Adama, and Gondar. Most of the population of Mekelle depends on government employment, commerce, and small-scale enterprises.

Mekelle has new engineering, cement, and textile factories, producing for the local and foreign market. There are limited medical facilities in Mekelle that are equipped to deal with moderate medical cases. Evacuation opportunities are also limited. However, air ambulance evacuation can be organized for life-threatening emergencies during daytime. Candidates with conditions requiring regular treatment or medical supervision should be appropriately advised. The climate of Ethiopia and the regions varies greatly. It is temperate on the plateau and hot in the lowlands. Generally, the high elevation of the land affects one’s adjustment to the environment. While the primary hospital in Mekelle is functioning, it is currently running low on medical supplies. Most pharmacies in town are open, but they also struggle to get medical supplies, so staff with prescriptions should come with at least 3 months of prescription medication. UN Clinic medical team supporting staff is available in Mekelle.

The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr. Foreign currency may only be changed at authorized banks and hotels. Exchange of foreign currency outside the regulated banks (Black Market) is a criminal offence, and international UN personnel caught by police sting operations have been known to be arrested and detained for several days. Any entry or exit of cash more than US$3,000 (or the equivalent in other foreign currencies) must be declared to the customs authority upon arrival. ATM cash withdrawals are currently unavailable in Mekelle. As there are no functioning banks in Tigray, there is still a serious shortage of cash, but the office will provide advance cash from entitlements. While humanitarian partners’ access to Tigray is improving, access to large areas continues to be impeded by insecurity, limiting the humanitarian response, particularly in rural hard-to-reach areas. Communications blackout persists in Tigray with no mobile network and Wi-Fi as all local internet companies are closed. In Mekelle, the office relies on VSAT for internet connectivity. Internet access only viable during office hours when the generator is switched on, possibly not available at hotels.  Mekelle is classified as security level – high. The restriction of movement is imposed on the movement of the staff member and the activities in the field, depending on the development of the security situation.

No regular flights between Addis Ababa and Tigray (Mekelle & Shire), thus, Staff members will depend on the UNHAS available flights to Tigray (Mekelle & Shire) and sometimes by road convoy and should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with extremely limited resources. Staff members will be working within a city that has been isolated for several months due to the crisis which began in November 2020. The office deals primarily with several local camp environments with inherent risks to staff health.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CL-Programme/Project Mgmt (formulation, implementation, programme cycles and reporting), EL-Partnership with government and other partners in monitoring and evaluation projects, PG-Programme Implementation, PG-Programme Implementation and Partnerships, PG-Programme Monitoring, PG-Programme Planning, RM-Risk assessment, response and monitoring

BA: Business Administration (Required), BA: Economics (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)

Certifications

Programme Management (PM) 1 – UNHCR, Programme Management – Other

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned IDPs, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Bi-annual Compendium 2022 Part B – November 2022

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance