Project Control Officer -Mekele, Ethiopia

Job Description

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential Location Danger Pay

Addis Ababa, Eth Fed Dem Rep

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2022-11-24-08:00

December 15, 2022

Project Control Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Project Control Officer is part of the multi-functional team. In coordination with DFAM¿s Implementing Partnership Management Service, s/he is responsible and accountable for providing substantive support, guidance, and oversight on the effective management of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners (the Framework) as well as oversight on the effective management of Direct Implementation.
Complementary to programme management, s/he will support and conduct analysis and assessment of risks associated with partnerships and direct implementation, policy compliance, operational practices, mitigation measures, and gaps and make technical recommendations or decisions in line with the principles of the Framework, of UN/UNHCR¿s financial rules, policies and regulations and operational context.
The incumbent prompts partnership integrity and other safeguarding mechanisms for ensuring sound stewardship and accountability of funds entrusted to partners or through direct implementation arrangements (e.g. contracts for the procurement of goods and/or services) to ensure resources are used in the most efficient and effective manner to attain the best results for persons of concern.

The Project Control Officer will promote dialogue and consultations for strengthening partnerships and have frequent contacts with UNHCR colleagues, particularly project control and programme staff. S/he may have contact with external stakeholders, such as UNHCR-funded partners, auditors, oversight bodies, and host governments on matters related to partnerships. The incumbent will be mindful of all dimensions of partnerships in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct, UN/UNHCR¿s financial rules, policies and regulations, and other relevant documents.

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the supervision of the Regional Controller. In the Country and Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent normally works under the direct supervision of the Representative or Deputy Representative, Head of Office or Senior Project Control Officer, as applicable.

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

– Participate in the annual assessment and planning cycle.
– Participate in the development and implementation of partnership management objectives aligned with UNHCR¿s strategy and priorities.
– Participate in the development of the direct implementation monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and other relevant functions.
– Support Programme and other relevant functions in the selection of implementation modalities.
– Support a coherent approach in the application of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners and compliance with its policies, principles, and procedures to ensure effective partnerships, as well as sound stewardship and accountability for the funds entrusted to partners.
– Pursue high-quality partnerships and integrity culture in UNHCR, among partners and UNHCR¿s contractors to mitigate misuse and wastage of resources, fraud and corruption, sexual abuse and exploitation, and other forms of misconduct; including recommendations to put in place safeguarding mechanisms and measures for detection, prevention, reporting, and addressing fraud, and other forms of partnership/ contractors misconduct.
– Ensure UNHCR management (country/bureau/global) and offices have access to high-quality and timely analytical insights and advice for enabling evidence-based operational decisions and accountability on project control, partnership and direct implementation management.
– Provide first-line support for project control, external and internal audit, evaluation, and other reviews pertaining to partnership and direct implementation management, and assist in gap analysis, establishing, measuring, and taking appropriate actions for addressing queries, recurrent weaknesses, and other findings.
– Ensure coherent practices of analysis and critical reviews of risk exposure and establishment of linkages of risk management with monitoring, financial management, project control, audit, and other processes related to partnership management and direct implementation to enhance effective delivery and optimum use of funds through partnerships or through direct implementation.
– Foster constructive dialogue and consultations with partners, UNHCR¿s contractors and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, interagency collaborations, and harmonisations.
– Contribute to strengthening the capacity of UNHCR and partners on partnership and direct implementation management.
– Seek innovative approaches in enhancing partnership and direct implementation management, gathering experiences, and sharing best practices and lessons learned among operations and partners.
– Contribute with inputs on reviews and enhancements of policies, procedures, and practices governing the framework for Implementing with Partners and the management of direct implementation.
– Perform other duties related to financial management as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level
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

Accounting                            Business Administration;                   Economics;           Finance

Public Administration                          Management                        or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Experience in financial management, accounting, project management, internal control assessment, internal audit and/or external audit, risk management and demonstrated experience in field operations. Demonstrated experience in effective partnership management and multi-stakeholder coordination in humanitarian, emergency or development contexts. Good knowledge and understanding of UNHCR/UN rules, policies, and regulations regarding partnership and financial management, oversight and compliance. Proven analytical skills, and abilities for identification of gaps and finding solutions. Good level of computer literacy in particular, experience in computerized systems and software. Experience in communicating, building capacities, coordinating consultative processes and building consensus. Ability to contribute in policy and process reviews.

Desirable

Innovation and technology skills in financial, risks and fraud management. Professional qualification in accounting (CPA, CMA or CA, CFE, ERM, or equivalent). Training in UNHCR’s protection and management learning programmes. Capacity building skills.

Functional Skills

*MG-Resource Management
BU-UN/UNHCR Budgetary cycle
BU-Budgeting
(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.

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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 post supervises a Project Control Associate based in Mekele but also provide coordinating support for the Ethiopian Northern Operations which encompass Tigray, Amhara and Afar Regions. The post holder provides support to the region in regard to risk management roles too and provides advisory roles in regard to financial management controls not only to the office but also to the partners.

The incumbent

The post holder should be in a position to provide solutions/advise to complex challenges facing the partners occasioned by the conflict in the region such as the absence of banking services, telecommunication and informal fuel market all of which creates an extremely challenging environment to the partners ‘internal control procedures. Further to the above, the post holder plays a vital role in ensuring accountability on Direct Implementation activities and specifically the CBI in the region given the aforementioned challenges.

Living and working conditions:

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

BA: Accounting, BA: Business Administration, BA: Economics, BA: Finance, BA: Management, BA: Public Administration

Certifications

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

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Bi-annual Compendium 2022 Part B – November 2022

This position requires Functional Clearance