Hardship LevelD
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeNOA
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2025-04-01
Deadline for ApplicationsMarch 23, 2025
Standard Job Description
Assistant Programme Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Programme Officer may be based in HQ, field/regional bureau, and would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division and may supervise a small team of local staff. The incumbent 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 Assistant Programme Officer will support the provision of programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. The incumbent will play a role in coordinating 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 UNHCRยฟs 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,
- Assist the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions
- Contribute to the review and analyse of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR offices in the region, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
- Assist with the provision of overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders in order to maximize the protection and solutions response for persons of concern.
- Contribute to the successful 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 within the Area of Responsibility (AoR), 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.
- Identify potential gaps and problems and in cooperation with other relevant sections recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the efficient implementation of programme activities
- Assist in a timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audits observations and recommendations that relate to programmatic issues.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Economics
Business Administration
Social Sciences
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified
Relevant Job Experience
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-UNHCR's Programmes
PG-Results-Based Management
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
(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.
Desired Candidate Profile - S/he should have strong multiyear strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting experiences.
- S/he should be a strong team player, have strong service-orientation, flexibility and proactivity to manage arising situations and challenges as well as act in OiC capacity in the absence of the Head of Office.
- In addition, the incumbent of the position should co-ordinate closely with other units in the UNHCR Asmara, promote collaboration and diversity in a multicultural environment and contribute to a positive work environment.
- The incumbent must be able to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing in English as well as in Tigrayan.
- Knowledge of, and familiarity with, UNHCRโs work in Eritrea would be beneficial.
- The incumbent should have strong technological awareness and skills to utilize UNHCRโs corporate solutions/systems and tools and be able to train and build the capacity of UNHCR staff and partners where necessary.
Additional Desirable Functional skills:
โข MG-Resource Management
โข MG-Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) development
โข PG-Expenditure management
โข PG-Programme Analysis
โข PG-Programme Implementation and Partnerships
โข PG-Programme planning at country/bureau level
โข PG-Business process management
โข SO-Presentation skills
โข TR-Capacity Building
- - Previous work experience preferably in a refugee/asylum seekers context is an advantage, as
well as in returnee/reintegration and stateless people context
- Previous work experience, skills and knowledge in climate action related
activities in programming is an asset, but not a prerequisite since it is a new
activity in the agency
- Previous experience in capacity building and organization of training
programme is an asset
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Eritrea has made vast strides in recent years in improving its health services, and is now only one of a handful of African countries on target to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. There are now modern, fully equipped healthcare facilities in all of the large cities; however, elsewhere you may find that services and drug availability are wanting. It is therefore advisable to bring a basic medical kit and painkillers if you should be staying in the more remote areas.
Hospitals are controlled by the government, and health services are generally provided free of charge or occasionally at a small cost. There are some small private clinics that are run in partnership with the government and also several NGO health facilities, however, the state surgeries and hospitals are very much in the majority.
Nature of Position:
The Assistant Programme Officer will be based in Eritrea, Asmara and would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in Regional Bureau and may supervise a small team of local staff. The incumbent 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 Assistant Programme Officer will support the provision of programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. The incumbent will play a role in coordinating 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 UNHCRยฟs 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.
Living and Working Conditions:
The country suffers from a shortage of skilled or educated labor. There are no unemployment statistics, but one must conclude that, given the state of the economy, it must be high. The labor code prohibits child labor, discrimination against women, and anti-union regulations. Regulations permit the right to strike and endorse equal pay for equal work for women. However, in the absence of mechanisms for enforcement, the labor laws exist in principle rather than in practice Petty theft is rare throughout most of Eritrea, even in Asmara, however, as with anywhere itโs advisable to be vigilant and not walk the streets alone after dark.
The only major safety threat exists in areas close to the borders of Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti. Tensions between the nations mean that these areas are heavily militarized and there is no crossing of borders permitted whatsoever. Towns near the borders should be avoided as not only is there the risk of politically motivated violence but petty crime rates here are much higher than elsewhere in the country.
Additional Qualifications
SkillsPG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Results-Based Management, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PG-UNHCR's Programmes
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science
Certifications
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Change capability & adaptability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
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Compendium
Additional InformationOnly Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Candidates may be required to sit for written test. Oral interviews are mandatory.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance