Associate Programme Officer, JPO (P2), Chisinau

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.

– 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
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.

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.

Desired Candidate Profile

The Associate Programme Officer will be under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer. He/she will work closely with other units within the UNHCR Moldova Operation.

The incumbent will be expected to work with different national and international NGOs in addition to coordinating and working with different sectors experts and internal units within UNHCR, thus excellent communication and people skills are required. The person must have a demonstrated record of providing timely and appropriate technical advice on programme planning, assessment, and implementation. Moreover, he/she should have an understanding in coordination and monitoring.

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate ownership in the project he/she manages and have contacts within the organization, as well as with partners and other stakeholders to collect information, monitor programme activities and implement administrative requirements. The incumbent will have to establish good working relationships with their peers to facilitate the collection of information and other programme management related activities.

This job is advertised in the frame of the JPO Programme and reserved exclusively to candidates with Norwegian nationality.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

English

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Desired languages

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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

Job Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations (if applicable):

Nature of Position:

Since the outbreak of the war in the Ukraine, over 1,000,000 people have entered the Republic of Moldova, mostly women, children, and older persons. Most of them move onwards to the EU, though over 116,000 refugees from Ukraine have chosen to stay in Moldova.

As a response to the refugee crisis in February 2022, UNHCR has re-established its presence by opening a country office in Chisinau and two border field units with Ukraine, in Otaci and Palanca, working closely together with the Government of Moldova and local authorities. Under the Refugee Coordination Forum, the response takes a multi-sectoral approach ensuring complementarity to Government responses.

Currently, the Republic of Moldova’s refugee response is at an important juncture, moving from an emergency response to more a sustainable protection environment and gradual inclusion in government programmes. UNHCR Moldova’s multi-year strategy for 2024-2026 seeks to facilitate this transition, providing expertise and resources to strengthen government systems while ensuring fundamental rights for all.

The success of UNHCR’s 2024-2026 strategy will rest in large part on coordination, both with the Government and among humanitarian actors. Over the next three years, UNHCR Moldova envisions gradually transitioning this model into government coordination structures to help mainstream refugee inclusion in national programmes.

UNHCR Moldova’s strategy will maintain its focus on two major impacts – protection and solutions. It will seek to ensure refugee access to the territory and to safety, and to realize their rights in line with international protection standards.

Operations will be implemented through 16 or more partners (international and local NGOs, Government, and UN agencies). The strategy entails increased localization and more capacity and investments in local NGO partners which will require a strong programmatic oversight and enhanced management of partnerships, including a more robust coordination. There is a need to strengthen the capacity of all NGO and Government partners to comply with programmatic requirements, deeper understanding of project management and RBM approach, including on evidence-based reporting. Programme and partnership management requires implementation of the new platforms and tools which were rolled out through 2023, existing and new partners will need to be trained and coached regularly.

During this phase of the operation stabilization, there is a need to maintain preparedness to respond in case of escalations, need to focus on advancing with humanitarian – development nexus and on integration into UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) processes, increase joint programming with UN in the country and engagement with development partners. Many, especially new partners require continuous and significant capacitation from UNHCR, and operation requires flexibility and frequent adjustments to Partnerships.

In this context, UNHCR is looking for an Associate Programme Officer, JPO to be a member of the Programme Unit. She/he will be under the general supervision of the Head of the Programme Unit and direct supervision of the Programme Officer and will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Programme Management: manage up to 30% of the funded partnerships established with international and national NGOs, with support by national programme staff, this entailing leading the Multifunctional Team (MFT) through negotiation, design of interventions with the partner, ensure quality, clear results and impacts, in compliance with UNHCR programmatic requirements and policies; lead monitoring by MFT of implementation of activities by partners; provide daily advise and support to national programme colleagues, to partner, to other functional teams; ensure regular adjustments and full reporting by partners. Support supervisors and operation in coordination, capacity building of partners, building synergies between interventions and partners. Provide training to MFT, to programme team, to authorities as required. Work on further integration of UNHCR operation into UNSDCF, support head of programme and operation on advancing engagement with development partners, support on promoting Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) objectives, support the operation in Refugee Response Plan (RRP) submission and reporting.

2. Fundraising and donor relations: Under the supervision of head of programme, be instrumental in all fundraising and resource mobilization actions of the operation, including liaising as required with donors, support in preparation of proposals for funding in liaison with External relations, Protection and other technical functions, prepare reports to donors, track implementation and earmarking of Operations budget versus donors’ contributions.

3. Finance and Budgeting: Be conversant with Result Based Management (RBM) and planning, implementation and reporting tool Compass and prepare with the team necessary inputs to strategic and detailed implementation plans, coordinate with MFT the development and subsequent monitoring and reporting on indicators, achievements and results. Regular monitoring of implementation of operation budget and expenditure, both direct and indirect implementation and prepare updates for management.

Living and Working Conditions:

Chisinau, Moldova is classified as an “A” Family Duty station by the International Civil Service Commission. It is a city with good infrastructure (health, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications and recreational facilities) and a suitable level of goods and services.

Moldova is relatively stable, risk to UN personnel working for UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes is medium. A flow of refugees from Ukraine was noted after February 24 when the arm conflict started in Ukraine. Nevertheless, there are security and safety challenges, ranging from civil unrest, crime, to traffic accidents, robberies, and sporadic serious incidents. Therefore, a proper personal security awareness and best judgment are warranted especially regarding petty theft and pickpocketing and car break in.

Roads outside major urban areas are not maintained properly and are poorly lit. Many accidents in the country are caused by alcohol consumption. There is an increase of vehicles fleet from Ukraine too. UN Personnel is supposed to follow national traffic regulations and use safety belts, drive cautiously and take care when involved in traffic in any capacity.

Lying in a seismic zone, Moldova experiences frequent earthquakes. Since 2000 Moldova often experiences 4-5-degree (Richter scale) earthquakes. About 350 small tremors are registered per year.

SUPERVISION: The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the manager indicated under ‘Supervisor title and position number’. The supervisor will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the JPO. The manager will also ensure that the JPO is provided a thorough induction and orientation briefing, followed by on-the-job training as well as continuous guidance for training/learning opportunities throughout the assignment. In support to the manager, the JPO Unit provides the Supervisory Guidelines upon recruitment/reassignment of the JPO.

TRAINING: UNHCR’s learning platform offers JPOs access to a comprehensive set of learning activities, as well as the opportunity for learners to engage with online communities of practice. JPOs are actively supported by managers and HR personnel to make use of the resources allocated to training activities.

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

Education

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

Certifications

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

Work Experience

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

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

How to apply

For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit https://bit.ly/3PqCgVx

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Closing date of receipt of applications: 25 March 2024 (midnight Geneva time)