Programme Officer

Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position

Hardship Level

C

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

PR3

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

• Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.

In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2023-11-30

Job Posting End Date

December 21, 2023

Standard Job Description

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.
• 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

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.

Desired Candidate Profile

Requirements for the position include:

• 6 years relevant experience with an Undergraduate degree (BA or similar); or 5 years relevant experience with a Graduate degree (Master’s or similar; or 4 years relevant experience with a Doctorate degree.
• Experience with an International Organization (United Nations or similar).
• Experience in the field and emergency is an asset.
• Education: Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Science, or related field.
• 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, and needs assessments.

• Certification Programme in Programme Management (CPPM) or similar.

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

French

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

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 Bertoua sub-office registers around 330,000 Central African refugees, located in the regions of East, Adamaoua and North of Cameroon where they are settled in developed sites or outside these in areas where the populations are already very vulnerable to food security, malnutrition, epidemics and where access to basic social services remains limited.

At the operational level, the program faces a reduction of funding each year, which has a significant impact on the quality of the operational response in favour of refugees.

The Programme Officer is part of the Senior Management of Sub Office. The Head of Sub Office will directly supervise he/she. He/she will provide programmatic guidance and support about 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 collaborating 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 conduct capacity building sessions in UNHCR COMPASS tool.

The candidate will supervise Programme and some Technical staff in UNHCR offices in Bertoua and technically supervise and support Programme staff in Batouri, Meiganga.

Living and Working Conditions:

Bertoua is a duty station classified C and, as such, has no R&R cycle. The recreational and sport activities are limited with only one small public fitness arena and a football stadium. There is no supermarket but few stores where staff have to go regularly to make shopping for basic items. Life is generally affordable including food and accommodation. Electricity supply is not on standard parameters, regular power cut is observed in Bertoua and one has to rely on generator or solar energy. There is also recurrent shortage of water in the region. A decent standalone 3 bedrooms house will vary between USD600 and USD1,200. The climate in Bertoua is moderate: the average temperature varies from 23 º to 29 º over the year, the hit being 31 º between November and February. There are only few local banks operating in Bertoua, some of them with e-banking and ATM facilities.

Security:

Though Bertoua remains at level 1 security, the overall remains conducive for UNHCR staff and operations because of the volatile environment in the Central African Republic.

Schools

No international schools. Local schools are few and are overcrowded.

Health facilities (and Health risks): Bertoua which is an important center in the East region has only one public hospital which is not well equipped. There are cases where staff are referred to Hospitals in Yaounde city for appropriate treatment. In a country where there is no convention/agreements with some hospitals, health care for staff can be a serious issue.

Transportation facilities (i.e access to Health facilities for ex)

Some private businesses operate transport only between Bertoua and Yaounde and other major cities sin country making it difficult to staff and families to move around. Transport in these kinds of private cars not well maintained is strongly discouraged by DSS.

The city has no taxis and staff experience difficulties with family members getting sick in the middle of the night without hope in sight.

Skills

Additional Qualifications

Education

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

Certifications

HCR Learning Program – UNHCR

Work Experience

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

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Add. 2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2023 – Part B

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance