Assistant Programme Officer – UNOPS IICA 1 At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Job Opening: 37058

Position: Assistant Programme Officer

Contract Type: UNOPS IICA-1

Duty Station: Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Eligible Applicants:

his position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Honduran nationals are not eligible to apply.

Duties and Qualifications:

General Background:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the UN Agency dedicated to protect the rights and seek durable solutions for refugees worldwide. UNHCR is in the field in over 125 countries. A National Office in Honduras opened in 2015 in order to strengthen UNHCR¿s protection work in the region as part of the UNHCR¿s Regional Protection and Solutions Strategy for the countries in the North of Central America (NCA). Honduras is characterized by a situation of internal displacement due to high levels of violence. It continues to be affected by high levels of violence representing a challenge in terms of protection and assistance. Given this context, UNHCR supports the State in designing public policies that can prevent and respond to internal displacement, while at the same time developing protection networks by working with partners to provide protection alternatives as close to home as possible. The operation grew significantly in the last three years and is currently expanding its field presence. The Office in Tegucigalpa became a Country Office in 2020 and Field Units in Ocotepeque, Choluteca and Tegucigalpa have been opened in addition to the existing Field Office in San Pedro Sula. Some 30% of the operational budget is implemented directly by UNHCR in Honduras and the remaining 70% is implemented through implementing partners. There are currently 17 Partnership Agreements signed with implementing partners and several interagency interventions ongoing.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The Assistant Programme Officer will be based in Tegucigalpa, reporting to and guided by the Associate Program Officer. 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 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 UNHCR¿s Strategic Directions, Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), corporate positions on SDGs.

He/she 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.

– 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 funding submissions for donors and draft any required after-action reports (native and financial).

– Maintain an updated file with relevant donor and contribution information including implementation period, requirements and reporting dates.

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education):

Undergraduate degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences or other relevant field.¿

b. Work Experience:

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.

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

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.

Donor relations or interagency coordination experience preferred.

Functional Skills

PG-Programme Management (project formulation, programme cycles and reporting standards)

PG-Results-Based Management

PG-UNHCR’s Programmes

PG-Experience with coordinating with Implementing Partners (Government/INGO/NGO/Corporate)

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.

Position Competencies:

Core Competencies:

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:

Empowering and Building Trust

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Performance

Cross-Functional Competencies:

Analytical Thinking

Change Capability and Adaptability

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Additional Information:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No late applications will be accepted.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a technical assessment or written test (eliminatory or complementary) and later on, invited for an oral interview.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).

Duration: until 31st December 2022.

Engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

Language Requirements:

Working knowledge in English and Proficiency in Spanish is essential.

Closing Date:

The closing date for submission of applications is 8th June 2022 (midnight Geneva time).