JO 35977 – Associate Programme Officer – IICA 1 UNOPS At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

1. General Background

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the agency of the United Nations System with the mandate to provide international protection and seek durable solutions that respond to the needs of the refugee population, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people and other persons of interest.

Communities in El Salvador are severely affected by gang violence, extortion, threats to life and sexual violence, as well as other serious human rights violations. This violence has led to the forced displacement of persons seeking protection and access to basic services and livelihood opportunities. According to a profiling exercise on forced internal displacement led by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, 71,500 individuals were displaced throughout the country between 2006 and 2016. In January 2020, El Salvador passed legislation to protect, aid and offer durable solutions to people internally displaced due to violence as well as those who may be at risk of displacement.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

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 will be reporting to and be guided by the Program officer and may supervise a small team of local staff and 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.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• 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.
• Perform other related duties as required.

4. Qualifications and Experience

3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

a. Education

Economics; Business Administration; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.

b. Work 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.

c. Language

· Fluency in English and Spanish

d. Key Competencies

Functional Skills

· MG-Project Management

· PG-Results-Based Management

· PG-UNHCR’s Programmes

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

· DM-Data Management

Core Competencies

· Accountability

· Communication

· Organizational Awareness

· Teamwork & Collaboration

· Commitment to Continuous Learning

· Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

· Judgement and Decision Making

· Managing Resources

· Empowering and Building Trust

Cross-Functional Competencies

· Analytical Thinking

· Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

· Political Awareness

Candidates cannot be hired under an international individual contract in the country of their nationality or permanent residence.
Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and may be required to sit for a test and will undertake a competency-based interview.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision, or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and job inclusion, therefore, all people are encouraged to apply for this vacancy regardless of religion, age, sex, ethnicity, disability, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.
Remuneration:
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org