Associate Programme Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

As of November 30, 2022, the Republic of Congo (Congo) hosted 59,468 refugees and asylum seekers, of whom 49.8 percent were from CAR, 44.3 percent from DRC, and 5.1 percent from Rwanda. Approximately 50.1 percent are women, 43.5 percent are children, 3.7 percent are elderly, and 12 percent have special needs (female heads of households, persons with disabilities, pregnant or lactating women, victims of gender-based violence, children at risk, unaccompanied or separated children). Approximately 27 percent of adults reported agriculture, forestry, and fishing as their primary occupation, and 10 percent reported being small-scale vendors in the formal and informal sectors. Of these, 48,386 refugees and asylum seekers lived in remote rural areas, including 10,179 in the developed sites of Bouémba in the Plateaux and April 15 in Bétou, Likouala. Access to quality basic social services and infrastructure is very difficult. Of the 304,430 people estimated to be internally displaced during the 2016 post-presidential election conflict in Pool Department, only 26,875 people remain displaced, according to the 2022 government registration operation (Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Actions). Approximately 199,400 people are estimated to be at risk of statelessness based on partial quantitative civil registration censuses organized annually since 2018 by the Ministry of Interior and Decentralization. Approximately 8,802 asylum seekers in refugee-like situations have been hosted in the Plateaux department since they fled ethnic clashes in Yumbi (Mai-Ndombé, DRC) in December 2018. The last major influx of 8,018 refugees occurred following the CAR elections in December 2020. Since August 2022, more than 4,186 people from DRC have fled intercommunal violence in Kwamouth District (Mai-Ndombé, DRC) and crossed the river to seek refuge in Ngabé District, Republic of Congo. UNHCR advocated that the government grant asylum-seekers in Yumbi and Ngabé refugee status on the basis of group determination and issue them identity documents. UNHCR Congo is expecting to work in a stable local political context marked by a long-lasting economic crisis exacerbated by Covid-19 pandemic and high commodity price inflation in 2022. The current population of refugees and asylum seekers (55,045 individuals mostly from the Central African Republic - CAR -, the Democratic Republic of the Congo -DRC - and Rwanda) is projected to decrease as voluntary returns resume from 2022. The situation of the remaining 26,875 IDPs in the Pool department since 2016 conflict has normalized. But short-term displacements due to climate change (floodings) are expected to reoccur. The government has been at the forefront of the fight against statelessness, which should lead to eradication by 2024.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Through a consultative process within the country and field visits, stay involved in the development of the strategies, methodologies, contingency plans that respond to new and emerging operational challenges for the country. • Assist in ensuring that global strategic priorities (GSP) and regional priorities as well as information on projected resource availability guide the planning parameters. • Provide inputs for developing the country operations plan in compliance with global strategic priorities and regional priorities as well as with annual programming/planning instructions. • Assist in organizing a consultative process to ensure a consistent application of the organization’s criteria and policies for the selection of implementing and operational partners. • Assist in managing the development of a broad network of partners, good coordination practices and the development of partner capacities. • Assist in training UNHCR as well as implementing partners (IP) staff in UNHCR standard procedures related to the Results Based Programme (RBM) management. • Undertake proper collection, monitoring and use of baselines, standards and indicators needed to measure and analyze UNHCR’s performance, trends and target interventions. • Undertake field visits to evaluate and improve the planning, programming, implementation and monitoring of assistance projects. • Assist in implementing the establishment of sound monitoring processes, in reviewing final reports and on progress in order to advise on any corrective actions required or the need for additional resources to reach planned target levels. • Apply UNHCR’s corporate tools (e.g. Global Focus, Focus Client) to record data and assess the technical soundness of the operation and generate data for evidence-based decisions at the country-level; • Assist in keeping donor representatives briefed on developments and assist in the development of funding submissions, appeals and reports. • Assist in monitoring compliance to the organization’s resource allocation framework, providing support and assisting in corrective action where required. • Assist in establishing and handling Implementing Partners Reports. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. • Please add any other information as necessary

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism

relevant to the function, in programme management, monitoring and evaluation Desirable Qualifications and Skills: • Previous field experience is an advantage. • Familiar with UNHCR’s RBM approach and use of project/software is an asset; • Completion of the UNHCR Learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position. • Good knowledge of UNHCR financial rules, procedures and processes is an asset. • Knowledge of UNHCR specific programming tools (MSRP, Focus, etc.) is an asset. • Good knowledge in project design and reporting Computer skills: Office Package (excellent knowledge of Word, good knowledge of Excel and Power Point) and Internet browsing.

A middle-income country, mainly dependent on oil, Congo is experiencing an economic context marked by the persistence of the economic and financial crisis, in which the national economy has been immersed since 2015, as well as by the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19). The pandemic has led to a decline in the growth rate, which is expected to fall to -6.3% in 2020 with a slight improvement of 0.2% in 2021, mainly due to the poor performance of the non-oil sector. The Congo belongs to the category of countries with average human development, with an HDI of 0.574 in 2019. It should be noted that performance at the macroeconomic level contrasts with the living conditions of the population, which remain difficult. Unemployment, particularly among young people aged 15-24, remains high (22.5%). The general level of consumer prices is generally below 3%, the convergence threshold for CEMAC countries. However, the impact of the crisis in Ukraine has disrupted the supply chain of basic products, leading to an increase in the price of necessities which are generally imported from the rest of the world... Peace and security have improved considerably. However, Congo has two levels of security: SRMA1 - Zone, in the northern part of the country and SRMA2 - Zone, in the southern part of the country. The UN Volunteer will be based in Brazzaville. The city is calm, daily life in Brazzaville is safe and one can move around freely. Food and non-food amenities are available. Medical facilities are up to standard. It is difficult to find a suitable flat with basic security and water supplies. Flats must be approved by the Department of Safety and Security in Brazzaville. Missions to the regions where the beneficiaries are located are organized according to need. For more information: https://www.unv.org/ https://www.unv.org