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.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safe guard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to re-turn home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer, Juba, 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 in-stance 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.

. Results/Expected Outputs:

• The needs of persons of concern in the country are assessed and analyses in a participatory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning.

• IP (Implementing Partners) agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.

• Inputs are provided for the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as prepare inputs for funding submissions, appeals and reports.

• Participate in UN and other fora on programme and technical issues as delegated by pro-gramme senior management.

• Enforce compliance with UNHCR’s global strategies, protocols and guidelines.

• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs).

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.

• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work un-der pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent pro-jects/activities.

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse back-grounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, re-mote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary.

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards the UN core values.

relevant to the function, in programme management, monitoring and evaluation.

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO ap-proved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds.

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. • Other

Please Juba is classified as an E, non-family duty station. R&R cycle for all duty stations in South Sudan is 6 weeks and all international staff resides at UNHCR provided accommodation. UN curfew is from 06:00 to 08:00pm. There are limited medical facilities in Juba. In all UNHCR compounds, regardless of the location, accommodations are equipped with all the necessary furniture. All rooms are provided with in-house services. In addition, most locations are equipped with a gym or some sports equipment. In Juba, all basic foods are available in the marketplace ranging from meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to a few restaurants located in town.

The current security situation in South Sudan as of March 2022, though generally stable, re-mains fragile and fluid in a complex and unpredictable political environment. It is characterized by general stability in most areas, small scale, low intensity and localized armed conflict, high levels of crime across the country, inter/intra communal conflict over a diverse range of issues including cattle raids, competition for resources and revenge attacks in several areas and sporadic incidents of civil unrest in refugee and IDP lo South Sudan is classified as an E non-family High Risk duty station with a 6-week R&R cycle and is prone to malaria. Movements within Juba and to and from field locations require official vehicular transport; use of taxi is not allowed. There are very limited medical facilities in South Sudan, with most concentrated in Juba. Working days are from Mondays to Fridays, weekly. UN imposed curfew is in place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. in Juba; timing in some field locations may differ.

All international personnel are required to reside in UNHCR provided accommodation equipped with furniture, cafeteria, housekeeping services and a gym or some sports equipment. In Juba, all basic foods, ranging from meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables, are available in the market. There are a few hotels with pools and restaurants where staff can visit. In the field, food supply varies depending on the season and location. Taking photos is strongly discouraged in all locations, as may result in arrest by local security forces. Extreme caution is re-quired while driving a UN vehicle due to bad local driving culture, lots of motorbikes and three-wheelers (boda-boda) and periodic attempts by local police to extort money from the driver for whatever violation claimed. There are several airlines flying from most destinations to Juba via Dubai, Nairobi, Addis Aba-ba, Istanbul, Khartoum, Cairo, or Entebbe. Travel to field offices in South Sudan are through UN humanitarian flights, use of commercial flights is not allowed. Staff may open USD bank accounts in South Sudan, only high US Dollar bills i.e., US$50 and US$100 are accepted for foreign currency exchange transactions. South Sudan bank notes exist in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 South Sudanese Pounds. Foreign exchange transactions can be done at any commercial bank in Juba. Payments for goods purchased in Supermarkets can be made using bank debit/credit cards. There are very few ATMs which allow international banking card withdrawal of USD ($2,000 daily – may differ depending on your bank’s daily limit). cations.

Since the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the conflict in South Su-dan in September 2018 and the formation of the Transitional Government of Unity in March 2020, the security situation has significantly improved in most areas, but big challenges re-main ahead to maintain the current peaceful environment. The security level in South Sudan is assessed as substantial (security level 4) in most areas.