Program Assistant, Humanitarian Preparedness and Response

Volunteering Admin Crisis & Emergency Response

Overview

Support humanitarian programs implementation in Mozambique

You have:

• Demonstrated interest or experience in humanitarian preparedness and response
• Demonstrated interest or experience in sexual and reproductive health and maternal health
• Demonstrated interest or experience in prevention and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV)
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong drafting, formulation, and reporting skills

Contract

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

Mozambique has been facing a worsening humanitarian situation due to a combination of factors, including recurrent climatic shocks, insecurity, and violence in the northern region. These challenges have led to significant displacement, disruptions in livelihoods, and limited access to essential services, including sexual and reproductive and maternal healthcare.

The IUNV (Program Assistant) will support UNFPA Mozambique in responding to humanitarian emergencies, mitigating immediate risks, and enhancing preparedness for future disasters. Working in one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, the Program Assistant will provide programmatic and administrative support for the development and implementation of UNFPA’s Humanitarian Programme. S/he will play a key role in supporting humanitarian project implementation by utilizing appropriate mechanisms and systems while ensuring compliance with established rules, policies, and procedures. S/he will collaborate closely with the humanitarian team in Maputo and field offices, Technical Specialists, and the Operations Unit in the Country Office, contributing to the effective implementation of UNFPA’s humanitarian response in Mozambique.

Under the overall guidance of the Representative and Deputy Resident Representative, the Program Assistant will be part of the humanitarian preparedness and response team in the Country Office. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Program Analyst for Humanitarian Preparedness and Response, based in Maputo.

Under the day-to-day guidance of Program Analyst for Humanitarian Preparedness and Response, the IUNV will undertake the following responsibilities:

Program development and implementation Contribute to the development of project proposals or concept notes for new humanitarian programs. Assist in organizing and maintaining records of donor agreements, project timelines, and milestones. Support monitoring the implementation of specific program activities and ensure that timelines and objectives are met. Assist in maintaining an organized filing system for humanitarian program documents and reports. Assist in compiling a list of lessons learned and best practices from ongoing programs to help inform programming, communications, and advocacy work.

2. Emergency Preparedness and Response Assist in the annual review of the UNFPA Minimum Preparedness Action Plan (MPA) and support its implementation monitoring while documenting lessons learned. Assist in organizing and preparing for needs assessments in target areas. Accompany senior humanitarian staff on field visits to support site assessments and program monitoring, and prepare reports or situational updates. Support humanitarian commodity stock mapping and prepositioning in provinces prone to cyclones and floods. Perform any other task related to emergency preparedness, planning, and response as requested by the head of the unit.

3. Monitoring and reporting

Support the analysis of data to identify trends in needs, vulnerabilities, and response gaps. Compile reports on program progress, challenges, and good practices. Assist in preparing country office updates, including humanitarian situation reports for donors and partners.

4. General Administrative and Operational Support

Assist with general administrative duties, including fund allocation in the RRP, review e-FACES, and organize meetings and logistics of events. Assist in initiating procurement requests for emergency commodities, following up on the procurement process, delivery of items, and distribution, ensuring compliance with UNFPA procurement procedures.

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity -knowledge Sharing -Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Working in Teams

Demonstrated interest or experience in:
Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Maternal Health
Prevention and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV)
Peacebuilding, and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.   
Skills in: Strong drafting, formulation, and reporting skills. Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a fast-paced environment. Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team comprising both international and national personnel.  

Living conditions

Mozambique is located on the southeast Coast of Africa. The country lies on the east coast of Southern Africa and borders the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Swaziland .The total area of Mozambique is 799 380 Km square from North to South. The land borders have a length of 4,445 km, while the coastline measures 2,515 km. Monte Binga, culminating at 2,436 m over the Zimbabwe border, is the highest point of Mozambique. With a total population of roughly 34 million people, based on the 2017 census, Mozambique is a country where 73% of the population is under 30 years old. Portuguese is the official and business language, although English is also widely spoken in business and academic settings, particularly in the capital city of Maputo. There are 11 provinces, and a wide array of local languages spoken, including Shangane, Bitonga, Xitswa, Chope, Ronga, Elomwe, Chuabo, Sena, Shona, Ndau, Nyandja, Emakua, Kimwani and Chimakonde.

Mozambique's climate ranges from tropical and subtropical in the north and central regions to dry, semi-arid steppe and arid desert in the south. The hottest and wettest period occurs between December and February, with average daily temperatures ranging from 22°C to 30°C. The rainy season spans from October to April, while winters, from June to August, are mild with average daily temperatures between 13°C and 24°C. Maputo, the country's capital, serves as both its commercial and cultural hub. Housing in Maputo, which includes apartments and houses, can be rented for $700 to $4,000 per month, depending on the amenities and size. Restaurant meals typically cost between $10 and $15. Food, household commodities and clothing can be found in shops and local markets at reasonable prices. An entry visa is required for all travellers and must be obtained from Mozambican Embassy prior to travelling. The metical is the local currency and exchange rate stands at USD 1 equivalent to about 63.90 meticais (MZM) as per February 2025. Commercial banks are operational in the country and Visa cards are accepted in very limited hotels. Maputo is categorized as a family duty station offering a variety of different accommodation options. It has a vibrant international community whilst also providing excellent opportunities to work in a national, Mozambican context.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org