Exciting UNHCR Position! Associate Programme Officer (2024).
Associate Programme Officer
Assignment Title: Associate Programme Officer
Assignment Country: Bangladesh
Expected Start Date: October 1, 2024
Sustainable Development Goal: Good Health and Well-Being (Goal 3)
Volunteer Category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
Host Entity: UNHCR
Type: Onsite
Number of Assignments: 1
Duty Station: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Mission and Objectives
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on December 14, 1950, by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, ensuring that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or resettle in a third country.
Context
Over six years since the latest exodus from Myanmar in August 2017, the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh remains a protracted situation. Almost one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh still rely on humanitarian assistance for their daily needs.
They are sheltered in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee settlement, and on the island of Bhasan Char. Despite funding shortfalls, the humanitarian community continues to work toward achieving durable solutions for the Rohingya refugees. This effort focuses on their voluntary and sustainable return in safety and with dignity when conditions in Myanmar are conducive. Meanwhile, the resilience of the refugees is being developed while they remain in exile.
The Programme Unit based in Cox’s Bazar manages an annual budget of USD 150 million, overseeing the development and amendment of 19 partnership agreements with values ranging from USD 500k to 15 million per agreement. Additionally, the Programme Unit manages a Direct Implementation budget of USD 45 million, necessitating meticulous setup and an adequate level of staffing.
The Unit also leads the Multi-Functional Team (MFT) monitoring, participates in financial verification, prepares analytical reports, and consistently reviews resources to ensure the implementation of activities remains on track. Given the overarching responsibility for managing Operations’ resources, maintaining an appropriate level of international staff and oversight is crucial.
The Associate Programme Officer is a member of the Programme team in Cox’s Bazar, under the overall supervision of the Programme Officer. The incumbent may also receive guidance from the Senior Programme Officer and other senior staff in the Operations.
The annual budget for UNHCR Bangladesh is USD 275 million, with activities either implemented directly by UNHCR personnel or through partnership arrangements. Project partners are selected through a transparent and competitive process, and currently, there are 19 national and international partners with whom UNHCR Bangladesh has partnership agreements. Additionally, UNHCR has operational partnerships with other UN agencies, national, and international organizations.
Task Description
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
- Needs Assessment and Analysis:
- Support in assessing and analyzing the needs of persons of concern in a participatory manner, using an Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective as the basis for planning.
- Programmatic Support:
- Provide support on programmatic aspects of developing multi-year protection and solutions strategies and annual plans with corresponding priorities, taking into account corporate priorities.
- Assist in ensuring Results-Based Management and program capacity in light of evolving requirements, programming approaches, and gaps.
- Assist in the planning process in compliance with parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and planning instructions.
- Revision and Analysis:
- Support the revision and analysis of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s) in the Area of Responsibility (AoR), ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures, and standards.
- Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement:
- Assist in providing overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders to maximize the protection and solutions response for persons of concern.
- Support the consistent application of the framework for implementing with partners, including the effective implementation of policies on partner selection and retention, management of partnership agreements, risk-based project performance monitoring, and risk-based project audits.
- Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Contribute to ensuring consistent and coherent monitoring approaches, tools, and systems across the region, in line with global standards and policies.
- Actively contribute to UNHCR’s programming community of practice and continuously contribute to improvements of programming tools and processes.
- Audit Follow-Up:
- Oversee timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audit observations and recommendations related to programmatic issues.
- Collaboration with JICA:
- Contribute to exploring possibilities for further collaboration with JICA and the Government of Japan.
- Risk Management:
- Support the identification and management of risks, and seek opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure risk-based decision-making in the functional area of work and raise risks, issues, and concerns to a supervisor or relevant functional colleagues.
- Additional Duties:
- Perform other related duties as required.
Furthermore, the UN Volunteer is required to:
- Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking active part in UNV activities (e.g., events marking International Volunteer Day).
- Build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
- Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action undertaken, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, and press releases.
- Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers.
- Promote or advise local groups in using online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Eligibility Criteria
Age: 27 – 80
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- This assignment is funded by JICA, therefore only former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JICA-JOCV) who could get recommendation by JICA-JOCV Secretariat are eligible to apply. Please check your application eligibility on the JICA website.
- The assignment is planned to start in October/November 2024.
Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Donor Priorities: –
Requirements
Required Experience:
- A minimum of 3 years of experience in:
- Programming skills and knowledge that are both flexible and pragmatic.
- Ability to multitask and deliver in an extremely demanding work environment with high levels of pressure and emergencies within emergencies.
- Ability and knowledge to work with a mix of partnerships (I/NGOs) and direct implementation independently.
- Ability to come up with innovative and creative solutions to operational challenges following programme guidelines.
- Knowledge of formulating joint appeals and plans, bringing together concept notes, and providing sound technical advice to counterparts.
- Good analytical skills and the ability to produce analysis that facilitates decision-making processes.
- Experience in developing and maintaining monitoring, reporting, and evaluation systems, including using online reporting tools.
- Spirit of consensus team-building and cultural sensitivity to work with a diverse and multicultural team, including external partners.
- A development-oriented background is preferable for effective collaboration with development actors such as JICA.
- General computer literacy (MS Word, email, internet) and good knowledge of data-management programs (Excel, Access).
- Drafting and reporting skills, ability to analyze large amounts of information.
Area(s) of Expertise:
- Development programmes
- Crisis and emergency response
Driving License: Not required
Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required Education Level:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, or other relevant fields.
Competencies and Values
- Accountability
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Building Trust
- Client Orientation
- Commitment and Motivation
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
- Communication
- Creativity
- Ethics and Values
- Integrity
- Judgement and Decision-making
- Knowledge Sharing
- Managing Performance
- Planning and Organizing
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
- Self-Management
- Working in Teams
Living Conditions and Remarks
Cox’s Bazar is a category D family duty station. Educational facilities are limited, and international schools from primary to secondary school are currently available in Dhaka only. Health services are limited in Cox’s Bazar, but more reliable facilities are available in Dhaka. Malaria and dengue risks exist throughout the year. Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and diphtheria is recommended.
Cox’s Bazar is a principal tourist destination within Bangladesh due to its location at the Bay of Bengal and its long beach. Infrastructure and shopping options in Cox’s Bazar—a small city of just 250,000 people—are very basic. International staff reside in privately rented apartments or serviced apartments, all of which provide basic standards.
The Rest and Recuperation (R&R) cycle in Cox’s Bazar is 8 weeks. The current R&R location is Bangkok. Cox’s Bazar is connected by several daily flights to Dhaka, albeit only during daylight hours. Banks/ATM machines are available in Cox’s Bazar and credit/debit cards are accepted. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks and exchange houses.
Staff who intend to be joined by family members, particularly young children, should contact HR for more information, as educational and medical facilities are not adequate.
The security level system in Cox’s Bazar is level 3 (moderate). Although security is generally acceptable, given the current situation in the area, no movement on highways at night is allowed. Walking and jogging in the streets as earmarked is permitted. Crowded local markets should be avoided. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.
Inclusivity Statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity program that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender and other protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promote respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin, or other status.
Note on Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements
This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with a WHO-approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds.
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