Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Associate Program Officer - Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Application Deadline: May 27, 2011

Applications must be emailed to JPOCoordinator@state.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the date indicated in order to be considered. Thank you.

How to Apply:

Please note that PRM-sponsored JPO positions are open to U.S. Citizens only.

Applicants must submit a completed United Nations Personal History form (UN P-11) via email to JPOCoordinator@state.gov by the deadline noted above. The UN P-11 form is available for download from the UNHCR website at http://www.unhcr.org/recruit/p11new.doc. PRM will accept the UN P-11 form without a signature. If desired, you may also submit a resume, curriculum vitae and a letter of interest. Please specify the position for which you are applying in the Subject line of the email (i.e. Associate Protection Officer – Kabul, AFGHANISTAN). You must send a separate email and application for each position for which you are qualified and wish to be considered. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions on the PRM website.

PRM Notes:

• For more information about UNHCR’s operations at this post, please visit the UNHCR website at www.unhcr.org.
• This is a non-family duty station.
• Degree in Administration, Law, Economics, Political Science or related field. Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• At least two years relevant experience in humanitarian/legal work at the international level. Specific expertise in the development of monitoring and evaluation tools would be an asset.
• Fluency in written and oral English and French required.
• The JPO job description and related information attached are provided by UNHCR.
• JPO contracts are initially issued for one (1) year and then renewed. American JPOs are expected to serve a complete (2) two-year JPO term.

Associate Program Officer
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Title: Associate Program officer (JPO)

Sector: Program

Location: Goma , Dem. Rep. of Congo – Non family duty station.

Duration of the assignment: One year

SUPERVISION:

Name and Title of Supervisor: Margarida Fawke, Senior Program Officer

Title of other international staff members in same duty station: see attached table

Content and methodology of the supervision:

• Coaching on program procedures and management.
• Setting objectives for the incumbent and periodically ensuring that these objectives are being met.
• Reviewing and correcting (if necessary) all documents produced by the incumbent.
• Frequent discussions with the incumbent to ensure that s/he understands the work being carried out.
• Frequent discussions to ensure that the incumbent is comfortable with the tasks and the work environment and that there is no undue pressure or stress, either at work or outside work.
• Career counselling with the incumbent.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the Supervision of the Senior Program Officer and in close collaboration with colleagues in the Program Unit, the Junior Professional Officer will be responsible for the following:

• Participates in all planning processes including internal planning with the COP process making use of available guiding documents (RBM, focus, GNA, etc.) , and external within the Humanitarian Action Plan.
• Actively participates in fundraising with the preparation of project proposals to be submitted to Donors in line with UNHCR and Donor requirements particularly in with regards to local funding opportunities available (Pooled fund, CERF, STAREC, etc.).
• Liaise with Regional Office/HQ for appropriate registration of approved contributions and ascertain coherence with agreements with partners.
• Discuss with relevant partners and prepare sub agreements according to agreed priorities and existing resources.
• Facilitate the training of national partners, in UNHCR programming procedures, especially in the framework of transition.
• In the context of the Humanitarian reform, actively represent UNHCR in relevant cluster meetings, (particularly NFI/Shelter, WATSAN cluster meetings), as well as other fora where UNHCR Program unit is required, such as the Stabilization Working Group.
• In close collaboration with relevant units, prepare/constantly review the plan for NFIs required for the operation, the timely delivery in accordance with the logistical capacity, distribution monitoring, and ascertain the necessary justification documentation and reports are available.
• Prepare reports and other relevant documents required by Office, the Regional Office in Kinshasa and HQ, for both North Kivu and Oriental Province.
• Assist with audit preparation in collaboration with the Project Control Unit by providing relevant documents required by auditors.
• Organise meetings with partners to discuss implementation strategy issues, problems experienced, and provide adequate support for improvement.
• Undertake field missions to ascertain that progress on activities are being accomplished according to agreed standard and time, and report any problem met to the Program Unit.
• Constantly liaise with colleagues in the field to monitor problems met and provide adequate and timely guidance on finding appropriate solutions.
• Train staff of other unit in Program related issues, both in Goma, Bunia and in the Field units including Masisi, Kitchanga, Lubero, Beni.
• Provide specific inputs on program design, implementation and monitoring tools.
• Perform all other duties required by Management.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Qualifications

University degree in Business Administration, Law, Economics, Political Science or related field. BA and 4 years of work experience or MA and 2 years of work experience.

Experience

Job Experience relevant to the function: Min 2 years
In an International capacity: 2 years

Skills

Computer skills (MS Word, Excel essential)
Good communication and drafting skills
Specific expertise in the development of monitoring and evaluation tools would be an asset.

Competencies required

PG04 Assessing Beneficiary needs and Availability of Resources
PG06 Developing Proposals and Budgets
PG07 Monitoring and Evaluating Programs/Projects
XR02 Mobilising External Support

Language requirements: English and French

TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS:

Training components:

Learning will be structured through:

• On-the-job training while the incumbent carries out specific functions at the Sub-Office
• Field exposure while the incumbent visits the IDP operations
• Briefings from supervisors and colleagues
• Attending meetings, workshops and seminars on refugee/IDP issues and program/operations management
• Attending external training courses if possible.

Learning elements:

By the end of its assignment the staff member will be able to:

• Assess the assistance needs of persons of concern and help design a response strategy
• Explain UNHCR objectives and activities to partners and authorities and negotiate planning and implementation of UNHCR assisted programs
• Prepare detailed project proposals/reports according to UNHCR standards and donor requirements
• Assist in the evaluation of project proposals submitted by potential implementing partner and draft relevant sub-project agreements to be concluded with IPs
• Monitor project/program activities

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Organizational structure of UNHCR in DRC: UNHCR has 16 offices in the country, including a regional representation in Kinshasa, three sub-offices in the east and 12 field offices across the country, with a total staff of 342 people.

General outline of the program:

With a total budget of about $71 million US for 2010 and a staff of more 300 workers UNHCR is engaged in protecting and finding solutions to some 150,000 refugees hosted by DRC, in facilitating the return and reintegration of Congolese returnees repatriating from neighbouring countries and plays a major role in the protection, assistance and supporting solutions for IDPs, particularly in North Kivu, where large scale internal displacement have occurred since 2007.

As lead of the cluster protection, UNHCR plays an important role in advocating for the respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law especially for the IDPs in the Eastern Provinces. UNHCR assists the displaced in crisis through the distribution of food-and non food items as well as the amelioration of their physical security in coordination with military authorities. Since October 2007, with the official adoption of the camp coordination and camp management mechanism in North Kivu, UNHCR has taken over the overall coordination of IDP sites (16 sites with a population of about 100,000 people).

UNHCR priorities in 2010 are to:

• Reinforce the protection of refugees while maximizing the search for durable solutions including repatriation and local integration for the remaining groups of refugees hosted by the DRC.
• Secure the safe, dignified and voluntary sustainable return of Congolese refugees and IDPs, including the creation of “Community Empowerment Projects” laying the foundation for long term development in the areas of return.
• Ensure the civilian character of IDP sites, respond to new displacements and create humanitarian space in the areas controlled by non-state actors and provide protection to IDPs and returnees in those areas.
• Contribute to providing support to SGBV victims and combating impunity of perpetrators.
• Promote the identification of solutions to land and property issues, peaceful resolution of disputes and reconciliation.
• Shelter as a means to improve the protection environment.

Living Conditions: The incumbent should be comfortable residing in basic, sometimes shared accommodation. International staff live in rented houses in Goma town; choice of accommodation is limited due to large number of humanitarian workers in the area. Most houses have basic furniture, bathroom, and kitchen and living room facilities. There are limited sports and recreational activities in town. Some selection of fresh vegetables and fruit is usually available in the local market. There are two direct flights to/from Nairobi on Mondays and Fridays. Also it is possible to take flights to Nairobi from Kigali (3 flights daily). Kigali is reachable by road, three hours trip on a tarmac road.