Senior Progamme Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Programme Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The incumbent receives guidance from the Deputy Representative or the Representative. The incumbent is expected to supervise normally one or two professional staff and normally supervises some support staff. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the Senior Programme Officer. S/he is also expected to stay abreast of the challenges posed to the country by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments.

Externally the incumbent acts as adviser or representative of the Organization with authority to discuss problems and seek common ground on which to recommend solutions based on predetermined guidelines provided by higher authority. Contacts are predominantly with persons on subject matters of importance to Organization's programmes (e.g. counterparts in other organizations or at working level in national Governments).

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- The needs of persons of concern in the country are assessed and analysed in a participatory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning.
- Prioritized plans are developed taking into account UNHCR's  Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), regional and country level priorities, resource availability, technical soundness and in compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
- Broad partnerships are developed and maintained with key stakeholders in order to maximize the response to finding solutions of problems affecting the persons of concern.
- IP agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.
- The organizational fundraising actions are fully supported by maintaining regular contact with donor representatives and by submitting project funding submissions and appeals.

Responsibility

- Through a consultative process and field visits, contribute to the development of strategies, methodologies, contingency plans that respond to new and emerging operational challenges for the country.
- Ensure that global strategic priorities (GSP) and regional priorities as well as information on projected resource availability guide the planning parameters.
- Develop the country operations plan for overall compliance with global strategic priorities and regional priorities as well as with annual programming/planning instructions.
- Advise the Representative on the gaps and problems in order to decide on resource allocation for operations.
- Manage a consultative process to ensure a consistent application of UNHCR's policies/ practices related to and where applicable to UN cooperation , integrated missions, "Delivering as One" initiative, Common Humanitarian Action Plans, UNDAF, etc.
- Manage a consultative process to ensure a consistent application of the organization's criteria and policies for the selection of implementing and operational partners.
- Initiate and/or manage the development of a broad network of partners, good coordination practices and the development of partner capacities.
- Guide and train UNHCR as well as implementing partners (IP) staff in UNHCR standard procedures related to the Results Based Programme management.
- Ensure that technical support is provided to achieve UNHCR's strategic priorities.
- Ensure proper collection, use and monitoring of baselines, standards and indicators needed to measure and analyze UNHCR's performance, trends and target interventions.
- Ensure quality programmes by promoting use of UNHCR's corporate tools (e.g. Global Focus, Focus Client) to assess the technical soundness of the operation and generate data for evidence-based decisions at the country-level.
- Assist in managing a transparent, consultative and responsible process for the approval of the country-level budgets and the allocation of resources.
- Assist in monitoring compliance to the organization's resource allocation framework, providing support and taking corrective action where required.
- Ensure and monitor audit compliance of the country operations, issuance of audit certificates for Implementing Partners, the audit reports issued by the Office of Internal of Oversight Services (OIOS) and external auditors.
- Ensure and monitor the implementation of IP Risk Management techniques and tools.
- Perform other duties as required.

Authority

- Set and enforce parameters, criteria and deadlines for the design, review and report of operations.
- Clear the submission of the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as of funding submissions, appeals and report.
- Negotiate implementing partner agreements.
- Represent UNHCR in UN and other operations management and programmatic for a.
- Enforce compliance with UNHCR's global strategies, protocols and guidelines.
- Approve recommendations and advice on the technical capacity required of UNHCR and its partners.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) in Business Administration, Social Science, Economics, International Relations or related field
- Minimum 8 years of previous job experience relevant to the function (9 years in case of undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS)).
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

***For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Completion of the UNHCR Learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position
- Good knowledge of UNHCR financial rules, procedures and processes
- Knowledge of another relevant UN language
- Knowledge of UNHCR specific programmes (MSRP, Focus, etc.)
- Computer skills (in MS office) C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3

Before applying to this position, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific FAQs information leaflets which can be found  on the Intranet under Staff Resources > Duty of Care. The information leaflets are specifically designed to answer some of the key questions potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. 

Experience in supporting a comprehensive multi-year and multi-partner protection and solutions strategy, including design of specific responses and result-oriented approach.
Managing and integrating protection and solutions priorities throughout the operations management cycle, placing people of concern at the centre of the programme process and strengthening participation, communication and feedback.
Experience in implementing and mainstreaming cash-based initiatives across the Operation in line with the organization¿s strategy to institutionalize cash-based interventions. 
Full command of UNHCR Manual, programme objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations as well as Results Based Management.
Staying abreast of latest changes with UNHCR programme and financial rules.
Consensus teambuilding and cultural sensitivity needed as the team is diverse.
Ability to work in multi-functional teams for improved programming.
Ability to work in partnership and coordinate with a diversity of actors to advance operational objectives.
Excellent communication, diplomatic and analytical skills ¿ both oral and written ¿ a knowledge of the politics and operations in the Latin-American context in general and in the Mexican context in particular. Political awareness, sensitivity and negotiation skills at government level. Ability to deal with adverse situations in the cultural context of Mexico.
Excellent command of Spanish and English, written and spoken is essential. Mexico s geographical position between the United States and Central America makes it a country with mixed, dynamic and complex migration flows. It is estimated that up to 500,000 people irregularly crossed Mexico¿s southern border in 2016, with approximately 80% coming from the North of Central America (NCA). While the number of the people crossing in 2017 has dropped, overall the number of detentions by migration authorities was 52,106 (40,085, or 84.6% from the NCA), 9,401 of them children, including 3,936 unaccompanied children.  The number of asylum-seekers in Mexico has risen five-fold between 2013 and 2016. In 2016, Mexico received a total of 8,788 asylum applications. This represents an increase of 156.6% compared to 2015, and the highest number of asylum applications recorded since the 1980s. In 2016, 3,282 (62% recognition rate) were recognised as refugees or received complementary protection, an increase of 196% compared to 2015. In the first nine months of 2017, Mexico already received 10,200 asylum applicants, an increase of 73% compared to the same period last year. UNHCR protection and solutions strategy focus on ensuring that refugees have access to the Mexican territory and the asylum procedure and that they can exercise the full range of rights. To this end, the Office continues with its work to ensure that persons with international protection needs have access to status determination procedures through capacity development activities with adjudicators but also with more information provided to PoC and access to legal representation services through a network of lawyers. The Office continues to undertake improvements to reception conditions by strengthening the capacity of shelters. Shelters currently face significant challenges as they were initially conceived as transit spaces to provide basic services for services, generally for less than a week. Asylum-seekers require shelter for longer period of time than migrants in transit as well as support for specific needs (such as psychosocial support and legal assistance), thus the need to adapt the shelters to better respond to these needs. Along with efforts with shelters, UNHCR provides direct assistance to address the most immediate needs of asylum-seekers and refugees. Prevailing living conditions among the majority of asylum-seekers and refugees remain poor thus making essential the establishment of an appropriate level of cash-based assistance to pay rents and cover basic needs to mitigate the risks of abandonment and withdrawal due to precarious economic conditions. The Operation has 22 partnership agreements. It is challenging to maintain this number of partners with the current administrative and finance oversight requirements. The admin/finance processes of many of the partners such as faith based organizations are incompatible with the agency requirements. Furthermore, with the financial restrictions it is imperative to streamline the programming and consolidate its partnership into a smaller number of funded partnership agreements.

The Operation is looking to reinforce the programme unit to address growing operational demands (MYMP, CBI, CRRF roll-out, Livelihoods, new partners, etc), as well as increasing need for proposal writing and reporting due to greater donor interest in the operation. UNHCR¿s role in facilitating a government-led, multi-stakeholder approach through the CRRF is fundamental and will continue throughout the following three years. This will require programme support the implementation, which in turn will translate into constant policy dialogue, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and short and longer-term planning. Family duty station A
Very good infrastructure (health, housing, banking transportation, telecommunications and recreational facilities)
Adequate schools. There is no lack of private schools, although the number of bilingual or bicultural schools is not high. Good security awareness needed.
Common crime is a concern; staff should be alert and adopt basic precautions.
Although there is no official curfew in place, staff are advised not to circulate after dark Previous experience in the region is highly desirable.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 6 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).