Assistant Project Control Officer

This Job Opening is available to eligible UNHCR staff members and external applicants. Candidates must be Congoleese Nationals.

Interested staff members should consult the Administrative Instruction on Recruitment and Assignment of Locally Recruited Staff (RALS, UNHCR/AI/2020/1/Rev.1). If you have questions regarding your eligibility, you may also contact the HR Unit.

In line with the RALS, the below category of candidates are eligible to apply for internally/externally advertised vacancies.

Group 1 candidates: Current NPO staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment are eligible to apply to advertised positions in the NPO category at their personal grade and one grade below or above, as Group 1 candidates.

External candidates: All other candidates are eligible to apply to positions in the NPO category as external
candidates, including GS staff members holding a university degree and fulfilling eligibility requirements, regardless of grade or length of service, who may apply to any vacant NPO position in their country of assignment for which they qualify. External candidates must meet the essential minimum requirements of the position. Assistant Project Control Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Project Control Officer is part of the multi-functional team. In coordination with DFAM¿s Implementing Partnership Management Service, s/he is responsible and accountable for providing substantive support, guidance, and oversight on the effective management of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners (the Framework) as well as oversight on the effective management of Direct Implementation.

Complementary to programme management, s/he will support and conduct analysis and assessment of risks associated with partnerships and direct implementation, policy compliance, operational practices, mitigation measures and gaps and make technical recommendations or decisions in line with the principles of the Framework, of UN/UNHCR¿s financial rules, policies and regulations and operational context.

The incumbent prompts partnership integrity and other safeguarding mechanisms for ensuring sound stewardship and accountability of funds entrusted to partners or through direct implementation arrangements (e.g. contracts for the procurement of goods and/or services) to ensure resources are used in the most efficient and effective manner to attain the best results for persons of concern.

The Assistant Project Control Officer will promote dialogue and consultations for strengthening partnerships and have frequent contacts with UNHCR colleagues, particularly project control and programme staff. S/he may have contact with external stakeholders, such as UNHCR-funded partners, auditors, oversight bodies, and host governments on matters related to partnerships. The incumbent will be mindful of all dimensions of partnerships in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct, UN/UNHCR¿s financial rules, policies and regulations and other relevant documents.

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the supervision of the Regional Controller. In the Country and Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent normally works under the direct supervision of the Representative or Deputy Representative, Head of Office or (Senior) Project Control Officer, as applicable.
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All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

- Participate in the annual assessment and planning cycle.
- Assist with the review of project agreements, ensuring that they are in conformity with Country Operation Plans and UNHCR¿s rules, policies and procedures.
- Assist with the formulation and implementation of a performance project monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and MFT.
- Assist with the development of the direct implementation monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and other relevant functions.
- Assist with the support of Programme and other relevant functions in the selection of implementation modalities.
- Contribute to tracking the management of project and direct implementation risks in collaboration with the Programme Unit, and report major risks to senior management.
- Contribute to reviewing, analysing and verifying Financial and Performance Partner Reports (PFR and -PPR), and to checking accuracy and consistency between PFR and PPR, in accordance with partnership agreements.
- Monitor, track and verify that expenditure for direct implementation by UNHCR is in line with the approved budget.
- Conduct reviews of the internal control systems of partners implementing projects and provide advice as required.
- Provide input on identified variants, risks and issues to partners, Programme Unit and escalate to management as required.
- Support timely project closure in coordination with the Programme Unit.
- Provide input to the mid- and end-year programme review process on issues related to project control.
- Maintain professional relationships with partners implementing projects and UNHCR¿s contractors.
- Keep up-to-date with all UNHCR rules, regulations and procedures necessary to perform these duties.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration;
Economics;
Management;
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Accounting;
Auditing;
Finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent);
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)


Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Good knowledge of international auditing standards.

Desirable:
Good understanding of the workflows of major Enterprise Resource Planning financial modules (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle). Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS).

Functional Skills
PC-Project Control;
FI-International Auditing Standards;
FI-Auditing practical experience;
MS-Monitoring & Evaluation;
MS-Data Collection and Analysis;
MS-Reporting skills;
UN-UN/UNHCR Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures;
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies:
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:
Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Planning and Organizing Knowledge of French and UN working language of the duty station if not French and local language. Interested internal candidates should apply through MSRP ¿ Self-Service ¿ Recruiting Activities ¿ Careers (please search by JO number or by Location). Please update your personal profiles with all required information in order to be able to apply. Please consult the attached documents for further guidance on how to update the personal profile.

Interested external applicants are also invited to apply online and complete the mandatory motivation letter.  For help with logging in to the MSRP External Portal, or with online applications, please contact the HR Unit well before the deadline to allow sufficient time for any technical problem to be resolved. External vacancies are posted on the external UNHCR website and applicants who do not have internal status must apply through the external UNHCR website.  https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html ¿ Careers ¿ Career opportunities ¿ Other Opportunities ¿ Vacancies ¿ sort by Location or search by Job Opening number. 

Not signed, incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants to apply. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms gender, disability, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General¿s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.

For any technical problems encountered during the online application, please send an email to the below email address titled ¿Online VA Query-your name and surname¿. Human Resources Kinshasa  codkivac@unhcr.org
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== As of 28 February 2021, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hosts 489, 835 refugees in the country, including 213, 638 Rwandan, 173, 731, CAR 171,051, 46 416 Burundian and 54, 899 South Sudanese refugees. DRC also hosts more than 5 million IDPs located mainly in the provinces of Ituri, Kasai, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika. As Protection Cluster lead, UNHCR continues to play a key role supporting the DRC Government in implementing a durable solutions strategy in order to help end the cycles of protracted displacement in the country.
As of today, the operation manages 18 field offices (1 Branch Office, 5 Sub Offices, 10 Field Offices and 2 Field Unit Offices) and has a field presence in the provinces of  Kasai, Ubangi , Kivu (north and south) and Haut Uele/Bunia.
In line with these objectives, UNHCR DRC has been proactive about shifting both refugee and internally-displaced person (IDP) programming approaches towards more support for local and national leadership, and for communities as they take the lead in preparing for and responding to emergencies.  In the context of the Eastern DRC, where displacement is a chronic, cyclical occurrence, driven by layers of conflict and government and security forces that lack the capabilities to adequately respond, support to local structures is recognized by many humanitarian, peace and development actors as the key to moving forward.  The humanitarian community in South Kivu is in the process of formally adjusting its working methods to a more sustainable approach, and national and international development actors are starting to be more in evidence ¿ and more predictable ¿ even in fragile areas where previously humanitarian action had taken on even structural work for want of other options.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the biggest operation of the Regional Bureau for Southern, and one of the oldest on the continent. It hosts nearly 500,000 refugees countrywide, 46,829 of which are Burundian refugees, the majority residing in South Kivu.  DRC also continues to host over 5 million IDPs mainly located in the Kasai provinces, and Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces, including nearly 3 million in North and South Kivu.
UNHCR works in 5 sub offices and the Branch Office in Kinshasa; the Goma Sub Office covers activities in North and South Kivu.  The National Officer post will focus on South Kivu, specifically the Baraka Field Office which covers Bukavu and Uvira. The Baraka Field Office supports over 45,000 Burundian refugees in South Kivu, the majority of which reside in Lusenda camp, Mulongwe site, and three transit centers with health, education, protection, livelihoods, WASH, and other programs. The Baraka Office is currently undergoing simultaneous operations of voluntary repatriation for Burundian refugees, in collaboration with UNHCR Burundi, as well as transferring Burundian refugees from the transit centers to Mulongwe site. The Baraka Office also responds to internally-displaced persons in the region by leading the Protection Cluster, as well as conducting protection monitoring and community-based protection. UNHCR works with 9 partners, including the Commission National pour les Réfugiés (CNR), or the DRC National Refugee Commission, to serve refugees and IDPs in the operation, and collaborates with several operational partners. Acknowledgements will only be sent to short-listed applicants under serious consideration.

Please note that the closing date is monday 19 april 2021 (midnight Geneva time).