Programme Associate

This Job Opening is available to eligible UNHCR staff members and external applicants.

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. 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 and search by Job Opening number 36921 Applicants must be nationals of Kuwait or holding Kuwaiti valid residency. Programme Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Programme Associate would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/region programme(s). UNHCR Manual, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the Programme Associate. S/he is expected to stay abreast of the challenges posed by the operational context, the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments.

The incumbent is expected to have contacts within the organization and outside the duty station, as well as with partners and other stakeholders to collect information, monitor programme activities and implement administrative requirements. The incumbent will have to establish good working relationships with their peers at country level to facilitate the collection of information and other programme management related activities.

The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

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
- Support the assessment and analysis of the needs of persons of concern in the country/region in a participatory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning.
- Assist in managing the development of a broad network of partners, good coordination practices and the development of partner capacities related to programme management if applicable.
- Assist in organizing and documenting the selection of partners in accordance with the policy on selection and retention of partners, ensuring due diligence to meet the requirements of projects.
- Provide support to the field with technical advice to ensure partnership agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on in compliance with established guidelines and procedures included in the framework for implementing with partners.
- Support the implementation and performance of partnership agreements through field visits and appropriate physical monitoring if applicable, reviewing performance and financial reports.
- Support the development and implementation of MFT monitoring plans for activities implemented through partnerships and those under direct implementation in line with Programme Manual and programming instructions.
- Contribute to the review and analysis of operations plans, mid-year and year-end reports of the different UNHCR offices, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards. Generate and maintain records of implementation rate (performance progress and expenditures) on a regular basis.
- Follow up on any change in regards to alignment of results chain, verifying indicators, budget, prioritization, apportioning needed to measure programme performance, trends and target interventions, contributing to soundness of Operations Plan and enhancement of data quality.
- Follow up with UNHCR offices the compliance with issuance of audit certificates for partners in line with the Policy on Risk-Based Project Audits.
- Provide support to the field through technical advice and training on resource allocation processes and other programmatic issues.
- Use UNHCR¿s corporate tools (e.g. Focus Client, Global Focus Insight and FOCUS Reader, MSRP) for core activities related to planning, budgeting, implementation and reporting, generating data for evidence-based programmatic decisions and analysis.
- Support UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contributing to improvements of programming tools and processes.
- Perform other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
n/a

Certificates and/or Licenses
not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Demonstrated experience in programme management, Operation Management Cycle and related processes. Knowledge of Results Based-Management. Computer skills (in MS office) including advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data management, etc.)

Desirable
Completion of UNHCR Learning Programmes or specific training relevant to function of the position including Programme Management ¿ Level 1. E-tutoring of PM1, Framework for Implementing with Partners Learning Programme. Experience in programme management training and capacity building activities.

Functional Skills
*IT-Computer Literacy
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
PG-Results-Based Management
DM-Database Management
PG-Programme Analysis
PG-Development and monitoring of programme assessments and surveys
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)


All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. Competencies as defined in Job Profile English is the working language at UNHCR Kuwait and fluency in English and Arabic is essential Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
========================================================================================================
See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== Operational Context:   Programme Associate, G6

Nature of the position:

Kuwait is not a party to the 1951 Convention and/or 1967 Protocol on the Status of Refugees nor has national legislation dealing with refugees or asylum seekers. UNHCR, however, continues to carry out all asylum-related activities within the scope of its mandate and the "Office and Cooperation Agreement" signed in 1996, which lays down the foundation for finding durable solutions for recognized refugees who have invalid legal status in Kuwait. Since UNHCR¿s establishment in Kuwait for over 31 years, Kuwait has been a strategic humanitarian partner and supporter to UNHCR. Despite the setback due to the COVID-19 situation, UNHCR will work towards securing multi-year funding from the Government of Kuwait and to situate Kuwait as a strategic partner to UNHCR in support of the displaced populations globally. UNHCR will additionally work towards being the partner of choice to the Government of Kuwait for supporting expanded favorable protection environment and solutions for the displaced and increase access to basic needs and services for POCs, inside and outside Kuwait.
The Programme Associate reports to the Representative and works closely with Protection and External Relations colleagues. The incumbent will receive guidance, as necessary from MCO or Bureau and other sections and units relevant to the country/region program. 
The incumbent will be managing the UNHCR Kuwait direct interventions with an associated OPS budget. While UNHCR Kuwait has no partners at the moment, the incumbent is expected to manage diverse partnerships whenever established  

The Programme Associate coordinates all stages of the operational management cycle and holds the role of a planning coordinator in the operation. S/He prepares resource materials and summarizes policies & guidance documents and provides technical expertise to officers and national staff, among others in the areas of implementation, resource allocations, new Results-Based Management and the planning and reporting exercises.

The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

In addition to that, the incumbent is also expected to coordinate and assure timely and quality implementation of UNHCR¿s interventions as part of the UN Strategic Cooperation Framework (UNSCF) and any other relevant interventions as part of UNCT Kuwait.

The incumbent completion of Secondary education courses/ training/ certificate in Business Administration Social Science, International Law, or related field.  The incumbent has good knowledge of financial rules and procedure and process.

Language Requirement:  The incumbent needs to have excellent writing and communications skills in both Arabic & English languages. Duration: Initially One Year
Contract Type: Fixed Term Appointment 01 June 2022