Hardship LevelB
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS7
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2025-09-01
Deadline for ApplicationsAugust 3, 2025
Standard Job Description
Senior Programme Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Programme Associate would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division. The incumbent normally supervises some support staff. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/region programme(s). UNHCR Manual/Programme Chapter, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the Senior Programme Associate. S/he is expected to stay abreast of the challenges posed to the region 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 is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Chapter, 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 in a participatory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning.
- Support Results Based management and programme capacity in light of evolving requirements, programming approaches and gaps.
- Participate in managing the development of a broad network of partners, good coordination practices and the development of partner capacities related to programme management.
- 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.
- Support 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.
- Review the implementation and performance of partnership agreements through field visits and appropriate physical monitoring if applicable, reviewing work plans, performance and financial reports.
- Support the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and annual planning instructions.
- Contribute to the review and analysis of operations plans, mid-year and year-end reports, 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.
- Assist in negotiating and drafting partnership agreements, ensuring that all components are developed in conformity with UNHCR's financial rules and HQ instructions and guidance.
- Contribute to 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.
- Ensure compliance with issuance of audit certificates for partners in line with the Policy on Risk-Based Project Audits and follow up of internal and external audit recommendations related to 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.
- Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contributing to improvements of programming tools and processes.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not specified
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Demonstrated experience in programme management, Operation Management Cycle and related processes. Knowledge and practical experience of Results Based-Management. Experience in programme management training and capacity building activities. Knowledge of MS office applications 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.
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)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
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.
Desired Candidate Profile Operational Context:
UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure 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 to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).
In Zambia, UNHCR supports the Government of Zambia to provide an enabling protection environment that allows asylum-seekers, refugees and former refugees to be protected, be self-reliant and achieve durable solutions. UNHCR has been present in Zambia since 1967. UNHCR in Zambia has three field offices/units (one in Solwezi, one in Kawambwa, one in Kaoma) and a Representational Office in Lusaka.
Zambia is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, reaffirming its commitment to international refugee protection standards. The country's asylum and refugee response are governed by the Refugees Act of 2017, which provides the legal framework for refugee status determination, rights, and obligations of refugees, as well as their access to protection and assistance in Zambia. In addition, Zambia's National Refugee Policy and its Implementation Plan provide a structured approach to refugee management, promoting self-reliance, inclusion in national systems, and durable solutions in line with international and regional commitments.
As of 30 April 2025, Zambia hosts some 110,518 forcibly displaced persons (81,295 refugees; 11,199 asylum seekers and 18,024 former refugees and others of concerns) in three refugee settlements and other urban areas including Lusaka. UNHCR provides technical support and guidance to the Government on policy formulation, asylum and refugee management matters. Most forcibly displaced persons in Zambia are from Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Somalia.
Zambia has adopted a comprehensive refugee response approach as envisioned in the New York Declaration of 2016, which guides the country’s refugee management. The National Refugee Policy and its associated Implementation Plan (launched in 2024) aims to explicitly include refugees in government plans and services, transform refugee settlements into economic hubs, and enable refugees’ access and contribution to markets in refugee-hosting districts. Zambia is taking a whole-of-government approach to put this into action. Integrated local area development plans include forcibly displaced people in two refugee hosting districts (Kaoma and Kalumbila). Refugees have access to land and public services like education and health and have some level of access to the national social protection system (e.g., social services, health insurance and some labor market interventions) in line with the 8th National Development Plan. The recently approved $30 million World Bank Zambia Refugee and Host Communities Project will further support legal and policy harmonization, inclusion in a new national digital identity management system, infrastructure, and economic opportunities at Meheba settlement in Kalumbila district. As part of this effort, the project supports the rollout of new national ID cards for refugees across all three refugee-hosting districts, promoting legal recognition and inclusion within national systems. This inclusive approach, and the progressive National Refugee Policy, are enabling factors to advance Sustainable Responses to Forced Displacement in refugee and host communities and move away from unsustainable humanitarian interventions that do not support long term solutions.
Nature of Position
The incumbent will be based in Lusaka, s/he will be supervised by the Programme Officer and will work in close collaboration with the entire programme unit and other teams, particularly the Field Offices and Protection Unit. The Senior Programme Associate will be involved in the development and implementation of strategies, methodologies, monitoring plans and contingency plans that respond to new and emerging operational challenges through analysis of the operational context and the protection situation of forcibly displaced persons.
S/he will assist in ensuring that the implementation of the strategic direction outlined in UNHCR Zambia’s Multi-year Strategy informs the planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes implemented by UNHCR and its partners and that resource projections are considered in these programming processes. S/he will actively support the assessment and analysis of the needs of forcibly displaced persons and stateless people in a participatory manner, using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective. A result-based management approach will be adopted by the incumbent in programme design, r and monitoring. S/he will be responsible for developing project concept notes and grant proposals and do this in close collaboration with protection and external engagement teams in Zambia.
S/he will work closely with implementing and operational partners, government counterparts, and other UN agencies to ensure coherence and complementarity of interventions, particularly in the areas of livelihoods and economic inclusion, basic needs, protection, and community-based programming. This collaboration will include knowledge exchange and training support on the specifics of UNHCR’s programming approaches and, importantly, how this is applied throughout the programme cycle.
S/he will support in organizing consultative processes to ensure a consistent application of the organization’s criteria and policies for the selection and retention of implementing and operational partners, management of partnership agreements and risk-based performance monitoring.
S/he will develop a wide range of external contacts and will assist in identifying potential gaps and recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the continued efficient implementation of programmes and effective coordination with external stakeholders including potential partners. S/he will ensure consistent and coherent use of monitoring approaches, tools and systems in the operation through regular, review of final reports and tracking progress to advise on any corrective actions or the need for additional resources to reach planned targets.
Desired Candidate Profile
The Senior Programme Associate (G7) must have:
• Proven technical knowledge and demonstrated experience and skills in programme management with knowledge in operations management cycle and results-based management.
• Demonstrated experience in field locations, knowledge of the risks and vulnerabilities faced by forcibly displaced persons and ways to address their needs through programmatic interventions.
• Demonstrated experience in coordination within an interagency context and other actors including community-based organizations, in a refugee/humanitarian and/or development context.
• Demonstrated sound experience in facilitating programme management training and capacity building for partners and/or multifunctional teams.
• Demonstrated experience in developing programme strategies and implementation plans as well as skills in coordination, monitoring and evaluation, analysing data/information, and evidence-based reporting.
• Demonstrated partnership development and multi-stakeholder engagement at the mid-management level and related demonstrated skills are also key competencies for the position.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in budget negotiations.
• The ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced working environment, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively while maintaining the highest professional standards.
• Excellent and demonstrated communication skills in English, both verbal and written, to communicate sometimes complex ideas and information in a clear, jargon free manner and adapted to different audiences.
• Demonstrated computer skills such as full familiarity with Excel, the use of digital/online planning and reporting tools.
• The candidate must have strong teamwork and collaboration skills and must client and results oriented.
• The candidate must have a sound understanding of risk-based approaches to work, fraud mitigation and prevention, duty to report suspicions of fraud, as well as documentation of suspected or reported incidents of fraud by clients, colleagues, partners, or third parties.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
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Desired languages
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Operational context
Additional Qualifications
SkillsDM-Database Management, IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Development and monitoring of programme assessments and surveys, PG-Programme Analysis, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Results-Based Management
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
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Additional InformationOnly short-listed candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for written test and/or oral interview.
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance