Job Description

Deadline for Applications

October 11, 2026

Hardship Level

E (most hardship)

Family Type

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Residential location (if applicable)

Nairobi (CO), Kenya

Grade

NOA

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-10-01

Standard Job Description

Assistant Programme Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Assistant Programme Officer may be based in HQ, field/regional bureau, and would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division and may supervise a small team of local staff. The incumbent may refer to UNHCR’s Programme Manual (Chapter IV), UNHCR's corporate and regional strategic priorities, operation plans and other relevant institutional rules and regulations for further guidance.

The Assistant Programme Officer will support the provision of programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. The incumbent will play a role in coordinating with the other sections/units to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle. S/he will work in line with the overall UNHCR directions which crucially require working with partners, including with forcibly displaced and stateless persons, governmental institutions and the private sector, ensuring that programme management is approached as per UNHCR’s Strategic Directions, Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), corporate positions on SDGs.

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 in assessing and analysing the needs of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in a participatory manner, using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning.
• Provide support on programmatic aspects of developing multi-year protection and solutions strategies and annual plans with corresponding priorities taking into account corporate priorities.
• Support Results Based Management and programme capacity in light of evolving requirements, programming approaches and gaps.
• Assist the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions.
• Contribute to the review and analyse of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR offices in the region, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
• Assist with the provision of overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders in order to maximize the protection and solutions response for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
• Contribute to the successful application of the framework for implementing with partners, including the effective implementation of the policy on selection and retention of partners, management of partnership agreements, risk-based project performance monitoring, and risk-based project audits, among others.
• Contribute to ensure consistent and coherent monitoring approaches, tools and systems within the Area of Responsibility (AoR), in line with global standards and polices.
• Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contribute to improvements of programming tools and processes.
• Identify potential gaps and problems and in cooperation with other relevant sections recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the efficient implementation of programme activities.
• Assist in a timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audits observations and recommendations that relate to programmatic issues.
• 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

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

Economics

Business Administration

Social Sciences

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Demonstrated experience in programme management including familiarization with the OMC and sound knowledge Results Based-Management. Demonstrated experience in field operations, sound knowledge on the centrality of protection in programming, Joint Needs Assessments and the principles of targeting.

Desirable

Demonstrated experience in coordination within an inter-agency context and other actors, in a refugee or humanitarian context. Sound experience in program management training and capacity building activities.

Functional Skills

PG-UNHCR's Programmes

PG-Results-Based Management

PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)

PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)

(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

The Candidate demonstrates progressive professional experience in programme management within UN agencies or comparable large international institutions, with demonstrated exposure in complex or hardship operations characterized by high workload intensity, tight deadlines, and frequent operational shifts.

Demonstrated hands-on experience using enterprise programme and ERP systems, such as PROMS, COMPASS, or cloud-based ERP platforms. Proven ability to use Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint; Visio). manages activities, deadlines, budgets, and resources effectively.

Demonstrate knowledge and experience in relevant programme tools, reporting systems, and data analysis. Ability to multi-tasks and demonstrates effective drafting skills. Willing to work in hardship situations.

Experience with working with IDPs, returnees, refugees and host communities’ situations, emergency response management and solutions oriented.

All the shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for competency-based interview.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Desired languages

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

South Sudan continues to experience complex humanitarian and development challenges, including protracted, secondary and continuous displacement within and across its borders, food insecurity, and economic instability. The Ruweng Administrative Area (RAA), particularly Jamjang County, has been hosting a significant number of forcibly displaced persons, mainly due to prolonged conflict in neighboring Sudan. According to UNHCR’s proGres database as of 18 September 2026, Jamjang Sub-Office responds to approximately 155,207 forcibly displaced persons, including 35,804 newly arrived refugees because of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, and 9,988 South Sudanese returnees. Among the refugees, 53% are women, 56% are children below the age of 18, and an estimated 66% are female headed households who are extremely vulnerable. The host community around the camps consists of around 25,000 individuals, who also face economic hardships due to limited resources and infrastructure. UNHCR provides lifesaving assistance including health, education, WASH, shelter, NFIs, protection, etc and supports solutions for refugees in Jamjang Camps. In addition to RAA, the Jamjang Sub-Office has oversight for the UNHCR operations in Unity State and the Bahr El Ghazal region.

The security level in South Sudan is assessed as substantial (security level 4) in all areas.

SRM measures in place:

UN curfew is in force across the country; timing differs from one SRM Area to another. UN curfew is from 20:00 to 05:00 in Juba.

All personnel must request and receive security clearance for official and non-official travel.

Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environment (SSAFE) to be conducted in areas with HIGH Risk level and above.

All national personnel must be issued with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and VHF radios.

Nature of Position:

The Assistant Programme Officer will be based in Jamjang, will report directly to the Head of Sub Office and will normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division and may supervise a small team of local staff. The incumbent may refer to UNHCR’s Programme Manual (Chapter IV), UNHCR's corporate and regional strategic priorities, operation plans and other relevant institutional rules and regulations for further guidance.

The Associate Programme Officer will support the provision of programmatic guidance, the implementation and effective monitoring of the protection and solutions strategies within available resources. S/he will coordinate with the other sections/units to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle. The incumbent will work in line with the overall UNHCR directions which crucially require working with partners, including with the forcibly displaced persons, humanitarian partners, governmental institutions and the private sector, ensuring that programme management is approached as per UNHCR’s Strategic Directions, Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), Jamjang Multi-Year Strategy and corporate positions on SDGs as well as the UNHCR Regional Solutions pathways to achieving the 50@35. 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. Additionally, the incumbent will assist in consolidating and producing the situation and weekly reports, monthly operational updates, quarterly progress reports, factsheets, donor reports, press releases and articles.

Living and Working Conditions:

Jamjang is in Ruweng Administrative Area. UNHCR Jamjang Area of Responsibility (AOR) covers Ruweng Administrative Area, Bentiu in unity state, Barahgal region, that is Aweil & Wau plus Abyei Administrative Area.

Ruweng Administrative Area is predominantly inhabited by the Dinka ethnic group; Bentiu is occupied by the Nuer; Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal (Dinka) and Wau in Warrap State is mixed with Dinka, Faratit (Balanda, Kresh, Ndogo, Byi, Jur, Bongo, etc.), and English is the official language; the medium of communication is the Arabic language. The highest state authority in the Administrative Areas is the Chief Administrator, and the Governor in the Unity State and Bahr el Ghazal region. The climate has generally mixed seasons in RAA and Unity State, scorching from October to around April, and rain starts from June to September during the year. The areas are hard to reach, mainly accessed through UNHAS flights. Commercial flights only land in Yida, which is about 70km from Jamjang County, where the UNHCR Office is located.

UNHAS flights, operating three times per week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday), are the primary means of travel between Jamjang and Juba.

In Warab State and Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, the rainy season runs from April to November, as well as in Abyei Administrative Area. Abyei Administrative Area is predominantly occupied by Dink Ngok.

UNHCR staff serving in the AOR are expected to demonstrate flexibility, patience, and resilience in adapting to a working environment with limited social and recreational opportunities outside the compound, including within nearby humanitarian partner premises adjacent to the UNHCR guesthouse located in the compound in Jamjang, for which each staff member pays monthly through Salary deduction.

Although the overall security situation in South Sudan is relatively stable, it remains fragile, fluid, and unpredictable. The context is marked by localized low-intensity armed conflict in some areas, high levels of crime, inter- and intra-communal violence linked to cattle raiding, competition over resources, and reprisals, affecting refugee and host community settings. These challenges continue to have both direct and indirect impacts on UNHCR operations.

Jamjang is classified as a Security Level 4 (Substantial) duty station. The security situation remains challenging, and all staff are required to complete Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE) training. Staff movements are subject to strict security restrictions and compliance with all security protocols.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Results-Based Management, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PG-UNHCR's Programmes

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Change capability & adaptability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

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Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance