Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

B

Family

PR2

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Associate Programme Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Programme Officer may be based in HQ, field/regional bureau, typically reporting to and be guided by the Program officer and may supervise a small team of local staff. He/she 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 provide programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of 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 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), and 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.
- Support the revision and analysis of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s) in the Area of Responsibility AoR), ensure quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
- Assist in 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.
- Provide support to ensure a consistent 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 across the region, 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.
- Oversee 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 P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Economics; Business Administration; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Programme Management
Certification Programme in Programme Management (CP-PM)
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Demonstrated experience in programme management including familiarization with the OMC and sound knowledge of 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
MG-Project Management
PG-Results-Based Management
PG-UNHCR's Programmes
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
(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.

Essential Attributes
• Proven experience in programme management within UNHCR or comparable humanitarian operations, including oversight of shelter, livelihoods and cash-based interventions (CBI).
• Demonstrated experience overseeing implementation modalities, including partnership agreements and direct implementation with NGOs and government counterparts.
• Strong experience in programme planning, monitoring and evaluation, and risk management in complex operational contexts.
• Proven experience coordinating multi-functional teams, including collaboration with Protection, Project Control, Information Management, External Relations and Administration functions.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with external stakeholders, including government entities, NGOs and UN Country Team (UNCT) actors.
• Proficiency in Spanish language

Desirable Attributes
• Experience developing and managing partnership agreements and partner relationships.
• Experience in design, implementation and monitoring of cash-based interventions (CBI).
• Experience in livelihoods programming.
• Experience preparing donor proposals and supporting resource mobilisation activities.
• Experience working in IDP settings, refugee contexts and mixed movement environments.

Spanish

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of the Position:

Honduras is characterized by a situation of protracted internal displacement due to violence, with escalating protection risks, including human rights violations, forced recruitment, violence against women and girls, compounded by extreme weather events and natural hazards. More than 423,000 people have been internally displaced in the country, with many more at risk of displacement. The high levels of violence continue to represent a challenge in terms of protection and assistance. Strengthening the prevention of internal displacement and the response remain key priorities. Support for returnees with protection needs is also an area of focus to support their sustainable integration.

Honduras has traditionally been a country of origin and, in recent years, has also become a transit country in the context of mixed movements and a country of asylum. Since January 2025, northbound migration flows have decreased; while some individuals are returning to their countries of origin or relocating within the region, others have chosen to seek international protection in Honduras. The increasing number of asylum claims is straining the Government’s response capacities. This trend highlights the urgent need to strengthen the national asylum system and bolster efforts to expand protection and sustainable solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers. While many advancements have been made over the years to strengthen the asylum system, there is an urgent need to provide technical assistance to ensure an efficient, effective, and updated process, incorporating best practices and international standards.

The Honduras Operation includes a CO, a FO in San Pedro Sula and Field Presence in Choluteca. The operation has 12 partners, 7 donor projects, and covers activities with IDPs, refugees, asylum-seekers, and returnees. It is a small, but diverse operation, in a highly fluid security context.

The Associate Programme Officer is the most senior programme position in the operation and is responsible for programme, shelter, livelihoods and CBI activities. They report directly to the Representative and supervise a team of four national colleagues. The incumbent provides oversight for partner agreements with NGOs and government institutions, as well as direct implementation. They support strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, and risk management activities. They work closely with the MFT, including Protection, Project Control, Information Management, External Relations and Administration. They coordinate with external actors including government, NGOs, UNCT.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Certifications

CP-PM Certification Programme for Programme Management - UNHCR, Programme Management - Other

Cash based Interventions, Programme/Planning, Work Context: Donor Relations & Advocacy, Work Context: Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operation, Work Context: Mixed Migration, Workforce to Supervise

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance