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

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Dakar, Senegal

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Programme Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Programme Officer may be based in HQ, field/regional bureau, typically reporting to and be guided by the Senior Program officer and may supervise a small team of local and international 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 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. 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.
- Support the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions.
- Review and analyse plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s), ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
- Support 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 in line with global standards and polices.
- Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contributing 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.
- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

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

Certificates and/or Licenses

Programme Management

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

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-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
PG-Results-Based Management
PG-UNHCR's Programmes
(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:
• Strong programme management background with relevant, up-to-date experience in refugee and IDP settings, preferably at country level.
• Proven ability to engage with government counterparts in complex and sensitive political environments.
• Demonstrated leadership and coordination of multi-functional teams across the programme cycle.
• Experience in implementing sustainable responses with emphasis on localization.
• Experience in area-based approaches, multi-stakeholder partnerships, HDP nexus, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
• Demonstrated contribution to strategic planning processes (e.g. MYMP, HNO/HRP, UNSDCF) and understanding of UNHCR engagement in these.
• Proven experience in UN inter-agency coordination.
• Fluency in French

Desirable Attributes:
• Experience in programming assistance for out-of-camp settings.

French

,

,

,

,

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 Position:

The Programme Officer reports to and is guided by the Deputy Representative. S/he supervises a team of national and international staff in a complex refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) context. As the most senior programme staff member in the operation, the incumbent provides technical leadership, guidance, and support to the country programme team.

The Programme Officer plays a central role in providing strategic programmatic advice to senior management on programme planning, implementation, and oversight. S/he ensures strong coordination with functional units and field offices to promote harmonized approaches across all stages of the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle.

The incumbent engages closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including national and local authorities, UN agencies, international and national NGOs, development actors, and organizations led by forcibly displaced persons.in a highly sensitive political environment. In this context, the Programme Officer promotes and ensures alignment with the operation’s strategic vision and operational priorities.

UNHCR Burkina Faso operates through a robust Multi-Functional Team (MFT) approach at both country and field levels. The MFT is central to programme planning, delivery, and risk management. As a key member of this structure, the Programme Officer provides leadership, guidance, and coordination to ensure effective programme implementation.

The operation has made significant progress in advancing its localization agenda, with over 70% of implementing partners being government institutions, national NGOs, or community-based organizations. This approach will be further strengthened through increased capacity-building efforts targeting local actors, particularly community-based organizations.

In the context of significantly reduced funding— and the shift toward project-based programming, the operation has adopted a proactive resource mobilization strategy, including engagement with non-traditional donors and the private sector. Within the MFT framework, the Programme Officer plays a key role in proposal development, as well as in the effective management and tracking of earmarked contributions, which constitute over 90% of the operational budget.

UNHCR Burkina Faso is an active member of the UN system, contributing to inter-agency coordination mechanisms such as the Programme Management Team (PMT) and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). The operation participates in several joint initiatives and currently implements joint programmes with other UN agencies. The Programme Officer plays an important role in the design and implementation of these inter-agency programmes.

The operational context remains highly challenging. Burkina Faso continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis, with significant implications for the civilian population. Despite progress by the Government in regaining control of certain areas and facilitating returns, insecurity persists across much of the country, resulting in continued displacement. Humanitarian access remains constrained, with some locations reachable only by UNHAS air operations

Living and Working Conditions:

Burkina Faso has basic infrastructure, including in the health sector. In Ouagadougou, there are over 20 clinics and hospitals; however, only nine are recommended by the UN system. Epidemics and other disease outbreaks are relatively common in the country.

Ouagadougou is classified as a non-family duty station. Internationally recruited staff are therefore not authorized to be accompanied by their families. Banking services are available, including more than five international banks, of which two (United Bank for Africa and Ecobank) are recommended by the UN system.

The climate is characterized by hot and dry conditions, with significant variations in daytime temperatures.

In some field locations, due to security-related constraints, the office provides well-organized guesthouses where staff are required to reside during missions (notably in FU Djibo, FO Dori, and Fada N’Gourma). In Ouagadougou and other major towns, UNDSS-approved hotels are available.

Housing in Ouagadougou consists mainly of individual houses, which are generally readily available. However, electricity costs are high, and the use of a backup generator is strongly recommended.

Ouagadougou is a D duty station with an 8-week R&R cycle. The R&R location is in Accra, Ghana.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Change capability & adaptability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, 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