Deadline for Applications
Hardship Level
Family Type
Family Type
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Reason
Regular > Regular AssignmentTarget Start Date
Standard Job Description
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.
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.
Desired Candidate Profile
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languages
,
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Operational context
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
The Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa (RBESA) based in Nairobi, oversees UNHCR operations across a region facing some of the most complex and protracted displacement situations globally. The region is home to over 5 million refugees and asylum-seekers, alongside millions of internally displaced persons and stateless populations. Displacement is driven by a combination of armed conflict, political instability, climate-related shocks, and socio-economic challenges.
The Bureau provides operational support and oversight to 11 country operations: Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Bureau also oversees UNHCR’s Representation to the African Union (AU) and the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Most UN agencies, including WFP and UNICEF, have regional offices in Nairobi, and host some of their HQ teams. Beginning 1 October 2025, the Regional Bureau also assumed oversight of additional country operations and/or Multi-Country Offices in the Southern Africa region.
UNHCR operations in the region are navigating a dual challenge: responding to acute humanitarian emergencies while advancing longer-term resilience and solutions-oriented programming. This includes supporting voluntary repatriation, local integration, and inclusion of services in national systems and development frameworks.
The Programme Officer will play a central role in supporting and overseeing country operations to ensure effective programme delivery, strategic alignment, and operational coherence. The position requires a strong command of UNHCR’s programme cycle, results-based management, and operational tools such as COMPASS, ERP, PROMRS etc. The incumbent will provide technical guidance to country operations, review programme performance, compile and review annual results reports and contribute to regional planning and prioritization exercises.
In a context of constrained resources and increasing donor scrutiny, the Programme Officer will also support efforts to optimize resource allocation, strengthen partnership management practices, and supporting the implementation of both existing and new efficiency measures. This includes reviewing operational footprints, rationalizing implementation arrangements, and ensuring that programming is focused on high-impact, lifesaving, and solution-oriented approaches.
UNHCR’s engagement with development partners and the private sector is a growing area of strategic importance in the region. The Bureau actively collaborates with institutions such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and other multilateral and bilateral actors to promote the inclusion of services into national systems, particularly in health, education, social protection, and financial services. These partnerships are aligned with the commitments made under the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the pledges submitted by governments during the Global Refugee Forums (GRF). The Programme Officer will support country operations in leveraging these partnerships, integrating development approaches into MY strategic planning and implementation processes, and ensuring coherence with national development plans.
Nairobi is in UN security Phase III, but politically instigated demonstrations and riots may occur at any time. There is general crime similar to that in large cities. Crime in Nairobi is high and physical violence is a common feature of break into residences, carjacking and robbery. A high sense of vigilance and alertness is required. Despite the security concerns mentioned above, Nairobi is a duty station for families. It has good medical facilities. Recreational facilities, schools and hotels are of international standards.
It has an excellent climate. Comfortable houses and other forms of accommodation are available, as well as good banking facilities, unlimited access to all forms of communications, such as internet, telephone Sim cards etc. There is no malaria in Nairobi, but cholera, malaria and yellow fever occur in other parts of Kenya.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Results-Based Management, PG-UNHCR's ProgrammesEducation
Certifications
HCR Learning Program - UNHCRWork Experience
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 & collaborationUNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional Information
Functional clearance