Assistant Programme Officer

November 23, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2027-03-01

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.

Essential Attributes (Experience & Skills)
• Programme & Results-Based Management (RBM): Demonstrated experience or strong familiarity with the Operations Management Cycle (OMC) and Results-Based Management (RBM) principles. Proven ability to support the formulation and revision of results frameworks, implementation plans, and performance indicators (ideally utilizing UNHCR's COMPASS platform).
• Operational & Protection Integration: Sound knowledge of the centrality of protection in programming, including experience with Joint Needs Assessments and the principles of targeting, ensuring Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspectives are integrated into all plans.
• Resource Mobilization & Proposal Writing: Proven experience in or aptitude for supporting resource mobilization efforts, including identifying funding opportunities from national/local sources (private sector, foundations, corporate donors) and drafting high-quality concept notes, funding proposals, and donor reports.
• Monitoring & Reporting: Proven capability in program monitoring, budget tracking, financial analysis, and drafting narrative reports and results-based progress updates.
• Risk & Audit Management: Experience identifying program-level risks, implementing risk-mitigation measures, and assisting in the follow-up of audit findings.
• Language: Professional fluency in both English and Russian (written and spoken) is strictly required.
Desirable Attributes
• Capacity Building: Experience in design, facilitation, or support of program management training and capacity-building activities for partners or internal staff.

NPOs should be nationals of the country and must be able to legally work and reside in the country.

This position is open to applications from internal candidates and candidates with UNHCR experience, provided that requirements regarding professional experience, academic qualifications, language, etc. are fulfilled.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
NOTE: An individual whose mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister is a staff member of UNHCR, including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of Affiliate Workforce, is not eligible to apply.

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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 Position:

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Moscow covers the Russian Federation and Belarus and operates through a streamlined structure requiring close coordination across programme, protection, external relations, administration and the national office in Minsk. The Assistant Programme Officer reports to the Representative, supervises the Senior Programme Associate and works closely with other functional colleagues to support coherent strategic planning, programme implementation, monitoring and reporting across the operation. The current organizational structure places the programme function directly under the Representative.

A central responsibility of the position will be to support the development, review and implementation of the Multi-Country Strategy through COMPASS (UNHCR RBM platform). This will include supporting the formulation and revision of results frameworks, implementation plans and indicators; coordinating inputs from functional teams; monitoring progress against planned results; and contributing to annual and multi-year planning, review and reporting exercises.

The incumbent will also contribute substantively to resource mobilization and diversification of the operation’s funding base, with particular attention to identifying and developing funding opportunities from national and local sources, including the private sector, foundations and other potential partners. The position will support the preparation of concept notes and funding proposals, including programme narratives, results frameworks, budgets and implementation arrangements, ensuring alignment with UNHCR’s mandate, strategic priorities and results-based management framework.

The Assistant Programme Officer will work closely with external relations, protection and other colleagues to ensure that funding proposals are grounded in identified needs, clearly articulated results and realistic implementation arrangements, and that programme priorities are effectively translated into opportunities for partnership and resource mobilization.

The position will further support programme monitoring and analysis, partnership management, budget monitoring and results-based reporting. Through these functions, the Assistant Programme Officer will contribute to maintaining a clear link between the operation’s strategic priorities, available and prospective resources, implementation and results.

Living and Working Conditions:

 

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

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

Certifications

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance