Hardship LevelE (most hardship)
Family TypeNon Family with Residential Location
Family TypeNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
Nairobi (CO), Kenya
GradeNOA
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2025-07-01
Deadline for ApplicationsJuly 7, 2025
Standard Job Description
Assistant Project Control Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Project Control Officer is part of the multi-functional team. In coordination with DFAM's Implementing Partnership Management Service, s/he is responsible and accountable for providing substantive support, guidance, and oversight on the effective management of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners (the Framework) as well as oversight on the effective management of Direct Implementation.
Complementary to programme management, s/he will support and conduct analysis and assessment of risks associated with partnerships and direct implementation, policy compliance, operational practices, mitigation measures and gaps and make technical recommendations or decisions in line with the principles of the Framework, of UN/UNHCR's financial rules, policies and regulations and operational context.
The incumbent prompts partnership integrity and other safeguarding mechanisms for ensuring sound stewardship and accountability of funds entrusted to partners or through direct implementation arrangements (e.g. contracts for the procurement of goods and/or services) to ensure resources are used in the most efficient and effective manner to attain the best results for persons of concern.
The Assistant Project Control Officer will promote dialogue and consultations for strengthening partnerships and have frequent contacts with UNHCR colleagues, particularly project control and programme staff. S/he may have contact with external stakeholders, such as UNHCR-funded partners, auditors, oversight bodies, and host governments on matters related to partnerships. The incumbent will be mindful of all dimensions of partnerships in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct, UN/UNHCR's financial rules, policies and regulations and other relevant documents.
In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the supervision of the Regional Controller. In the Country and Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent normally works under the direct supervision of the Representative or Deputy Representative, Head of Office or (Senior) Project Control Officer, as applicable.
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
- Participate in the annual assessment and planning cycle.
- Assist with the review of project agreements, ensuring that they are in conformity with Country Operation Plans and UNHCR's rules, policies and procedures.
- Assist with the formulation and implementation of a performance project monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and MFT.
- Assist with the development of the direct implementation monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and other relevant functions.
- Assist with the support of Programme and other relevant functions in the selection of implementation modalities.
- Contribute to tracking the management of project and direct implementation risks in collaboration with the Programme Unit, and report major risks to senior management.
- Contribute to reviewing, analysing and verifying Financial and Performance Partner Reports (PFR and -PPR), and to checking accuracy and consistency between PFR and PPR, in accordance with partnership agreements.
- Monitor, track and verify that expenditure for direct implementation by UNHCR is in line with the approved budget.
- Conduct reviews of the internal control systems of partners implementing projects and provide advice as required.
- Provide input on identified variants, risks and issues to partners, Programme Unit and escalate to management as required.
- Support timely project closure in coordination with the Programme Unit.
- Provide input to the mid- and end-year programme review process on issues related to project control.
- Maintain professional relationships with partners implementing projects and UNHCR's contractors.
- Keep up-to-date with all UNHCR rules, regulations and procedures necessary to perform these duties.
- 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
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
Business Administration;
Economics;
Management;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Accounting;
Auditing;
Finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent);
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Good knowledge of international auditing standards.
Desirable:
Good understanding of the workflows of major Enterprise Resource Planning financial modules (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle). Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS).
Functional Skills
FI-Financial auditing
PM-Project Monitoring
FI-International Auditing Standards
DM-Data Collection and Analysis
CO-Reporting skills
EL-Monitoring and Evaluation
(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.
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
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.
Desired Candidate Profile Desired candidate Profile :
The incumbent should have solid experience in refugee/IDP situation, track record working with implementation partners including government preferably within the UN System. The incumbent should possess thorough operational managerial experience, good understanding of UNHCR programming, including the various implementation modalities, skills in planning programme activities and monitoring including working under remote programme management. The ideal candidate will be expected to pose leadership capacities, experience working in teams and tested ability to collaborate across UNHCR, UN sister entities and with other humanitarian players, who are in partnership with UNHCR as well as with Government officials.
Further to the need to have full command of the Arabic language, the candidate should have good communication skills including written and verbal proficiency in English. The incumbent should possess excellent interpersonal skill with the ability to engage with wide range of UNHCR project stake holders to guide and provide technical support to UNHCR Partners in all aspects relating to general programme management protocols and specifically project control guidelines and practice.
Given the nature of project control function, the candidate will be required to exhibit proven ability to analyze complex situations, develop and conduct financial verification procedures to identify key gaps and issues and to develop solution pathway through the appropriate consultative process, within UNHCR and UN rules and policies. In light of the recently completed UNHCR programme and financial management systems upgrade , the candidate should have a good knowledge and usage of Cloud ERP – PROMS.
Nature of the position / Operational Context:
This position will be outposted to sub office Kassala that covers the eastern corridor of Sudan. He/she will report to the Senior Project Control Officer based in Port Sudan. Although incumbent is in the easter corridor, he will be required to cover countrywide project control responsibilities, including direct supervision of 02 other national colleagues within project control function who will be located at the same duty station. He/She will therefore be expected to demonstrate necessary technical and leadership skills including undertaking back up to the senior project control officer when later is on mission/travel outside country.
Following the outbreak of the crisis in April 2023, some of the Partners lost access to their offices and project documents. The persistent war situation has limited easy movement for UNHCR and partner personnel making on site monitoring and auditing of affected projects complicated. Hence, the Representation has embraced remote management and monitoring to ensure consistent provision of protection and solutions for the Forcibly Displaced Persons in such areas.
Further, as part of the localization agenda and strategy, UNHCR Sudan has engaged Refugee Led Organizations (RLOs) and and IDPs Led Organizations (ILOs) as well as several Community Based Protection Networks (CBPNs) to support the implementation of projects in the hard-to-reach areas. Despite the huge needs there are limited available resources that will require strict oversight mechanism and continuous training and capacity building for the partners and ILOs and RLOs, who often struggle with delivering expected performance and keeping financial and implementation procedures in full compliance.
To ensure an all-round monitoring of UNHCR activities, the incumbent will the expected to work closely with programme and technical colleagues through the multi-functional team to ensure corroboration of financial and performance monitoring results.
Project control unit provides the required data and evidence for UNHCR oversight roles such as IPMC , it is therefore required of the incumbent to possess strong skills in conducting due diligence on partnership activities.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCO-Reporting skills, DM-Data Collection and Analysis, EL-Monitoring and Evaluation, FI-Financial auditing, FI-International Auditing Standards, PM-Project Monitoring
EducationBachelor of Arts: Accounting, Bachelor of Arts: Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Finance, Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration
CertificationsAccounting - Other, Association of Chartered Certified Accountant - ACCA, Auditing - Other, Certif. Practicing Accountant - Other, Chartered Accountant (CA) - Other, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - CIMA, Institute of Management Accountants - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Additional InformationFemale candidates are encouraged to apply.
Candidate must be Sudanese nationality.
Functional clearanceThis position requires Functional Clearance