Project Manager

Operational Context

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for asylum seekers, refugees, internally displaced, returnees and stateless people. The operation in Mozambique has its main office in Maputo, field office in Nampula, and sub-office in Pemba. The incumbent will be based in Pemba with frequent missions to Nampula and to lesser extend missions to Maputo. The working language in the UNHCR offices in Mozambique is English, while the official language in country is Portuguese.

Mozambique is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world and ranks 180th of 189 countries on the 2019 Human Development Index, facing several underlying challenges that increase the fragility of its population. The country’s north is home to around 784,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) due to conflict. Meanwhile, Mozambique hosts over 28,500 refugees of which over 9,500 reside in Maratane settlement in the northern Province of Nampula. Additionally, the country faces extreme weather events such as the March 2022 Tropical Cyclone Gombe that affected a total of 736,015 people.

In view of the large-scale IDP situation and a protracted situation of refugees in the country and the shift towards longer-term and development-oriented responses, and in line with the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), the operation is increasingly strengthening its engagement with development actors including multilateral development banks, bilateral development actors and UN development actors. Additionally, during the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF), in December 2019, the Government of Mozambique pledged to “continue local integration practice, aiming at stronger synergies between refugees and host communities and increase access to education, health and basic services for refugees and host communities by 2023.”

Building on this and in the framework of the Global UNHCR-BMZ Programme that aims at supporting UNHCR in its role as facilitator of the operationalization of the GCR in the Humanitarian-DevelopmentPeace (HDP) Nexus commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the representation of UNHCR in Mozambique has engaged in a joint project with the GIZ.

The incumbent will report to the Senior Operations Officer in Pemba. Technical supervisor will be provided by the Development Officer, based in Maputo, Mozambique. Please also note that engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme is subject to proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Duties

• Within the context outlined above, the Programme Officer will act as a Project Manager for the project and support UNHCR’s engagement and cooperation with GIZ, other development actors and authorities on the implementation of the GIZ joint project. As such, the incumbent needs to have practical experience working with and an understanding of the interplay of different aspects of economic growth, governance, fragility and conflict, the main factors that influence the environment for inclusion and resilience for UNHCR’s population of concern. Given the context, the incumbent need to have specific expertise in areas such as social protection, livelihoods, local governance and community development.
• The incumbent will head and coordinate the joint project, including overseeing the project progress of a team of 5 individuals based in different locations, specifically Pemba and Nampula. S/he will ensure regular liaison, exchange of information with HQ, Regional Bureau, development, governmental and implementing partners as well as the GIZ counterparts to ensure implementation of the project activities and alignment with the operation strategy in the context of transition from humanitarian to development interventions. The incumbent will also support donor relations on development and nexus-related issues. S/he will support the work of the development officer, Maputo, to strengthen UNHCR’s engagement with development actors to advance the inclusion agenda in both field locations, advance non-transactional development partnerships, data gathering and analysis activities to inform development partnerships as well as fundraising activities as it relates to UNHCR’s cooperation with development actors. S/he will support the drafting of relevant materials related to external engagement, project monitoring as well as reporting activities.
• The incumbent will be expected to have solid knowledge of protection, solutions, external relations and development issues. S/he will design, coordinate and monitor project activities and support the implementation of the office’s approach to strengthening development partnerships.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience/ Degree Level

• 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate
  degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Work Experience and Education

• University degree in International Relations, Economics, Political Science or related field is essential.
• Excellent understanding of UNHCR, its mandate, priorities, and field operations is essential.
• Excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and negotiate skills to deal with the donor and staff members of different cultural and educational backgrounds are essential.
• Excellent computer skills (Ms Word Excel, and PowerPoint essential) is essential.
• A good understanding of development issues and working culture is required.
• Previous experience working with the German development cooperation is an advantage.
• Project management experience is required, including project coordination, management of multifunctional teams, ensuring timely implementation of complex projects, monitoring and reporting.

Functional Skills

• Strong communication skills and institutional awareness.
• Project management skills.
• Understanding of humanitarian and development issues.
• Understanding of working with vulnerable populations is required.
• Experience working with PoCs, human rights or humanitarian issues is an advantage.
• Strong organizational skills required.
• Conflict resolution and team management skills are an asset.

Language Requirements

• Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. Fluency in Portuguese is highly desirable.

Competency Requirements

• Managerial Competencies.
• Empowering and Building Trust.
• Managing Performance.
• Judgement and Decision Making.
• Strategic Planning and Vision.
• Leadership.
• Managing Resources.
• Cross-Functional Competencies.
• Analytical Thinking.
• Innovation and Creativity.
• Technological Awareness.
• Negotiation and Conflict.
• Resolution.
• Planning and Organizing.
• Policy Development and Research.
• Political Awareness.
• Stakeholder Management.
• Change Capability.
• Adaptability.

Eligibility

• External candidates: External candidates must meet the essential minimum requirements of the position and candidates not citizens of the country must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country.

Remuneration

• A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org.

Submission of Applications

• Not signed, incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).
  ▪ The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
•  UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants to apply. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms gender, disability, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.