Project Control Officer at UNHCR Rwanda: (Deadline 9 November 2023)

A (least hardship)

Family

PR3

Professional

* Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.

In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2023-10-13

November 9, 2023

Project Control Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The 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 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.
– Participate in the development and implementation of partnership management objectives aligned with UNHCR’s strategy and priorities.
– Participate in the development of the direct implementation monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and other relevant functions.
– Support Programme and other relevant functions in the selection of implementation modalities.
– Support a coherent approach in the application of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners and compliance with its policies, principles, and procedures to ensure effective partnerships, as well as sound stewardship and accountability for the funds entrusted to partners.
– Pursue high-quality partnerships and integrity culture in UNHCR, among partners and UNHCR’s contractors to mitigate misuse and wastage of resources, fraud and corruption, sexual abuse and exploitation, and other forms of misconduct; including recommendations to put in place safeguarding mechanisms and measures for detection, prevention, reporting, and addressing fraud, and other forms of partnership/ contractors misconduct.
– Ensure UNHCR management (country/bureau/global) and offices have access to high-quality and timely analytical insights and advice for enabling evidence-based operational decisions and accountability on project control, partnership and direct implementation management.
– Provide first-line support for project control, external and internal audit, evaluation, and other reviews pertaining to partnership and direct implementation management, and assist in gap analysis, establishing, measuring, and taking appropriate actions for addressing queries, recurrent weaknesses, and other findings.
– Ensure coherent practices of analysis and critical reviews of risk exposure and establishment of linkages of risk management with monitoring, financial management, project control, audit, and other processes related to partnership management and direct implementation to enhance effective delivery and optimum use of funds through partnerships or through direct implementation.
– Foster constructive dialogue and consultations with partners, UNHCR’s contractors and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, interagency collaborations, and harmonisations.
– Contribute to strengthening the capacity of UNHCR and partners on partnership and direct implementation management.
– Seek innovative approaches in enhancing partnership and direct implementation management, gathering experiences, and sharing best practices and lessons learned among operations and partners.
– Contribute with inputs on reviews and enhancements of policies, procedures, and practices governing the framework for Implementing with Partners and the management of direct implementation.

– 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 duties related to financial management as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
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

Accounting                             Business Administration;                   Economics;           Finance

Public Administration           Management                        or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in financial management, accounting, project management, internal control assessment, internal audit and/or external audit, risk management and demonstrated experience in field operations. Demonstrated experience in effective partnership management and multi-stakeholder coordination in humanitarian, emergency or development contexts. Good knowledge and understanding of UNHCR/UN rules, policies, and regulations regarding partnership and financial management, oversight and compliance. Proven analytical skills, and abilities for identification of gaps and finding solutions. Good level of computer literacy in particular, experience in computerized systems and software. Experience in communicating, building capacities, coordinating consultative processes and building consensus. Ability to contribute in policy and process reviews.

Desirable
Innovation and technology skills in financial, risks and fraud management. Professional qualification in accounting (CPA, CMA or CA, CFE, ERM, or equivalent). Training in UNHCR’s protection and management learning programmes. Capacity building skills.

Functional Skills
*MG-Resource Management
BU-UN/UNHCR Budgetary cycle
BU-Budgeting
(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.

The incumbent will supervise one national staff and report to the Deputy Representative.
The Project Control post demands extensive finance and audit skills that have been acquired from previous field experience and operations, including emergency situations, complemented with solid technical knowledge of new ERP systems and COMPASS. The incumbent should also have exceptional analytical skills, good communication skills, networking capacities, and tactful techniques that are needed in dealing with Partners, Government counterparts, Project auditors, Oversight bodies (UN Board of Auditors, and Office of the Internal Oversight Services), as well as liaising with the Implementing Partnership Management Service (IMAS) in HQ.
The Project Control Officer shall serve as the focal person on all audit issues within Rwanda, and he/she will be required to work in close collaboration with all partners that are implementing projects within the operation. Great sense of initiative and leadership, political awareness as well as teambuilding skills, are required for this position.
The Project control Officer is also expected to serve as back-up risk focal point for the operation supporting in annual risk assessment and management. Previous experience in risk focal point is desired.
Rwanda operation is involved in significant CBI programme and Project control plays significant role in ensuring compliance with all CBI finance transactions processes and related risk management. Previous experience in CBI related transactions management is desired.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

UNHCR Rwanda is provided protection service and assistance, as of June 2023) to about 133,671 forcibly displaced persons and persons at risk of statelessness. This statistic includes mainly refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (81,987 persons) and from Burundi (50,787 persons); about 9,500 people at risk of statelessness are recorded. The Operation is also providing emergency protection solution to refugees and asylum seekers evacuated from Libya; this group is hosted in an emergency transit center; 672 persons are hosted at the end of June 2023.

Refugees are hosted in five refugees camps and in the emergency transit center (ETM). About 10% of refugees are living in urban areas. UNHCR has 1 Sub-Office (Kirehe), 3 field offices (Huye, Nyamata and Kiziba) and 1 Field Unit (Kabarore).

The Project Control Officer will be under the Deputy Representative’s supervision. He/She will supervise one national staff and work closely with the Programme Unit as well as various technical experts (health, WASH, Shelter, CBI, Energy/Environment).

In 2023 UNHCR Rwanda has 8 partnership agreements with 8 partners including 2 national NGO and a Government entity. A consolidation of partners was done for 2023, to reach the 8 partners from the initial 11 partners during 2022. The audit of 2022 projects yielded a positive outcome as no major issues were reported.

The Project Control Officer will be the focal person on all audit issues within Rwanda, and he/she will be required to work in close collaboration with all partners that are implementing projects within the operation. The Project Control Officer is also expected to serve as back-up risk focal point for the operation supporting in annual risk assessment and management.

The Government policies towards refugees are inclusive and provide an opportunity for refugees to be included in the socio-economic tissue. Refugees are allowed to work and settlement out of camps if they could sustain themselves. UNHCR is co-chairing the refugee coordination meetings with the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA).

Living and Working Conditions:

The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. UNHCR enjoys cordial working relations with Government Officials, other UN Agencies and Partners. Basic health facilities are available with a UN Dispensary that can provide 1st Aid assistance and guidance. Domestic supplies are available on the market. Housing conditions in the capital Kigali are of good standard and rents are reasonable. International schools exist only in Kigali at the primary and secondary levels. The main airport in Kigali has several international flights with easy connections to the region.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Accounting, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Finance, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Management, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Public Administration

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

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

Compendium

Bi-annual Compendium 2023 Part B – October 2023

Additional Information

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