Vacancy announcement
Geneva, Switzerland
S/P/2023/006

Assistant Programme Officer - P1

Vacancy type Fixed-term regular staff
Duration of the contract
1 year (renewable)
Deadline for submission of applications
24 June 2023
Organizational Unit
Peacekeeping Training Programme Unit (PTPU)
Number of job positions
1
Accountabilities:

Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Energy Specialist in the Peacekeeping and Training Program (PTPU), the Assistant Programme Officer is responsible for the following duties (in compliance with the Institute’s relevant policies, guidelines, procedures and processes):

Support the functions within the Global Platform for Action (GPA) working areas on Policy, Advocacy, and Outreach:

  • Support activities on high-level and joint advocacy and following up on policy implementation aiming to ensure displacement situations are integrated into global energy, climate change, and forced migration forums with one voice from the GPA Community (i.e., ESMAP, HEPA, UN Energy, SDG7 Technical Advisory Group, COP, GRF, etc).
  • Contribute to energy in displacement policy and strategy development on global and institutional levels.
  • Support GPA’s work on displacement inclusive energy policy development at country level.
  • Facilitate the Humanitarian Energy Donor group as a coordination mechanism between humanitarian, development, and energy access donors to strategize and coordinate scaled up investment in energy access in displacement situations.
  • Assist in maintaining close dialogue with, and providing information to, donor governments on GPA’s operations and financial requirements, including in response to donor governments’ ad hoc requests for information.
  • Support facilitation, administration, stakeholder management, and outreach activities of the GPA network including the Clean Energy Challenge (CEC)

Support internal and external communications for the GPA and other activities of the energy pillar within the PTP:

  • Contribute to organizing events on humanitarian energy, support member states meetings, design and plan the structure of the events to increase stakeholders’ engagement.
  • Coordinate and develop bi-monthly Humanitarian Energy newsletters;
  • Lead the development process of ‘Humanitarian Energy’ related media (videos and social media content around key events);
  • Develop social media messages and campaigns for key moments for the GPA and Clean Energy Challenge; and,
  • Support development of strategic messages for social media and specific engagement with different target audiences signed up to the Clean Energy Challenge and GPA.
  • Manage the humanitarian energy website including regular updates, posting contents, and promoting the materials in different platforms.
  • Generate a resource-base of the partners involved in the work of the GPA and disseminate the resources produced through the GPA collaborative actions.

Support data management and visualisation of energy needs in displacement settings, contributing to the data, research and evidence task force of the GPA on Humanitarian Energy:

  • Assist developing required data visualisation dashboards and reports to map out energy needs in the humanitarian settings,
  • Provide support in managing inputs and updates to the data collection, analysis and visualisation.
  • Contribute to the partnership building around data sharing and harmonization.
  • Support in monitoring data accuracy, data protection, data storage and database management.
Results expected:
  • Outputs are delivered in a timely fashion and of high quality.
  • Communications with partner organizations which are professional and systematic.
  • Inclusion and presence of humanitarian energy in global policy and advocacy level are. considered.
  • Internal and external communication activities are strengthened.
  • Humanitarian Energy communications and information are expanded its reach.
  • Programme activities are efficient through data visualization support.
  • Capacity to identify problem/issues and identify workable solutions.
  • Ability to identify potential resource mobilization opportunities.
Competencies:

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable energy usage in displacement settings and humanitarian development programming. Analytical skills to conduct research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear objectives that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Minimum requirements

Education: Completed University Bachelor Degree in one of the following fields: Economics, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management or other equivalent related technical field from an accredited academic institution.

Experience: A minimum of 2 year of progressively responsible experience in the area of sustainable energy in displacement settings and humanitarian development programming; experience with the UN Secretariat, UN Common System or other international organization is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in English.

Special Notice:

UNITAR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Qualified women, individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

English and French are the two working languages of UNITAR. Priority will be given to the applicants from the under-represented regions at UNITAR. There will be a probation period of 3 months.

UNITAR staff members are subject to the authority of the UNITAR Executive Director and their appointments are limited to service with the Institute.

Considerations:

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. UNITAR is a non-smoking environment.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable Staff Regulations and Rules and UNITAR administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications to be considered for the current job opening. 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.

No Fee:

UNITAR DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). UNITAR DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

How to apply

Please submit your application along with a motive letter as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.

Due to high number of expected applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.