Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) with duty station in Nairobi, Kenya, Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will work under the overall guidance and the direct supervision of the UNODC Regional Representative of ROEA and in close cooperation with the Chief of HIV/AIDS Section at the UNODC headquarters in Vienna.

For more information on UNODC, please visit the website: www.unodc.org

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the Associate Programme Officer will assist in providing technical and policy guidance on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care among people who use drugs and people in prison settings as well as on drug prevention and treatment of drug use disorders in the Eastern Africa region. S/he will assist to facilitate collaboration and coordination activities with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Secretariat and other co-sponsors and other key players. The incumbent will support the UNODC Regional Office in strengthening national capacities to develop and implement strategies that deal effectively with HIV/AIDS and drug prevention, treatment and care in those key areas. The Associate Programme Officer will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Assist in carrying out assessment of the HIV/AIDS situation and on drug prevention in the key areas, the development of effective strategies and reviewing and adapting national HIV/AIDS and drug prevention and treatment policies and implementation plans.
• Participate in building national capacity for enhanced policy development, coordination, sound monitoring and evaluation with regard to HIV/AIDS and drug prevention and treatment and care in key areas under the UNODC mandate.
• As member of a team act as a focal point with UNAIDS as well as with other cosponsors on issues related to the prevention and care of HIV/AIDS, and work closely with UNAIDS Regional Support Team for East and Southern Africa, in the UNODC key areas.
• Participate in the technical working group, inter-agency task force, UN theme group on HIV/AIDS, Common Country Assessment (CCA), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF) and other relevant fora.
• Organize and participate as a resource person in advocacy meetings, roundtables, training workshops and other meetings related to drug prevention and treatment and specific HIV/AIDS issues.
• Assist in reviewing, analysing, and evaluating technical reports and other relevant materials on the state of the art of prevention and care of HIV and AIDS drug prevention and treatment an in the key areas and facilitate dissemination of good practices.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of programme/grant proposals at regional and country level.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, e.g. reports to HQs, Regional Office, Government, and donors.
• Assist the Regional Representative with the coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting of all HIV projects and drug prevention and treatment programmes.
• Serve as regional focal point and liaise with key East African counterparts, stakeholders, and resource persons, as well as with bilateral and multilateral partners involved in drug use prevention, drug dependence treatment and care, towards the development of national and regionally relevant drug information systems.
• Participate in UNODC HIV work in the development and implementation of the UNAIDS UBRAF (Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework) Country Envelope Funds for Eastern African countries.
• Contribute to the collection and analysis of data and identification of trends or patterns and provide draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Assist in carrying out general, substantive, and administrative arrangements for XEAW14 under the overall supervision of ROEA and the technical supervisory guidance of the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) and the HIV/AIDS section in HQ, including preparation of funding requests and briefs, project progress and implementation delivery rate reports, liaise with respective counterparts, and prepare related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Document requirements and background information used for data analysis.
• Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge of internal policies, processes and procedures generally and in particular those related to programme/project administration, implementation and evaluation, technical cooperation, programming and budgeting. Has understanding of the functions and organization of the work unit and of the organizational structure and respective roles of related units. Is able to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Has ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Has demonstrated ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. 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; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; 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.

• 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, public health or any other relevant discipline is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of professional experience at the national level in programme/project management in relation to drug demand reduction and/or HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes among people who inject drugs, and in prison settings is required.

Experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required.

Work experience in grants, project and fund management related modules in SAP/Umoja is desirable.

Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organizations is desirable.

Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

United Nations 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, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, 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. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

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 internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira 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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

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