Programme Support Officer

General

Description of assignment title: Programme Support Officer

Assignment country: Somalia

Expected start date: 01/07/2025

Competitive recruitment:  Advertisement end date:16/07/2025

Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity: UNSOS

Type: Onsite

Expected end date: 30/06/2026

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Mogadiscio

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Security Council in Resolution 2245 adopted on 09 November 2015 established the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). This replaced the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOs), established in 2009. https://unsos.unmissions.org/unsos-mandate. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2245 decided that UNSOS will be responsible for support to AMISOM, UNSOM, the Somali National Army (SNA) and the Somali Police Force (SPF) on joint operations with AMISOM.

Context

The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), formerly known as the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA), was established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1863 (2009) to provide logistics support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which was reconfigured to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) following the adoption of resolution 2628 (2022) on 31 March 2022. The current mandate of UNSOS is elaborated on in Security Council resolution 2748 (2024). While the role and mandate of UNSOS remain unchanged by the resolution, logistics support to ATMIS and the Somali Security Forces (SSF) is expected to evolve when ATMIS is replaced by the successor mission, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The mandate also authorises UNSOS to support the Somali army and police on joint or coordinated operations with ATMIS.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Human Resources Officer and under matrix supervision by UNV Regional Portfolio Specialist, the Programme Support Officer will be responsible for the following under the UNSOS/UNTMIS portfolio: • Provide advice on interpretation and application of policies, regulations and rules to Managers and UN Volunteers through the correct and appropriate interpretation of the UNV Conditions of Service as relates to UNV entitlements and the management of the volunteer assignment; • Identify upcoming UNV vacancies in coordination with client offices, • Coordinate the recruitment and selection processes of assigned UNV positions, including preparation of Description of Assignments or Terms of Reference (DOA/TOR), publishing vacancies in the UNV portal, providing a short-list to those offices, conducting assessments and interviews, uploading the approved mission selection documents and selected candidates in UNV portal and perform reference checks and vetting for national UNVs. • Support the onboarding and arrival of newly deployed UN Volunteers and conduct induction and orientation for new volunteers. • Performing all actions in the UNV portal, including onboarding, contract extensions, update of funding information, mobile recoveries, accommodation rental recoveries, request for re-assignment and processing end of assignments. • Prepare UNSOS and UNTMIS volunteers budget estimates to replenish the UNDP SCA account on a quarterly basis. • Support the process of entry visa and extensions for UNVs. • Update and monitor UNSOS and UNTMIS volunteers staffing table. • Prepare a monthly payroll report for UNV under cost recovery and share with Budget colleagues for cost recoveries. • Process and follow-up on administrative arrangements related to official travel for volunteers, including creating travel requests, Expense Reports, and processing claims for their travel in Umoja. • Prepare annual accrued entitlement report for volunteers. • Monitor contracts of serving UN Volunteers, ensuring that action is taken in relation to contracts management such as extensions and separations in line with the Conditions of Service. • Ensure accurate recording of time and attendance by supporting UN Volunteers in the correct use of FSS. • Provides performance management advice to volunteers and assists supervisors and volunteers with understanding and using the UNV performance appraisal system. • Managing the Learning and Development of UN Volunteers. • Organise UN volunteers events including international volunteers' days. • Establish and maintain close working relationships with other sections/service providers in the mission to ensure close follow-up on issues related to UN Volunteer support. • Creating and maintaining individual personnel files for UN volunteers, ensuring accurate records of the volunteer assignments. • Support to Chief Human Resources Office and HR Section.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 3 years

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience: 3 years

Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Budget, Logistics and Project Management.

Competencies and values

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Client Orientation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Skills and experience

A minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible experience in the functional areas of Human Resources Management, or within an office or programme setting is mandatory. Experience with UN Peace Keeping Operations especially in the areas of Human Resources and finance is desirable.

Area(s) of expertise

Administration, Human resources, Volunteer management

Driving license

Other informationLiving conditions and remarks

General: Mogadishu is a non-family duty station. The UN Volunteer will be subject to the overall direction and guidance of the UN Designated Official (DO) for security. This is usually the UNDP Resident Representative. The volunteer will be incorporated into all applicable security protocols and will be required to strictly adhere to the guidelines, security plans and other directives issued by the DO. While in Somalia, the volunteer will be housed in UN provided accommodation. In Mogadishu this is at Mogadishu International Airport (MIA). Accommodation: Due to the security situation in the UNSOS mission area expatriate personnel deployed to Mogadishu are provided secured UN accommodation in a camp style environment. The UN-provided accommodation is essentially equipped with minimum room furniture. The UN accommodation is provided as a single room with shared bath and toilet facilities on arrival, however a self-contained room will be provided as soon as it becomes available. A monthly charge is paid by all personnel who avail of UN accommodation except those who are assigned containerized accommodation. Power and water (including purified water) is provided by the UN inside the camp to its occupants. Food and Diet: There is no access to local markets in Mogadishu. There is a UN dining facility inside the UNSOS Camp in Mogadishu where food is provided at a cost by CIANO which is the contracted catering company in UN camps in Somalia. There are also several restaurants in the protected area where a variety of meals can be obtained. Staff may cook their own meals at common kitchen buildings situated at convenient locations within the camp. There are also some shops with a limited variety of vegetables and other foods that can be accessed. Health: All medical formalities specified in the Offer or Travel Advisory should be completed before traveling. Yellow Fever vaccination is compulsory before coming to the mission area, while vaccinations for Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus/Diptheria, Polio and Meningitis are recommended. Vaccination Card (yellow card) must be carried by the volunteer. Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended. Due to large number of various types of insects in the mission area, it is also recommended to use insecticide-impregnated nets and insect repellents. UN personnel have access during working hours to a UN run civilian hospitals inside the UNSOS Camp in Mogadishu. Other duty stations also have UN run civilian hospitals. Rest and Recuperation: International personnel, including UN Volunteers, working in UNSOS mission area are entitled to a 4-week Rest and Recuperation (R & R) cycle. This means that after every 4 weeks of being in the mission area, there is a break to travel to either Nairobi (UNSOS designated R & R location) or any other destination outside the mission area. The R & R entitlement consists of a 5 calendar days R & R, with 2 travel days added, every 4 weeks. UN flights from Mogadishu or any other deployed site in the mission to Nairobi and back to duty station can be used at no expense. However, accommodation, food and other expenses while on R & R is borne by the individual. Approval of R & R is balanced against operational requirements.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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