Programme Associate, Humanitarian, Dakar, Senegal, WCARO, G6

Organizational Context

The Programme Associate is based in Dakar, Senegal, reporting to the Humanitarian Specialist within UNFPA's West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO). UNFPA is the UN agency dedicated to sexual and reproductive health and rights, aiming to deliver a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled, aligning with the ICPD Programme of Action and the SDGs.

Job Purpose

The Programme Associate plays a crucial role in supporting UNFPA's humanitarian response in the region. This involves assisting in the assessment of humanitarian situations, identifying critical needs, and contributing to the preparation and implementation of response plans. The role requires close coordination with other humanitarian actors, implementation partners, and government bodies. A key responsibility includes representing UNFPA in the Access Working Group and other relevant humanitarian coordination forums, ensuring effective collaboration and information exchange to enhance the overall humanitarian effort.

Responsibilities

The Programme Associate supports humanitarian response planning and implementation by assessing emergency situations, identifying needs for commodities, and contributing to contingency planning and distribution strategies. This includes facilitating interagency assessments and missions, and monitoring UNFPA's humanitarian activities, documenting best practices and lessons learned. The role involves liaising with humanitarian partners to map needs, identify gaps, and coordinate response efforts, while monitoring risk factors and supporting inter-agency contingency planning. The Associate prepares convoy plans, coordinates with programme and security teams for efficient logistics, and serves as the Access Working Group Focal Point, organizing meetings and consultations. They also liaise with sub/field offices on supply chain management and ensure commodity pipelines are maintained. Operational support includes contributing to procurement and distribution planning, assessing logistics for relief items, managing warehousing, and monitoring the effectiveness of emergency activities. Regular situation reports on stocks and field monitoring of relief item distribution are also required.

Work Experience

Requires six years of relevant experience in development and/or humanitarian programme/project management and coordination, with a focus on implementation. Field-level experience in humanitarian settings, particularly in RH, GBV, or youth programming, including results frameworks and M&E, is essential. Experience in emergency preparedness and response, needs assessments, and designing/monitoring humanitarian responses in GBV, RH, and youth is an asset. Familiarity with UN procedures and UNFPA's agenda is highly desirable. Knowledge of humanitarian logistics, especially for dignity/hygiene and RH kits, is also beneficial.

Skills

Core competencies include integrity, commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, embracing cultural diversity, change management, achieving results, accountability, professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, and teamwork. Functional skills encompass managing financial resources, providing procurement services, and ensuring facilities and assets management.

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