Assistant Programme Officer - P1

Duration of the contract 1 year (renewable) Deadline for submission of applications 13 March 2026 Organizational Unit Peacekeeping Training Programme Number of job positions 1 Accountabilities:

Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief, Division for Peace Office in Bonn, the Assistant Programme Officer is responsible for the following duties (in compliance with the Institute`s relevant policies, guidelines, procedure and processes):

• Support the conduct of background research on thematic areas relevant to Peacekeeping Training Programme Unit (PTPU), including peacekeeping, maritime security, counter-terrorism and preventing violent extremism (CT/PVE), health and humanitarian assistance, and rule of law.
• Assist in the analysis of data collected through field missions, surveys, and secondary sources, and providing evidence-based inputs to inform programme strategies, training methodologies, and project design.
• Contribute to the identification of trends, challenges, and opportunities within assigned thematic areas to support informed decision-making and project development processes.
• Assist in the design, development and implementation of projects within relevant Peace and Security thematic areas, ensuring alignment with organizational guidelines and quality standards.
• Assist in coordinating activities related to budget funding, including pledge management, preparation of project documents, project budgets, and other related tasks.
• Support the monitoring of project implementation by preparing progress reports, evaluations, related documentation, financial statements, and other required materials.
• Support the Office of Bonn in liaising with national governments, international organizations, and other relevant entities to strengthen partnerships and facilitate effective programme delivery.
• Participate in field missions, including provision of substantive and administrative support, data collection
• Assist in stakeholder engagement activities, including collecting feedback, documenting inputs, and tracking follow-up actions to ensure timely and effective responses.
• Contribute to the preparation, coordination, and documentation of meetings, consultations, and outreach activities with partners and stakeholders.
• Draft reports, background papers, meeting summaries, and other knowledge products to capture programme activities and advance institutional learning.
• Support the development, review, and quality assurance of written outputs, including concept notes, agendas, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Maintain effective communication channels and serving as a focal point for stakeholder inquiries, ensuring timely and accurate information flow.
• Support the logistical planning and organization of programme events, including workshops, trainings, consultations, and conferences.
• Perform other duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Team members in PTPU;
• Officials in national governments (including focal points in national partners’ entities and other core actors, such as military, police, correction officers, civilians working in the security sectors, paramilitary forces and local security units, civil defence forces and national guards);
• Representatives from local, international and governmental organizations.

Results expected:

• Effective Research and Analysis: carrying out basic substantive research and produce well-informed analyses and background materials to support peacekeeping training and programme development.
• High-Quality Written Outputs: Drafting clear, well-reasoned proposals, concept notes, reports, briefing materials, web content, and presentations in line with UNITAR quality standards.
• Effective Programme Development and Evaluation: Providing technical and substantive support throughout the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects, ensuring alignment with UNITAR’s mandate, results frameworks, and compliance requirements.
• Effective Stakeholder Engagement: Maintaining proactive and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders, assisting in fostering collaboration and leveraging partnerships to advance programme results.
• Effective Operational and Logistical Support: effectively assisting the coordination of meetings, workshops, field missions, and conferences, including agenda development, participant identification, documentation, and logistical arrangements.
• Effective Partner Interaction: Ensuring timely and effective interaction with colleagues and external partners to support information exchange, task follow-up, and joint initiatives.

Competencies:

Professionalism – Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to project management in the area of peacekeeping, 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, 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 and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Client Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

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 honors 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 responibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Planning & Organizing – Develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, identify priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresee risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

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.

Commitment to Continuous Learning – Keeps abreast of new developments/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Respect for Diversity – Works effectively with people from all backgrounds, treats all people with dignity and respect, treats men and women equally, shows respect for and understanding of diverse points of view and demonstrates this understanding in daily work and decision-making, examines own biases and behaviours to avoid stereotypical responses, does not discriminate against any individual or group

Minimum requirements

Experience: A minimum of 2 years of progressively working with international organizations, specifically in peace related project management. Experience with the UN Secretariat, UN Common System or other international organizations is desirable. If the candidate has a Master’s degree, no minimum working experience is needed.

Education: Bachelor degree in international relations, security peace and conflict resolutions, gender studies, international development, or a related field from an accredited academic institution.

Language: Fluency in English; fluency in one or more official UN languages is desirable.

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.