Project Associate (Sports for Protection) at UNHCR
Job Description
Job Summary
The Project Associate (Sports for Protection) will support the programme design, implementation, monitoring, coordination, and performance tracking of project interventions, with a particular focus on interventions implemented through Dowa District Partnership and other Government partners. The role is central to ensuring that implementation aligns with national priorities, that monitoring tools and frameworks are consistently applied, and that progress is systematically measured, analysed, and reported. The incumbent will work closely with implementing partners, district authorities, protection actors, key sports stakeholders and relevant sports authorities, school leadership, and community structures to strengthen evidence-based decision making and support the sustainability of project outcomes benefiting refugee and host community learners.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Support the achievement of core protection outcomes, including strengthening the integration of sports-based approaches within protection programming.
- Contribute to programme planning, design, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring alignment with UNHCR’s results-based management standards and operational priorities.
- Support the development and review of partner workplans, budgets, and monitoring tools to ensure alignment with RBM and UNHCR programme standards.
- Assist in coordinating implementation across sectors, ensuring coherence with MCO operational strategic priorities and maintaining regular communication with partners District authorities.
- Conduct field monitoring to verify activity progress, collect AGD disaggregated data, and document implementation challenges and risks.
- Support community participation and strengthen feedback and complaint mechanisms to enhance accountability to affected populations.
- Contribute to data cleaning, analysis, and the preparation of monitoring reports, donor updates, and documentation of lessons learned and good practices.
- Maintain updated M&E trackers, databases, and performance indicators to support consistent monitoring across interventions.
- Provide technical assistance to implementing partners on monitoring requirements and reporting expectations, including Sport for Protection components.
- Ensure organized documentation, filing, and recordkeeping of all monitoring materials in accordance with UNHCR standards.
- Assist with logistical and administrative arrangements for monitoring missions, partner reviews, and coordination forums.
- Monitor the safe and inclusive participation of persons of concern in community activities, including sports and recreational programming, and raise protection concerns as needed.
- Prepare and submit monthly updates and support quarterly and annual reporting against agreed performance targets.
- Any other duties assigned
Educational Qualifications, Experience, & Skills Requred
- Degree in Programme & Project Management and Field Experience
- Stakeholder Coordination and Liaison
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Coordination and Partnership
- Protection and Community Engagement
- Capacity Building
- Operational knowledge, field experience, and monitoring for displaced populations.
- Knowledge of refugee protection.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder projects involving government, NGOs, and international partners.
- Knowledge of inclusion and integrated programming for solutions.
- Excellent communication and reporting skills, including experience in donor reporting.
- Familiarity with national systems and curriculum alignment and implementation processes.
- Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and use of M&E tools.
Core Competencies
- Experience working with refugee populations or in displacement settings.
- Ability to train and mentor partners, district authorities, community groups, and colleagues on M&E processes, indicator tracking, and data collection practices.
- Experience engaging with Government ministries, District planning offices, traditional structures, and sector coordination platforms
- Proven experience in protection programming and implementing sport-based initiatives in forced displacement contexts, preferably in Malawi
- Ability to support multi stakeholder monitoring missions, joint reviews, and reporting consolidation efforts.
Minimum years of work experience (NOTE: candidates with less years of experience cannot be short-listed or recommended): 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
