Project Associate (Sports for Protection)

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), which was established in 1950 with the mission to protect the rights and well-being of refugees. UNHCR works to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state. The organization is committed to saving lives and building better futures for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 staff members. The organization focuses on providing assistance, protection, and solutions for refugees and displaced persons, advocating for their rights, and working with governments and partners to find durable solutions to their plight.

Job Overview:
The Project Associate (Sports for Protection) position is designed to oversee and support various protection interventions, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Child Protection (CP), and Community-Based Protection (CBP) initiatives, with a specific emphasis on the Sports for Protection programming. The incumbent will collaborate closely with Dowa District authorities, the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, among other partners, to ensure that all interventions are coherent and effectively coordinated. The role is crucial for aligning project implementation with national priorities, ensuring that monitoring frameworks are consistently applied, and that progress is systematically measured and reported. The incumbent will also be responsible for fostering strong relationships with implementing partners, district authorities, and community structures to enhance evidence-based decision-making and ensure the sustainability of project outcomes that benefit both refugee and host community learners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Project Associate include supporting the achievement of core protection outcomes, contributing to program planning, design, monitoring, and reporting, and ensuring alignment with UNHCR’s results-based management standards. The incumbent will assist in developing and reviewing partner workplans, budgets, and monitoring tools, and will coordinate implementation across sectors while maintaining regular communication with partners and district authorities. Field monitoring will be conducted to verify activity progress, collect AGD disaggregated data, and document challenges and risks. The role also involves supporting community participation, enhancing accountability mechanisms, contributing to data analysis and reporting, maintaining updated monitoring trackers, providing technical assistance to partners, and ensuring organized documentation of monitoring materials. The Project Associate will also monitor the safe and inclusive participation of persons of concern in community activities and prepare monthly updates and quarterly reports against performance targets.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for this position include a degree in a relevant field, with a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience for candidates with a High School Diploma, or 2 years of relevant experience for those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Candidates must possess competencies in program and project management, stakeholder coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and community engagement. Operational knowledge and field experience with displaced populations, as well as knowledge of refugee protection, are mandatory. Excellent communication and reporting skills, familiarity with national systems, and proficiency in data collection and analysis are also required. Desirable competencies include experience working with refugee populations, the ability to train and mentor partners, and proven experience in protection programming and sport-based initiatives in displacement contexts.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a relevant educational background, with a minimum requirement of a High School Diploma. A Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field is preferred. Additional certifications in areas such as accounting, auditing, business administration, finance, or project management are considered advantageous.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience for candidates with a High School Diploma, or 2 years of relevant experience for those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Experience should be related to program management, monitoring and evaluation, and working with displaced populations or in humanitarian settings.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirement for this position is English. Proficiency in English is essential for effective communication and reporting. Additional languages may be considered an asset but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA6 category and is expected to start on May 1, 2026, and end on December 31, 202

• The role is not remote and requires the incumbent to work on-site in Lilongwe, Malawi. The position is full-time and involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including government entities and community organizations. The candidate must be prepared to engage in field monitoring and community activities.