Project Associate (Sports for Protection)

Deadline for Applications

April 27, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

B

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA6

Target Start Date

2026-05-01

Terms of Reference

General Background

Malawi hosts over 60,500 refugees, asylum-seekers, and others of concern, mainly in Dzaleka Camp and its surrounding host communities. Malawi is a State Party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1969 OAU Convention, having acceded to these instruments in 1987 and 1989 respectively. While the national framework upholds core refugee protections, including nonrefoulement, Malawi maintains significant reservations to several provisions of the 1951 Convention particularly Articles related to freedom of movement, access to employment, property rights, and public education. These reservations underpin Malawi’s longstanding encampment policy, under which refugees and asylum seekers are required to reside in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, designated as the official place of residence for persons of concern.

The national legal framework is governed by the Refugee Act of 1989, which establishes procedures for reception, admission, and refugee status determination, though it provides limited guarantees regarding socioeconomic rights. The Act is currently under review, offering an opportunity to modernize the legal regime and align it more closely with international protection standards.

UNHCR Malawi is working very closely with the Government of Malawi to implement government-led integrated approach that strengthens the enabling protection environment while advancing a targeted Sport for Protection initiative. This approach reinforces national and district level systems by supporting core protection strategic priorities registration, documentation, refugee status determination, and policy and legal frameworks while embedding structured, protection sensitive sport interventions within existing community and social service mechanisms.

Sports for Protection remains a strategic priority as it offers an evidence-based pathway to improving social inclusion, social cohesion, and psychosocial wellbeing among refugees and host communities, particularly young people and other vulnerable groups. The initiative operationalises Malawi’s commitments under the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) by enhancing AGD-inclusive participation, strengthening accountability to affected populations, and promoting meaningful community engagement.

Systematic monitoring, documentation, and capacity strengthening ensure that the initiative generates scalable, government owned models that can inform broader policy dialogue and strengthen integrated protection and solutions programming across the Zambia MCO.

As of 2026, UNHCR Zimbabwe and Malawi are administratively managed under the Zambia MultiCountry Office (MCO), enabling a harmonized regional approach across the three operations. The overarching strategic direction is to strengthen government led systems and promote integrated, sustainable delivery of protection and solutions for displaced and host populations.

1. Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations to this assignment (if applicable)

1. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The position will oversee Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Child Protection (CP), and Community-Based Protection (CBP) interventions, including Sports for Protection programming. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Dowa District authorities, the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and other partners to ensure coherence in policy implementation, integrated planning, and effective coordination of all planned interventions.

Given the cross-cutting nature of these interventions and the need for strong engagement with multiple stakeholders, the incumbent will support programme priorities by supporting the design, implementation, and coordination of monitoring frameworks, as well as project performance tracking, partner compliance monitoring, and evaluation activities including on protection and Sport for Protection components.

The role will further support the implementation of various projects at the field level and ensure effective, well-organized communication between UNHCR, implementing and other partners, government entities, and communities within both the settlement and surrounding host communities. The incumbent will work closely with the National Office and UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office (MCO) to provide regular updates and reporting to the relevant national authorities and donor briefings.

The position is expected to start from 1st May 2026 to 31 December 2026.

1. Position Purpose

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.

Specific duties and 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

CANDIDATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, SELECTION CRITERIA

7.Required qualifications, language(s) and work experience

Degree

Required 1 Specify

Not required 0

Field of expertise, competencies

• Programme & Project Management and Field Experience
• Stakeholder Coordination and Liaison
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Coordination and Partnership
• Protection and Community Engagement
• Capacity Building

Required/Mandatory Competencies

• 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.

________________________________________

Desirable 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

Language: Required: English Desirable

Authorized by (in accordance with PR/2025/06 Procedures on 2026 Resource Allocation and Management – Special Measures for 2026

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

FI-Financial Accrual Accounting under internationally accepted standards (IFRS,IPSAS,etc), FI-Financial auditing, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Functional Knowledge, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software, MG-Project Management, PM-Project Assurance, RM-Risk Management

Education

Certifications

Accounting - Other, Auditing - Other, Business Administration - Other, Finance - Other, Project Management - Other

Work Experience

• Other information
• This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No