Programme Coordinator - Human Security (P3) [Open to Tier 1 applicants only]

Better Than Cash
Better Than Cash

Full-time

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Posted on Sep 3, 2026
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Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP and IOM in Tanzania are implementing a joint programme on Strengthening Community Resilience in Tanzania: A Human Security Approach to Building Resilience in Tanzania amid Regional Challenges in the Great Lakes (Enhancing Response capacity of communities and government by establishing multipurpose ICT center and Strengthening Border Management. The programme aims to strengthen the resilience of border communities and comprehensively address complex threats to human security. The ongoing conflicts in the Great Lakes region has imposed challenges on Tanzania especially on the Western boarders with DRC and Burundi. The challenges include threats to personal safety (such as cross-border crime and the risk of youth recruitment by armed groups), economic security (disruptions to trade), health security (increased public health risks), as well as inflows of refugees and irregular migrants. These challenges are further compounded by disasters and the effects of climate change. The unrest following the 29 October 2025 general elections highlighted the importance of further strengthened human security across multiple dimensions. (i) Physical security: loss of life and injuries reported in major cities underscored the need to protect individuals from violence and harm. (ii) Economic security: protection and continuation of trade and livelihoods are essential, alongside efforts to strengthen investor confidence and safeguard households and communities from economic vulnerability. (iii) Social security: social cohesion, unity, and trust—particularly between law enforcement actors and communities, and especially among youth—must be reinforced to sustain peace. (iv) Psychological security: enhanced attention is required to support resilience, well-being, and mental recovery among those exposed to trauma, including families experiencing the loss or harm of relatives.

A Human Security approach, which prioritizes the safety and dignity of individuals rather than just territorial integrity, is best suited because it is comprehensive and preventive, integrating physical, economic, and social dimensions, making it holistic rather than reactive. The approach proposes supporting Tanzania in addressing the external vulnerabilities given from its geographic location in the Great Lakes region, while also promoting youth engagement and empowerment to restore and strengthen trust and resilience. The Programme aims to strengthen community and government response capacities through the establishment of a multi-purpose ICT Center and the enhancement of border management. UNDP serves as the Lead Implementing Partner and will be responsible for overall programme management, coordination, fiduciary oversight, and quality assurance. The programme is implemented in close collaboration with IOM and in coordination with the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) to ensure coherence with the UN Cooperation Framework and interagency alignment.

UNDP Tanzania is also implementing a programme on “Integrating Advanced Technology for Socio-Economic Development through Human-Wildlife Co-existence at Makao WMA (Rapid Response Mechanism for Human-Wildlife Conflict)”, aimed at addressing the challenges of Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC). In Tanzania, HWC remains a significant threat to communities living near protected areas, where frequent interactions between people and wildlife—particularly elephants—result in loss of lives, destruction of crops and property, and disruption of livelihoods, thereby undermining socio-economic development and community well-being. The project seeks to establish an effective rapid response system that enhances patrol coverage, enables real-time wildlife detection and incident reporting, and generates timely data to strengthen wildlife management, governance, and socio-economic activities such as tourism. A performance visualization platform will transform field-collected data into accessible insights for decision-making and public awareness. To ensure sustainability, the project emphasizes community engagement, capacity building, and ownership through targeted training and advocacy, supported by a robust monitoring and evaluation framework and clear exit and upscaling strategies. Collectively, these interventions promote innovative and evidence-based solutions to address ecological and socio-economic challenges while fostering peaceful human–wildlife co-existence.

Position Purpose

UNDP Tanzania seeks to recruit a Programme Coordinator for the Human Security and the HWC Programmes. The Programme Coordinator responsible for overall management of the programmes. The coordinator will work closely with the programmes implementation teams at UNDP and IOM and will be responsible for day-to-day management of the programmes.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide strategic policy and technical direction and leadership on the programme:

  • Ensure technical advice, management inputs and coordination to strengthen the UNDP’s work on peace and security to prevent violent extremism as well as human-wildlife conflict , fostering community resilience and development in Tanzania.
  • Provide technical guidance on peacebuilding, conflict transformation and management of natural resources.
  • Ensure coordination and capacity development of stakeholders and partners on human security approach
  • Deliver leading edge technical advice and thought leadership to national counterparts and lead analytical work to identify key policy issues/gaps to improve policies for the thematic area of the programmes.
  • Conduct thorough analysis of the political, social, and economic situation in the context of the programmes and provide strategic advice to the UNDP CO management on issues related to the thematic area.

2. Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for programme implementation:

  • Ensure the day-to-day administration of the programmes to ensure annual workplan is effectively implemented at national and local levels, including in targeted communities.
  • Organize technical level meetings with relevant partners for the implementation of the programmes to ensure programmes delivery.
  • Design and implement training programs for government, UN stakeholders, and beneficiary organizations.
  • Monitor programmes progress against the Results Framework (RF) and develop mechanisms to keep the programmes on track.
  • Undertake missions to programmes field locations on regular basis and produce monitoring reports.
  • As required, represent the programmes in meetings and workshops.

Lead the design and put in place quality assurance mechanisms, including coordination of contributions from relevant responsible parties to ensure highest quality of programmes outputs, products, publications, and policy discussion papers and briefs before review and approval by UNDP and the government partners (if needed).

  • Provide technical guidance, input, and support to the programmes team. Ensure coordination between UNDP and all programmes stakeholders to ensure that financial and operational procedures of the programmes are in line with UNDP rules and regulations.

3. Lead effective programme management

  • Develop annual workplans with budgets and procurement plan and monitoring plan.
  • Organize financial and budget variance reports.
  • Ensure that aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes.
  • Preparation of donor reports and provide support for the development of the annual and quarterly reports.
  • Ensure the preparation and maintaining of monthly progress updates.
  • Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results, and regular monitoring of the risk matrix and risk management arrangements to keep the programmes on track and recommend early actions.
  • Develop terms of reference for consultants and advisors who will be working towards programmes delivery.
  • Organize Programmes Steering Committees meetings, incl. preparatory meetings for the Government counterparts, UN and donors.

4. Build strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization:

  • Organize technical level discussions with government and other national stakeholders.
  • Develop agreements with partners (Letters of Agreement, Responsible Party Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding etc.)
  • Engage with the donors to undertake additional resource mobilization for the programmes.
  • Ensure sector-wide coordination and strategic planning efforts and partnership.
  • Create and coordinate partnerships with the UN Agencies, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.

5. Lead advocacy support and facilitation of knowledge building and management

  • Lead relevant, high-impact advocacy activities and campaigns with key partners.
  • Collect knowledge on current and emerging trends by gathering relevant information on programmes, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices.
  • Contribute to knowledge networks, including the United Nations Cooperation Framework’s results group, South-South and Triangular Cooperation platforms, and other communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: ICT Expert – IUNV, National Officer

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy - Systems Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
2030 Agenda - Peace, Planet: Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions, Protection of Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Climate Resilience
Business Management - Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, priorities and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
Business Management - Monitoring & Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming
needs and concerns
Business Development - Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Business Management - Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, priorities and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in the field of Law, Political Sciences, International Relations, Development studies, Social Sciences or related field is required. OR
  • A first-first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at national or international level in the field Law, Political Sciences, International Relations, Development studies, Social Sciences or related field is required.
  • Experience in programme/ project management is required.
  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages
  • Strong experience in prevention of violent extremism and resilience is desirable
  • Experience in managing and implementing field cooperation activities and programmes, and/or dealing with countries at risk of violent extremism, preferably with international organizations is desirable.
  • Demonstrated ability to co-ordinate a wide range of inputs and multiple stakeholders is desired.
  • Experience engaging and operating in a multi-normative legal framework is desirable
  • Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization is an asset
  • Demonstrated experience in Programme Quality Assurance is an advantage.
  • PRINCE2 or other recognized programme management certification is an asset

Language:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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