Senior Programme Officer

Peace and Security Cluster

Background Information – UNMAS

Established in 1997 by the General Assembly, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) serves as the United Nations focal point for mine action and supports its vision of “a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies.”

UNMAS coordinates and collaborates with fourteen UN departments, agencies, programmes and funds to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problems of landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions.

UNMAS establishes, manages, and provides strategic direction to mine-action coordination centres in countries and territories as part of peacekeeping operations and humanitarian emergencies or crises. In these situations, UNMAS may plan and carry out mine-action projects, support and coordinate the work of local and international mine-action service providers, and set priorities for mine clearance, mine-risk education and all other aspects of mine action.

Afghanistan 

More than three decades of armed conflict in Afghanistan have left widespread mine and ERW contamination across the country. The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) has been working to clear this contamination since 1989. The MAPA currently focuses on implementing the ten-year 2013-2023 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) Extension Request Work Plan, which will see all recorded contamination cleared by 2023, subject to the continued availability of funding. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) supports the efforts of the Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) to achieve this goal.

The explosive hazard contamination in Afghanistan affects an estimated number of 2.3 million people in Afghanistan. Some identified at-risk groups affected by the contamination include returnees, IDPs, nomads, scrap metal collectors, and people on the move (travelers); among all, children have been known to be the most vulnerable to the threat of mines, particularly ERWs.

For the past decades, the MAPA has been using a standard set of Risk Education (RE) materials (trainers’ kit and materials for display in vulnerable communities), as well complementary RE merchandise (i.e. pen, a notebook with RE messages). Considering the recent rise in casualty numbers (170 casualties per month) resulting predominantly from ERW and Victim Operated improvised explosive devices (VOIED) (not traditional anti-personnel and anti-vehicle landmines), DMAC identified the need to update the MAPA Risk Education strategy and materials, UNMAS concurred and agreed to provide support.  UNMAS is anticipating to implement this in two stages, including, the development of a behaviour change and communications strategy for the Risk Education programme of Afghanistan that examines the current RE approach, the conflict context, the risk-taking behaviours, the at-risk groups and tailors RE better ensure positive behaviour change takes place, addressing the characteristics of the at-risk groups and risk-taking behaviours. This will serve as a guide for the second stage, which is the implementation of RE interventions in Afghanistan, and the actual design of targeted new RE materials or new interventions, such as outlining new approaches to stigmatise and dissuade actions, for example, collection of ERW as scrap metal or the use of VOIED by armed opposition groups.

During December 2017, UNMAS, in collaboration with its local partner, Danish Deming Group (DDG), supported the conduction of a national MRE workshop under DMAC’s leadership. The goal of the workshop was to highlight current casualty trends and risk-taking behavior, as well as to consolidate key stakeholders’ recommendations on the way forward for improving MRE interventions. A report is available at http://dmac.gov.af/publications/mine-erw-risk-education/. The MRE Workshop report also includes an in-depth analysis of the mine/ ERW casualty data for the years 2009 to 2017.

Below please see a list of few other key reference documents including reports of KAP Surveys, Evaluations and other events related to Mine/ ERW Risk Education in Afghanistan. All reports are available at the above link.

• Afghanistan Evaluation-CB Approaches for Improving MRE and Perception of Deminers 2012
• Afghanistan KAP Analysis Report - 2004-2005
• Afghanistan KAPB Survey Report - 2009-2010
• Attitudes towards Mine Action - An Afghan Women Perspective Report - Jan 2009
• DDG Afghanistan RE baseline KAP Survey Report - Mar 2018

*The duties and responsibilities of the ICS-9, ICS-10 AND ICS-11 Programme Officer are similar to each other, with the difference in grades being determined by the complexity, funding portfolio, and other criteria linked to the level of responsibility of the specific position. A Programme Officer may be responsible for all aspects of the Terms of Reference or may be specialized into one or more areas only. A Programme Officer may also be responsible for managing junior staff.

Reporting to the Senior Programme Manager, the Senior Programme Officer is responsible for the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Programme development, planning and coordination
2. Development and follow up of resource mobilization opportunities
3. Stakeholder coordination, representation, and inter-agency collaboration
4. Programme management support
5. Knowledge management and document management
6. People management

1. Programme development planning and coordination

• Coordinate the development and articulation of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) in line with relevant UN and government and/or national or regional strategies, and review/update at necessary intervals. Ensure CPS reflects in-house capacity, budget, typology of delivery areas and the internal tools and knowledge resources. 
• Support the management team to translate the Strategy into implementation/results work plans and associated monitoring mechanisms and draft project documents as needed for the implementation of the programme.
• Coordinate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in-country and at HQ, to ensure aligned and coherent planning and implementation processes. 

2. Development and follow up of resource mobilization opportunities

• Monitor humanitarian and development trends and needs to identify potential areas of intervention within UN mandates and existing capacity. 
• Stay abreast of policies on mine action, UN policies, and cross-cutting priorities, such as gender, diversity, conflict sensitivity, sustainability, and environment, to be included in programme design as relevant. 
• Coordinate the identification, design, and formulation of new activities to meet programme objectives.
• Coordinate preparation of programme documents, including concept notes, proposals, and associated budgets.
• Draft and/or review funding agreements and other project documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects.
• In coordination with headquarters Resource Mobilization personnel, support the review, submission, negotiation, and signature of funding agreements.

3. Programme management support

• Analyze funding agreements and develop compliance plans and monitoring frameworks to guide key departments and management team to meet requirements of funding agreements, in coordination with HQ. 
• In collaboration with relevant personnel, establish monitoring mechanisms to measure delivery against targets outlined in funding agreements. 
• Provide review/input to scopes of work for procurement processes to ensure the requirements of the relevant funding sources are reflected in agreements with implementing partners. Review implementing partner reports to ensure requirements are being met. 
• Track programme results against targets, alert relevant management if delivery is not on track, compile data and draft reports to internal and external stakeholders and support the management team to prepare for internal reviews.
• Coordinate information flow between implementation teams, donors, and headquarters, particularly related to any deviations that would require revisions to the relevant legal agreement; when required, Coordinate budget and activity revisions to funding agreements.
• Prepare, and provide editing support for, high quality summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, project reports, annual reports, situation reports, briefing notes, code cables, and UN reports. Prepare written summaries of meetings/visits and ensure relevant team members implement follow-up actions, as appropriate; research and prepare analytical, and sometimes sensitive, documents for the management team.
• Coordinate communications between the Country Programme office and the headquarters Programme, Portfolio Management, and Risk, Quality and Partnership teams to support compliance to programme documents and funding agreements, and the implementation of policies, processes and methods according to internal standards.

4. Stakeholder coordination, representation, and inter-agency collaboration

•  Establish and build relationships with UN, international organizations, donors, governments, and mine action stakeholders for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of programme implementation.
• Participate in, contribute to and report on the relevant inter-agency, UN mission, donor and inter-governmental coordination meetings in consultation with relevant programme technical experts when required. Support the management team with UN common planning and programming processes, including strategic country analysis, UNSDCF, humanitarian response plans, integrated strategic frameworks, etc.
• Coordinate, participate in, or contribute to the Mine Action Area of Responsibility/Sub-Cluster under the Protection Cluster, where relevant, including the formulation of the mine action components for the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan Response plan, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office. 
• Support the applications of policies, practices and procedures associated with the overall implementation of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and associated funding and monitoring mechanisms, where relevant, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office.
• Support the development of communication strategies, linked to resource mobilization strategies, where relevant, to maximise communication impact and outreach and build awareness of Country Programme objectives.
• Support design, coordination and dissemination of public information products and communication activities as well as gather and draft content for communications products and platforms. 
• Support preparations for official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, and prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations and speeches for the management team and senior UN officials. 

5. Knowledge management and document management and innovation

• Maintain records of programme files and other necessary programme documents such as documentation of decisions and actions taken on programme issues.
• Implement relevant standards, tools and templates to effectively manage programme development and implementation.
• Identify, contribute to, record and share the ongoing development and implementation of best practice, lessons identified, and innovative approaches to improve overall programme performance
• Contribute to the management and upkeep of risk management and issue management logs and processes. 

6. People management 

• Perform the programme team manager role, unless appointed to another person(s).
• Ensure the effective planning, recruitment and development of a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity.
• Lead and motivate the programme team.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff).
• Act as OIC in the absence of more senior management.

**

Carry out any other related duties as needed

• Advanced University Degree  (Master's degree or equivalent) with seven years of relevant experience; OR
• First-level University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with nine years of relevant experience 

• Relevant experience is defined as progressive experience in programme/project development or management, in either public or private sector organizations.

• Fluency in English (speaking, reading, and writing) is required.
• Fluency in other UN official languages, particularly French, Arabic and Spanish, is desired.

1. Contract type: FTA
2. Contract level: P4 (ICS-11)
3. Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.