Programme Management Officer - [Independent Evaluator of Young Peacebuilders]

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement the activities for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which responds to a broad consensus across nations, cultures and religions that all societies are interdependent, bound together in their development and security, and in their environmental, economic and financial well-being. The Alliance seeks to forge collective political will and to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against such a consensus. UNAOC hopes to contribute to a coalescing global movement which, reflecting the will of the vast majority of people, rejects extremism in any society.

The complex, demanding dialogue of civilizations, cultures, and religions is necessary, possible, and fruitful. It is a critical tool against isolation, mistrust, and confrontation and it is also the most powerful incentive for understanding, and tolerance. History has shown that dialogue is not a simple process, but that if we fail to teach and cultivate it, the situation can give way to a monologue or to mutism, which is conducive to conflict and violent extremism.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was created to serve as a soft-power political tool of the United Nations Secretary-General for conflict prevention and conflict resolution. It is a coalition against extremist forces; a movement to advance mutual respect for cultures, traditions and religious beliefs, and a platform to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was intended to promote collective action in society as a means of addressing the threats that emerge from the hostile perceptions that foment violence, overcoming cultural and social barriers, reducing tensions and improving relations between societies and communities with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and combatting violent extremism.

During its more than fifteen years of existence, UNAOC has pioneered a range of approaches and activities across its four priority areas namely, Youth, Education, Media and Migration. The impact of many of its projects on the ground has been significant and measurable particularly those implemented with civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth-led organizations. Nonetheless, the context of the current global challenges is more complex than ever before. The multidimensional nature of the scope of today’s conflicts requires a new approach to conflict resolution and conflict prevention. Around the world, there has been a rising wave of violent extremism conducive to terrorism, growing intolerance, hate speech, xenophobia and discrimination, posing a threat to international peace and security. These new approaches are reflected in the UNAOC Action Plan 2019-2023. It builds on and develops existing UNAOC programming activities and suggests new focus areas that strengthen the Alliance’ ability to fulfill its mandate in a more effective and measurable way. The Plan further suggests new approaches for institutional development and political advocacy that should provide a viable framework for the way we respond to the current global challenges. Institutionally, the plan re-affirms the important role played by all stakeholders, including state and non-state actors, in developing and implementing national plans and regional strategies to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the mainstay of the Alliance. The framework aims to expand and consolidate the global scope of UNAOC in Africa, Asia, Europe, MENA and Latin America.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting the implementation of UNAOC. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.

Guided by the principle that youth are key actors to achieve peace and prevent violent extremism, as stated in the UN Security Council Resolutions 2250 and 2419 and the United Nations Secretary General’s Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism, UNAOC develops educational programming to enhance the ability of young civil society leaders to foster mutual respect, understanding and long-term positive relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions. One of those initiatives is Young Peacebuilders which is a peace education programme that UNAOC implements in different regions of the world to offer peace competence development to young civil society leaders. Learning objectives include, among others:

●       Learn about other cultures and worldviews within and beyond the group to foster intercultural cohesion and collaboration.

●       Learn about negative stereotypes and how to critically analyze them to reduce their prevalence.

●       Understand different perspectives in identity-based conflict and gain tools to develop solutions at local, national and regional level and transform conflicts peacefully.

●       Identify push and pull factors creating conditions conducive to violent extremism.

●       Develop competences to use different forms of media or expressive arts as a way to create alternative narratives, reduce polarization and promote social inclusion.

●       Reflect on how to increase meaningful youth engagement in their region.

●       Learn how to successfully design and run a project.

The aim is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice, social exclusion and polarization (both within and between their communities and countries) in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies in their communities and globally.

Programme components:

●       Part 1: online phase (2 months). Participants access the course through an online collaborative platform provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and other trainers facilitate the first few modules of the curriculum, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other prior to their first in-person meeting. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts, engage in discussion and start reflecting on their individual and joint action.

●       Part 2: face-to-face workshop (1 week). All participants travel to complete an intense in-person training, including field visits. They also work on their own action plans.

●       Part 3: implementation phase (3/4 months). Participants stay connected through the online platform, improve their action plans and report on the implementation of their interventions. This part consolidates the network and follow-up mechanisms, ensuring the members of the group continue to support each other after the end of the programme.

●      Part 4: final symposium (1 day). Participants are invited to participate in a symposium in a still to be determined country in the target region during which they share their experience, lessons learned, achievements and recommendations with a broader audience of practitioners, policy makers, media and the general public. They also engage with this audience on topics related to intercultural dialogue, peace and security.

UNAOC plans to implement YPB in different regions of the world to grow and strengthen the global movement of young peacebuilders. The first edition took place in West Africa and the second edition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Currently we are finalizing the 3rd edition of Young Peacebuilders, also taking place in the MENA region. The end date is September 30, 2021. As part of the project agreement, the donor requested to conduct an independent evaluation of this edition of Young Peacebuilders. UNAOC is seeking a consultant to lead that evaluation, and to respond to the following questions:

• Did the participants of the Young Peacebuilders Programme in the MENA region enhance their peacebuilding skills?
• How did the programme contribute to that?
• Based on the design, implementation and impact of the programme, what recommendations do you have for the next editions of Young Peacebuilders?

The evaluation must contain the following criteria: Relevance, Efficacy, Efficiency, Gender, Impact, and Sustainability.

The incumbent, responsible for evaluating the project, will work remotely and tentatively start on October 1, 2022. Evaluation of qualified candidates will include an assessment exercise, which will be followed by a competency-based interview. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.

In close collaboration with the UNAOC Project Management Specialist – Youth and Education, as well as the former and current trainers and participants of Young Peacebuilders, the evaluator will:

• Review documents provided by UNAOC regarding Young Peacebuilders, including: project proposal/design, implementation plan, selection process documents, curriculum of online learning programme and face-to-face-workshop, young peacebuilders’ action plans and final project reports, etc.
• Analyze the results of 3 competency surveys, taken by the young peacebuilders (pre, mid and post)
• Conduct phone or Skype interviews with young peacebuilders, and UNAOC trainers/staff.
• Prepare and submit a final report, which will include an independent assessment of Young Peacebuilders’ design, quality and outcomes and lessons learned/ recommendations for next editions of the Young Peacebuilders Programme. The final report needs to be a substantial document that provides findings and conclusions, which are based on robust and transparent evidence and supplements UNAOC’s own data with an independent research. It will follow the proposed structure and will contain, at least: an executive summary; an introduction (with the background, general data and objectives of the evaluation); the description of the evaluation object and its context; the methodological approach and techniques (questions and evaluation criteria, methodology and techniques applied, and conditioning factors of the evaluation performed); the analysis and interpretation of the information collected and the results of the evaluation; the conclusions of the evaluation in relation to the evaluation criteria; the recommendations; the actions undertaken to disseminate the evaluation; and, where appropriate, annexes.
• Remain available for any follow up questions, which UNAOC and/or the donor may have in relation to the final report content and key recommendations.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

●       Deliverable 1: Evaluation Strategy by 1 November 2021 

●       Deliverable 2: First draft of the Evaluation report by 15 January 2022 

●       Deliverable 3: Final Evaluation report by 28 February 2022

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in preferably in M&E, education, political science, international relations, social and humanitarian sciences, law, public administration, or a related field
• First level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and 2 years of work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Any additional qualification in the fields of M&E is an asset.

Work experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in programme monitoring and evaluation, both at local and international levels
• Solid experience in monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
• Strong knowledge of project management, designing logical frameworks and risk analysis.
• Strong experience in issuing reports, recommendations and findings.

• Experience of working as an evaluator in the context of humanitarian, cultural, developmental projects is an asset.
• Knowledge of UN Issues and Frameworks including those relating to Education and Youth is highly desirable.
• Experience in the field of peace education, prevention of violent extremism (PVE), promotion of youth development, is desirable.
• Field experience is an asset.

Language:

●       Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

• 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
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.