ICT Advisor (Digital Technologies) - Retainer, Multiple positions

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

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.

Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio

Based in New York, the UNOPS Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. The portfolio manages the operational support to the Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisers (SBT) mechanism as well as managing a group of when-actually-employed experts, along with the provision of project management and implementation services.      

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects carried out for the Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisers (SBT) mechanism. The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

In 2019, the Mediation Support Unit (MSU), based in the Policy and Mediation Division of the United Nations (UN) Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), developed and launched the Toolkit on Digital Technologies and Mediation (https://peacemaker.un.org/digitaltoolkit) and held a number of follow-on activities. In parallel, MSU, together with DPPA Policy Planning Unit (PPU), initiated a project to enhance the Department’s understanding of cyber operations and other malicious uses of ICT in order to inform the UN’s conflict prevention work. 

Over the last two years, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mediation Support Unit’s work on digital technologies and mediation has further intensified and now requires more structured  support through the recruitment of a Senior Digital Technologies Advisor as part of the Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisers (SBT) mechanism. This expert will be deployed to deepen DPPA’s understanding of digital technologies as they relate to the mediation and conflict prevention work, develop new partnerships, and support mediators in the field to leverage technologies in their work and as necessary help integrate issues related to these technologies into UN good offices, prevention and mediation efforts. 

Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

Under the supervision of the Head of Cluster Manager, SDC,  in coordination with the Standby Team Mechanism, the Individual Contractor will serve as an ICT Advisor on digital technologies and conflict prevention and resolution. Under the guidance of MSU focal points, the Individual Contractor will assume a range of duties to support the development of knowledge in this area and provide operational assistance, as required.

 In particular, the Individual Contractor may be asked to perform specific duties such as:

• Conduct and manage monitoring and analysis of international incidents, trends and UN processes relevant to digital technologies in conflict contexts, including hate speech and normative and policy developments, and oversee related briefing materials;

• Lead in providing technical expertise, advice and support in the area of digital technologies and/or cybersecurity to UN envoys, senior officials and UN representatives leading mediation, facilitation and dialogue processes; 

• As requested, take lead in producing periodic reports and relevant thematic briefings on digital technologies and/or cyber security for MSU, PPU for mediation teams; 

• Coordinate and manage lessons learned reviews of best practices on digital technologies and cybersecurity; 

• As necessary, manage and oversee the work of thematic experts and partners;

• As requested, conceive, plan and manage capacity-building seminars, trainings, and conflict analysis frameworks on digital technologies and/or cybersecurity for MSU and PPU, senior UN officials and envoys, mediation teams, parties or other key stakeholders; 

• As requested, take lead in producing operational guidance notes and related training materials in the area of expertise on digital technologies and/or cybersecurity; 

• Guide MSU’s network of experts on issues related to digital technologies and/or cyber security; 

• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed; 

• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above. 

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Specific deliverables and reporting requirements will be mutually discussed and agreed upon at the start of each assignment.

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*
*CANDIDATES WITH NO UN OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*
 

Education 

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) is required. 

• A Bachelor’s degree or first level degree with two (2) additional years of experience is accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• A technical degree or military degree with four (4) additional years of experience is accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience 

Required: 

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the field related to cybersecurity and/or international security policy is required. 

• Experience in the field of mediation and/or conflict prevention is required.
  
  

• Experience in web-application development is desirable.

• Experience in international environments related to political, humanitarian or development work is desirable.

• Experience in delivering mediation capacity-building courses and workshops is desirable.

• Experience in conceptualizing data needs for complex storytelling is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English (write, read, talk) is required.

• Working knowledge of at least one other official UN language is desirable.

• Good knowledge of the United Nations’ institutional structure, mandates, policies and roles, and as well as its relationships with Regional Organizations and other international partners. Demonstrated understanding and commitment to the values enshrined in the United Nations Charter, as well as to humanitarian and human rights standards another applicable norms, including Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security and successor resolutions.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Retainer - A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work


Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA 4/ICS-12) 


Contract duration: Open-ended (renewable subject to funds availability and satisfactory performance)

• 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.