National Programme Officer

Peace and Security Cluster

Background Information – UNMAS

Established in 1997, UNMAS leads, coordinates and implements mine action under United Nations legislative mandates of both the General Assembly and the Security Council. UNMAS supports the UN's vision of "a world free from the threat of mines,

explosive remnants of war (ERW) including cluster munitions, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to sustainable peace and development where no one is left behind, where the human rights and the needs of victims are met and where they are fully integrated as equal members of their societies."

UNMAS is a unit within the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) within the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). UNMAS operates under UN legislative mandates of both the General Assembly and the Security Council, or at the request of the UN Secretary-General or his designated official. When instructed by the Security Council or called upon by Member States, UNMAS deploys under humanitarian, peace and security mandates. UNMAS main headquarters is in the UN Secretariat, New York with a sub-office in Geneva. UNMAS provides direct support and assistance in the areas of explosive ordnance threat mitigation to 18 countries/territories/missions, has a standby rapid response capacity and global technical advisors in the field of Improvised Explosive Devices and Weapons and Ammunition Management. As an office within DPO, UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special political missions in accordance with Security Council mandates.

Background Information - PSC Palestine Project Unit

The PSC Palestine Project Unit operates as an integral part of Peace and Security Cluster structure. The Head of the PSC Palestine Project Unit reports to the PSC Director who provides direction and guidance. S/he is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, supervising and closing all projects in the country in order to support substantive partners in delivering its mandate. 

In Palestine, PSC’s partner is the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and UNMAS’ representative in-country is the Chief of Mine Action Programme (CMAP). The CMAP is therefore the HPU’s primary stakeholder. UNOPS PSC and UNMAS have developed a delineation of responsibilities, using a RACI responsibility matrix to define who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed. The HPU is expected to work in close cooperation with the CMAP, ensuring that, in substance, the Palestine mine action programme operates as one integrated team.

The Palestine Programme is directly aligned with UN strategies for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT); is included within the Humanitarian Response Plans and Emergency Contingency Plans for Gaza; is integrated with the Protection Cluster strategies on protection of civilians and creating the conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the oPt. The vision of UNMAS Palestine is that the threat of explosive ordnance is minimized for vulnerable populations and the UN family in Palestine. As such, the mission of UNMAS Palestine is to help civilians and humanitarian partners mitigate the threat of explosive ordnance and empower the Palestinian Mine Action Centre to assume responsibility for mine action. 

The conflict in Palestine has been characterized by intermittent escalations of hostilities, leading behind a legacy of unexploded ordnance.

Under the supervisor of Head of Project (HPU), the National Programme Officer’s (Programme Management Specialist) duties and responsibilities are as follows:

Functional responsibilities include:

A. Functions / Key Results

1. Support in the development and follow up of resource mobilization opportunities

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

3. Programme management support

4. Knowledge management and document management

1. Development and follow up of resource mobilization opportunities

• Support the monitoring of 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. 
• Support the management team to translate the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) into implementation/results work plans and associated monitoring mechanisms and draft project documents as needed for the implementation of the programme.
• Support the identification, design, and formulation of new activities to meet programme objectives.
• Provide information and support in the drafting and preparation of programme documents, including concept notes, proposals, and associated budgets.
• Support the draft and/or review of 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.

2. Programme management support

• Analyze funding agreements and support the development of compliance plans, the monitoring frameworks to guide key departments and the management of team to meet requirements of funding agreements, in coordination with UNMAS headquarters (HQ). 
• Support the monitoring mechanisms to measure delivery against targets outlined in funding agreements.  
• 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.
• Promote the importance of gender mainstreaming in project implementation and provide advice and reporting on relevant gender-related indicators.
• Prepare, and provide editing support for, high quality summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, project and donor reports, annual reports, situation reports, briefing notes, ad hoc, 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.

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

• Support in establishing and building 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, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), humanitarian response plans, integrated strategic frameworks, etc.
• 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. 

• Maintain records of programme files and other necessary programme documents such as documentation of decisions and actions taken on programme issues.
• Contribute to the implementation of the relevant standards, tools and templates to effectively manage programme development and implementation.
• 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. 

** Carry out any other related duties as needed.

Education

• University degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of two years of relevant experience in project management, social science, business administration or other related fields. 
  
  

Work Experience

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

• Experience in coordination, partnership, donor reporting, managing donor agreements, or preparing project proposals is desired.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of project implementation is desired.

Language Skills

• Fluency in English is required (speaking, reading, and writing)
• Fluency in Arabic is required (speaking, reading, and writing)

• 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.

Contract type: Local ICA Support (L-ICA)
Contract level: L-ICA 8
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

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.