Capacity Building Officer for Inter-municipal Cooperation for provision of Social Protection Services (two retainer positions)

The PRO-Local Governance for People and Nature Programme, is designed to contribute to improving the well-being and quality of life of citizens through improved local governance, social inclusion and environmental protection in 99 cities and municipalities in two regions: Šumadija and Western Serbia and Southern and Eastern Serbia. The Government of Switzerland has allocated CHF 9 million to fund the Programme which will be implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in partnership with UN agencies (1) over a period of 48 months. 

To achieve the Programme’s Objective, the intervention will focus on three key Pillars and Outcomes: 

1. Pillar Good Governance, Outcome 1: LGs improve capacities and apply good governance principles in practice;

2. Pillar Social Inclusion, Outcome 2: LGs and other relevant local actors improve capacities and develop evidence-based local social protection policies;

3. Pillar Environmental Governance, Outcome 3: LGs improve capacities and apply environmental governance processes in practice. 

The key stakeholders, but also direct users of support at the local level, will be local governments (cities and municipalities), including their administrations/staff, organisations, and local institutions (Centres for Social Work - CSWs, Primary Health Centres - PHCs, pre-school institutions and schools), local Civil Society Organisations – CSOs. The final users of support will be the citizens from participating LGs from the Region of Šumadija and Western Serbia, and the Region of Southern and Eastern Serbia.

All Programme activities will be undertaken in partnership with the Government of Serbia, especially the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Governments (MPALSG), the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs (MLEVSA), the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM).

The Programme will coordinate its activities with the key line-national-level institutions, while observing the national strategies, laws and relevant development documents, which will contribute to sustainability, ensure national ownership and develop national capacities.

The Officer will undertake below activities/responsibilities:

Preparatory activities: 

• Study the Programme document and acquire necessary understanding of the context and the Programme’s objectives
• Prepare detailed approach for implementation of the TA, ensuring that good governance (GG) principles were applied throughout the process 
• Identify key policy and potential legal, institutional or administrative impediments and elaborate what will be the Programme’s approach in addressing them
• Prepare detailed work plan for implementing the activities that must include, among other, visits and consultations with the LGs and the relevant local institutions such as Centre for Social Welfare (CSW)
• Consult with the competent representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs (MLEVSA) and Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) 

Delivery of technical assistance:

• Delivering up-to two 2-day workshops:
• Develop the approach, methodology, workshop agenda and other relevant material for the workshop(s). The approach should apply participatory approach in communication with all workshop participants;
• Facilitate and deliver up-to two 2-day workshop(s); 
• The main, but not exclusive, topics of the workshop(s) should cover: policy discussions on establishing IMCs, including existing comparative examples; legal basis for joint implementation of social protection services in accordance with the Article 88 of the Law on Local Self-Government; GG aspects of IMC in terms of process of negotiation with potential partner LG, protocols for the exchange of information, technical or institutional management, financial implications, monitoring of joint delivery of service and evaluation of their results;
• Prepare workshop report.

• Visit at least five selected LGs and consult  with the key contacts regarding current needs and interest for joint delivery of social protection services
• Prepare concept/tailor-made plan for capacity development of selected LGs to develop  new or enhancing the existing LGs capacities for creating an IMC by applying GG principles in the pertained processes;
• Identify specificities of potential IMC, for the delivery of workshops and provide recommendation to the Programme;
• Preparing relevant templates for establishing IMC (local regulations, protocols, normative acts etc);
• Improve the knowledge and capacity of LGs to include GG aspects of IMC;  
• Provide guidance and support in developing mechanisms and tools for monitoring of joint delivery of services and evaluation of their results.

• Develop the approach, methodology, workshop agenda and other relevant material for the workshop;
• Facilitation and delivery of Lessons Learned workshop; 
• Prepare workshop report with drawn lesson learned;
• Present the results of TA, including lessons learned and recommendations for future action.

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Law, Public Administration, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or relevant field is required. 
• Master Degree in relevant discipline will be considered an advantage

• Minimum two years of experience related to capacity development of local or national institutions in Serbia is required. 
• Knowledge of the government structures, links, processes and pertained legal and regulatory framework at the local level relevant to the good governance and social protection is an asset
• Experience in developing and writing papers and policy level documents will be an asset.

• Fluency in Serbian and English is required

• Driving license and ability to travel independently is required

This is a local position, it is therefore open to nationals of Serbia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) - retainer
Contract level: Local ICA, Level 8
Contract duration: Up to 50 days in the period of ten months

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

The UNOPS Republic of Serbia Multi Country Office (RSMCO) is implementing 12 projects in Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

In Serbia, where UNOPS has been active since 2000, and North Macedonia and Montenegro where UNOPS works since 2017, the organisation provides support in demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union. The projects focus on sustainable socio-economic development, good governance, social cohesion, environment and emergency response. The projects are implemented with the funding from the European Union (EU), Kingdom of Norway, Governments of Switzerland, Sweden and North Macedonia.

All projects have gender equality as a transversal theme, and have been contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives.