Risk Education Specialist

Peace and Security Centre

The UNOPS Peace and Security Centre (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Centre is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations.

It is headed by the Centre Director who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Centre on behalf of its clients.

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 ‘aworld free of the threat of landmines and inexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where 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.

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 situtions, 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 the mine clearance, mine risk education and all other aspects of mine action.

Background Information – UNMAS Syria Response

Recognizing the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the systemic gaps in coordination, and following the adoption of resolutions 2139, 2165 and 2191 by the United Nations Security Council, humanitarian actors operating inside Syria from Damascus and neighbouring countries launched the Whole of Syria (WOS) approach to develop a principled, predictable and coherent response to prioritized humanitarian needs.

UNMAS  deployed to Gaziantep at the request of the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in August 2015 and subsequently activated the Mine Action Sub Cluster under the Protection Cluster to address the impact of explosive hazards within Syria. UNMAS is the lead agency for the Mine Action Sub Cluster for WOS, and its offices in Beirut, Amman and Gaziantep work in support of the mine action response within Syria.

UNMAS provides leadership of the sector, working to reach affected civilian populations through the expansion and provision of mine action services inside Syria, strengthening participatory approaches to programming, and mainstreaming risk education into wider humanitarian activities. Given the limited access that international mine action actors have inside Syria and the reliance on national actors to identify issues and deliver mine action responses, coordination and capacity building of Syrian NGOs and civil society on protection has been identified as one of the priorities.

The Risk Education Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Operations Officer. The duties and responsibilities are as follows:

• Provide Explosive Hazard/ERW/Mine Risk Education (RE) and risk awareness (RA) guidance and training to humanitarian personnel
• Develop plans and guidance for the integration of Risk Education within the wider humanitarian Response.
• Provide technical and planning support to Mine Action implementing agencies with regards to project implementation including training, materials development, monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance activities;
• Conduct a mapping of existing RE activities and materials and identify gaps and opportunities;
• Develop new initiatives relevant to risk education and awareness, including design of materials in cooperation with partners;
• Conduct the evaluation of RE tools and methodologies;
• Provide guidance and capacity development opportunities to mine action staff, implementing partners with regards to the technical, monitoring including implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and reporting skills needed for proper oversight of risk education and awareness activities;
• Develop annual work plan for RE and RA activities;
• Participate in transition planning process on RE;
• Provide relevant inputs for donor reports;
• Ensure regular RE reporting to MASC database as required;
• Ensure implementing partners are tasked and deployed according to annual plan;
• Monitor and evaluate risk education activities conducted by implementing partners;

Education and relevant years of experience:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in education, social work or other related fields with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience or;
• First level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in education, social work or other related fields with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in programme operations, management, or development 
• Experience in mine risk education is required
• Experience in community-based education, public information communications, training development or capacity building is desired
• Gender mainstreaming experience is desired
• Knowledge of the UN system and UNOPS procedures is desired

• Fluency in English (speaking, writing and reading) is required
• Fluency in Arabic (speaking, writing and reading) is desired
• Knowledge of another UN official language is desired.

• 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.
• 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 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.