Partnership Advisor – Analysis & Reporting

Peace and Security Cluster

UNMAS

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly (RES/68/72) to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problem posed by a wide range of explosive hazards. Legislative mandates also recognize UNMAS technical expertise in responding to threats posed by unsecured and unsafe conventional weapons and ammunition stockpiles. As an office within DPKO, UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special political missions in accordance with Security Council mandates. 

As a component of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), UNMAS main activities are the establishment of a functional and accountable Somali Explosive Management Authority, the development of Somali Police explosive threat mitigation capacities and the establishment of a comprehensive Weapons and Ammunition Management system. UNMAS as a component of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) provides explosive threat mitigation capacities to the African Union Mission in Somalia as part of a non-lethal logistical support package. UNMAS also supports the protection of civilians in contaminated areas by coordinating humanitarian mine action for stabilization activities such as survey, clearance and risk education and victim assistance.

The recent history of armed conflicts in Somalia dates back to 1977 - almost 40 years ago when the Ogaden war irrupted between Somalia and Ethiopia. The war lasted for about 9 months but left behind significant landmines and other explosive remnants of war contamination mainly in the border areas. Since then Somalia with the support of international partners continued efforts to eliminate the scourge of ant-personnel landmines and other explosives remnants of war. insecurity, lack of access and insufficient funding hampered efforts to fully define the landmine problems in some parts of the country and render a comprehensive response. Despite progress on survey, clearance and risk education by mine action sector in Somalia the Explosive Ordinance contamination is far from over. The explosive ordnance contamination includinglandmines remain a potent threat to civilian population in Somalia, mainly affected communities across the border between Somalia and Ethiopia.

 Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The overall purpose of this project is to support to Somalia’s process to submit a request to extend Somalia’s current Article-5 (mine clearance) deadline of 1 October 2022 under the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention. The deadline of Somalia to comply with article-5 is currently 1 October 2022. In order to extend this deadline thus there is a requirement to submit a comprehensive extension request highlighting what has been achieved, the current situation and plans to address the landmine problem within the  new specified extension period by 31 March 2021. In this case, Somalia will need to ensure timely progress in order to complete a final draft by February 2021 at the latest.

The situation in Somalia remains complex with ongoing armed conflict in many pockets of the country, including probing attacks in liberated areas and a triple humanitarian threats including the COVID-19 pandemic, droughts/flooding and locust infestation threatening the already fragile socio-economic situation of the country.

In coordination with Somali Explosives Management Authority (SEMA) under the Ministry of Internal Security of the Federal Government of Somalia the Consultant is expected to lead stakeholder engagement to discuss and capture the historical information of the mine clearance sector, short terms plan and long terms plans. The Consultant will report to the Head of Programme and work in coordination with Humanitarian Explosive Hazards Management for Stability (HEMS)Capacity Development (Project Manager)in close collaboration with the Program Management Office and Senior Management of ofUNMASSomalia Programme.

The Consultant responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following:

Functional Responsibilities

Partnership Advisor – Analysis & Reporting will work under the direct supervision of the UNMAS Somalia Head of Programme with close coordination with the Director General of the Somali Explosives Management Authority (SEMA). S/he will beresponsible for the following functions:

• Conduct and carry out a desk review of mine action reports, plans, strategies to address mine clearance in Somalia.
• Lead and facilitate mine action stakeholders technical working group meetings, briefings, workshops and key Informant Interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and collect necessary information.
• Develop a comprehensive national action plan to address the remaining anti-personnel landmine contamination in Somalia and ensure development of appropriate prioritization mechanism that is applicable in the Somali context.
• Study and Identify opportunities and challenges to address landmine problems in Somalia within the frameworks of the APMBC.
• Analyze and provide reviews and corrections in the extension request based on comments/inputs from stakeholders and carry out validation consultations.
• Provide detailed research, analysis of the existing progress and develop an Article-5 Extension Request of Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) for Somalia.
• Produce a comprehensive report outlining the final products, deliverables and output requested by the Programm
•  Any other duties or tasks as identified by the UNMAS Somalia Head of Programme.

Final Products or Deliverables/Outputs

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

*Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply


a) Education

• Advanced University Degree (Master or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience; OR

• First-level university degree (Bachelor's Degree) with 9 years of relevant experience is required.

b) Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in programmemanagement, projectmanagement, business administration, security management, research and analysis or monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in conducting research, analysis and reporting writing is required;
• Experience in conducting fact-finding missions, preparing State Parties action points, treaty reporting, or treaty extension request is desired;
• Experience in facilitating high level meetings, discussions and power point presentations is required;
• Demonstrated experience working with stakeholders, donors, international and national organizations or NGOs is required.

c) Language

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

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.