Partnerships Development Advisor -Retainer

UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peace-building, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.”-Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations Secretary-General.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peace building, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

UNOPS mandate is to act as a project delivery platform for UN system agencies, funds and programmes, international and regional financial institutions, intergovernmental organizations, donor and recipient governments, and non-profit, non-governmental organizations. As a self-financing entity within the UN system, UNOPS must ensure that the projects it delivers meet client expectations in terms of cost, quality and time, while at the same time ensuring that these projects collectively meet a broader array of success criteria. 

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Kenya Multi-Country Office (KEMC)

UNOPS KEMC helps partners achieve their project goals in sectors, including: governance, education, health, the environment, grant management and rural development.

UNOPS KEMC has over twenty five years of experience working in East and Southern Africa, including infrastructure, project management and procurement projects. With a flexible and responsive organizational structure throughout the region, UNOPS is able to scale up rapidly, through various mechanisms - including in remote and high risk areas. This operational agility provides ‘on demand’ resources and value to partners.

Background Information 

Mozambique is recovering very slowly from the effects of Cyclone Idai and Kenneth which struck in quick succession in 2019. The country is in pursuit of peace between the Government and RENAMO - a process supported by UNOPS. At the same time, the North of Mozambique, traditionally marginalised and endemically poor is experiencing an insurgency by Islamic fundamentalists - allegedly supported by ISIS that has made thousands homeless and is already spilling into Tanzania. The same area happens to be the location where massive natural gas reserves have been discovered and are meant to be exploited.

The Government and Cooperation Partners are keen to: 

1. stabilise the current peace process

2. provide long term reintegration assistance

3. ensure accelerated Stabilization and Recovery and reconstruction of cyclone affected areas and communities and 

4.strengthen equitable resource allocation to the marginalised North - now beset by an ever accelerating insurgency. The instrument established to facilitate this process is a 'Development Authority for the North (ADIN)'.

The UN Resident Coordinator is making a substantial effort to position the UN as a strategic partner to help address 'normal Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) priorities' and the stabilisation, emergency/early Stabilization and Recovery and development process in the North. This is where an expanded UNOPS role can be envisaged. Equally, a role in taking the 'current peace process' from demobilisation to reintegration holds potential for a continued and enhanced UNOPS role.

UNOPS will engage two retainers: a suitable partnerships advisor and a partnerships development advisor with specialization in stabilization and recovery who can help us build an interface and open doors for more resource mobilization opportunities, based on a level of recognition already achieved through the peace secretariat support role and transactional procurement support to Government ministries. Engagement of these retainers are expected to help KEMC to strengthen existing ties and identify and pursue specific partnership opportunities.

The Partnerships Development Advisor (Stabilization and Recovery) will work under the direct supervision of the Director of UNOPS KEMC. The post is based in Maputo, Mozambique. S/he will work in coordination with the Partnerships Specialist in Nairobi and Maputo-based Senior Advisor in the identification of key stakeholders and new engagement development opportunities and development of project document(s). S/he is expected to coordinate with the Senior Advisor and make regular visits to priority partners, including Provincial and District Governments. The incumbent coordinates across all relevant projects and units of the UNOPS KEMC portfolio for Mozambique, focusing primarily on supporting UNOPS KEMC’s efforts to expand its value adding projects and partnerships in Mozambique.  S/he will liaise with all relevant stakeholders to identify UNOPS partnership opportunities - on the basis of its mandate and role as part of the UN family. This will include but not limited to engagement with government ministries and departments. The work is diverse and requires a significant level of multitasking.

(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including  expected travel, if applicable) 

(I). Overall program design, coordination and management: 

• Be responsible for managing and coordinating the Project Development in Mozambique in consultation with KEMC Director, Partnerships Specialist, Partnerships Development Office and relevant external stakeholders, ensuring its overall quality and coherence;  ∙ Work in close cooperation and coordination with the UNOPS National Senior Advisor/ Liaison Officer who will also be based in Maputo, the Peace Secretariat and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, as well as relevant ministries and national  stakeholders, as appropriate, and priority donors (the World Bank and the EU) to appraise their potential requests and  ensure their views are fully taken into account in the project development;  ∙ Provide the government authorities and UN partners the technical and advisory support they may require in the needs assessment and formulation of interventions, as appropriate and consistent with the objectives of the UN assistance in the overall Stabilization and Recovery/ development framework; 

• Coordinate inputs from the agencies working on the Stabilization and Recovery programme, work in close cooperation and maintain regular contacts with them, and facilitate the work of the agencies and their technical experts in the country; ∙ Undertake mapping of key stakeholders and carry out meetings and missions to selected provinces/ districts to identify potential entry points for UNOPS value addition, prepare and circulate a draft concept note/ project document for review by relevant stakeholders and carry out necessary follow-ups to make adjustment and evaluate the content of the document(s); 

• Participate in relevant coordination meetings and ensure the progress of the project formulation is updated and reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and in other relevant documents and foras in Mozambique and provide advice to participating agencies; 

• Liaise with relevant coordination/working groups in the country in areas relevant to the Stabilization and Recovery programme;

• Perform other related duties as required. 

(II). Situation monitoring and reporting: 

• Closely monitor the situation in the country and prepare and share regular and ad-hoc updates with the KEMC Director and Partnerships Specialist; provide recommendations and lessons learnt in the project formulation as appropriate. 

• Prepare and make presentations to relevant stakeholders as required. 

(III). Knowledge Management: 

• Lead overall communication and promotion of UNOPS in Mozambique and participate in communication/promotional events as organized. 

• Provide inputs to KEMC communication materials and facilitate sharing and exchange of information.

• Collect relevant data that is useful for internal and external use. 

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls 

(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring) 

• Planning, execution and follow up on tasks as per the scope of responsibilities detailed above.

• Actively interact with colleagues and clients to exchange information and feedback on requests in an effective and efficient manner.

• Demonstrate behaviours of professional and personal ethics, transparency and openness to encourage respect and similar behaviour from colleagues in the workplace.

• Up to date/informative/accurate reports timely submitted.

• Efficiency, effectiveness and sensitivity in handling important correspondence.

A Master’s degree in economics, international relations, Business  Administration, conflict resolution, emergency management or related subjects is required;

Bachelor’s Degree in combination with additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in developing and coordinating large scale, multi- partner and/or multi sector projects preferably in emergency, early Stabilization and Recovery, post conflict and/or peacebuilding context is required;

• 2 years of experience with international development organizations is required;  

• Experience working in Mozambique/Southern Africa and good knowledge of the Region will be an added advantage;

• Knowledge of Prince 2 Foundation practitioner project management methodology as endorsed by UNOPS will be an added advantage;

• Experience  in socio-economic and political context in Mozambique will be an add advantage;

• Good understanding of the One UN process and mechanisms of joint implementation of programmes  from the UN will be an added advantage; 

• Experience in public relations will be an added advantage;

• Prior work experience with the Government of Mozambique at a senior level will be an added advantage;

• Minimum of three (3) years of UN experience is required;

• Excellent communication skills will be an added advantage;

• Experience in Google Suite applications will be an asset.

• Fluency in written and oral English is required;
• Knowledge of Portuguese language is required;

• 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

• This is a local post. As such, it is only open to Mozambique Nationals or persons with valid residence permits
• This position is based in a family duty station

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.