Programme Management (Technical Lead) Advisor - Part-Time

1. Somalia has seen important progress in recent years, but these gains and the political settlement that underpin them remain extremely fragile. Following the collapse of the rule of law during the country’s decades-long conflict, Somalia’s National Security Architecture remains extremely weak and a source of deep contestation and rivalry. Non-state armed groups, including Al Shabaab, but also clan-affiliated militias, continue to exercise significant authority over the political and security landscape. Allegations of serious human rights abuses by state and non-state armed groups are a major escalatory factor in the country’s unrest and fundamentally undermine stabilization and peacebuilding efforts. Customary and Shari’ah-based judicial systems have similarly gained strength and legitimacy. Their role within Somalia’s formal judicial system remains ill-defined and the capacity of statutory courts is extremely low. Across this justice ecosystem, marginalized groups, including women and minority clans, are often denied access to fair settlement of disputes, posing a significant threat to the sustainability and inclusivity of ongoing peace efforts.
2. Somalia additionally faces new pressures that are likely to exacerbate existing tensions and grievances. Climate change and associated floods and droughts perpetuate high levels of displacement and the country’s chronic humanitarian crisis. In many communities, traditional livelihoods no longer present a practical or sustainable source of income. Rapid urbanization means that different communities are increasingly converging on and competing for the limited resources of cities and towns. 

Background on SSJP-II/Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya

UNOPS seeks a Programme Management Advisor (Technical Lead) to provide technical leadership and direction of an estimated USD $100 million, eight-year security and justice reform programme in Somalia, referred to as Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya. 

1. The objective of SSJP-II/Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya is to enable Somalis to benefit from improved security and access to justice through inclusive approaches that enjoy broad based understanding, support and both elite and public confidence. The programme will seek to enhance resolution of specific security and justice problems identified as priorities by Somalis in target locations, while also leveraging learning, social and political influence effectively to catalyze wider programmatic, policy and systemic change.

2. SSJP-II/Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya recognizes the critical role that improved security and justice outcomes, delivered through approaches that enable informed and inclusive dialogue and negotiation, have in establishing the foundations to lasting peace and political settlements in Somalia. The total anticipated budget available for the programme is USD $100 million covering a duration of eight (8) years. The programme will work initially in 2-3 urban and peri-urban communities in South West State and Jubaland, with the option to expand to other Federal Member States (FMSs) and/or to Somaliland in outer years, as additional funding becomes available.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

The Programme Management Advisor (Technical Lead) will provide strategic technical leadership and oversight to SSJP-II/Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya, ensuring that the programme is delivered to a high technical standard and ultimately achieves or exceeds its expected results. S/he will be an integral member of the SSJP-II/Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya Senior Management Team (SMT), reporting directly to UNOPS’ Senior Programme Manager. They will manage a team of Technical Advisors and oversee Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya’s Technical Assistance and Partnership (TAP) Facility. S/he will be responsible for assuring the technical quality of programme outputs, oversee and direct the provision of technical support and advice, and support the delivery of integrated solutions that reflect and adapt in response to emerging evidence and learning. S/he will advance the international agenda related to social norms and security and justice reform programming by overseeing the production of high-quality deliverables and technical and/or learning and evidence products for both Somali and international audiences. 

The Programme Management Advisor (Technical Lead) must be able to represent SSJP-II/Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya, as necessary, and will be responsible for developing and maintaining strategic engagement with technical and programme stakeholders. S/he will help to establish and foster an organizational and programme culture that enables and facilitates evidenced-based learning and adaptation.

• Provide strategic technical direction and quality assurance for all key deliverables / donor reporting to ensure the delivery of products and deliverables to a high standard of professionalism; 
• Strategic inputs into/challenge function around the detailed programme design during Inception and Implementation;
• Work with Fund Manager to ensure a clear focus on value for money (VfM) in delivery and institute comprehensive VfM framework within the programme; and
• Support the Senior Programme Manager and Team Leader to build shared values within the team; and internalise values within structures and performance management. 

• Ensure Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya programming integrates international evidence, learning and best practice alongside specific, contextually appropriate knowledge and information on Somalia to inform evidenced-based decisions and informed programme strategy;
• Mentor relevant programme staff in the crafting and implementation of programme activities to support strong social norms and gender transformative approaches to achieve programme results;
• Brainstorm critical technical challenges and support the Senior Programme Manager and Team Leader in technical problem-solving and decision making;
• Support the Team Leader (and broader team) to conceptualize activities and identify appropriate technical interventions; 
• Maintain oversight on whether Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya is tracking against overall work plan and support the Senior Programme Manager and Team Leader accordingly;
• Maintain oversight of, and input into, realistic and adaptive work plans for all outputs;
• Ensure quarterly review processes are effectively undertaken, reviewing progress against work plans and deliverables and identifying areas for adaptation;
• Contribute to and provide quality assurance to key technical deliverables as required; and
• Review outputs and outcomes-based monitoring and evaluation. 

• Work with the Team Leader and programme teams to identify and prioritize both short- and long-term technical assistance requirements;
• Advise on and sign-off on the development of ToRs for advisory support; and
• Line manage the inputs of Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya technical Advisors and the Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya Technical Assistance and Partnership (TAP) facility, and liaise with the Senior Programme Manager and Team Leader on any performance issues.

• Ensure Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya’s overall Monitoring & Evaluation (Research and Learning)-MERL) approach, including monitoring, evaluation and research undertaken by multiple partners, contributes coherently to Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya’s learning agenda; 
• Commission and quality assure formative and operational research to inform the design of Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya interventions and to contribute to expanding the global (including Somali) evidence base for security and justice and social norms programming; and 
• Identify key strategic local and international platforms for sharing Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya evidence and learning including platforms that generate dialogue on security and justice, social norms and communications for behavior change programming; 
• Support the programme to develop and oversee an impactful strategic communications for external (global and Somali) audiences; and
• Participate in and present at technical meetings and conferences on behalf of Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya, as required.

• Develop a reliable technical understanding of donors’ perspectives and ensure clear and sustained technical coherence with those for Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya; 
• Work with Senior Programme Manager and Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya Team Leader to craft impactful and appropriate external communications, and advise on wider stakeholder engagement strategies; and
• Ensure Nabadgelinta Soomaaliya remains abreast of and engaged with relevant sectoral developments, in particular in the areas of security and justice reform, social norms change, and communications for behavior change. 

A.  Education

• Master’s Degree (or higher) in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science/Security Management/Development Studies, Education, Information Technology (ICT), Law or other relevant discipline is required.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science/Security Management/Development Studies, Education, Information Technology (ICT), Law with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in senior technical and programme leadership roles for gender and social inclusion, gender based violence, and/or social norms development programmes is required.
• Substantial technical expertise designing and implementing gender transformative approaches, including to policing and/or access to justice programmes is an asset;
• Substantial technical and programme experience designing, delivering and/or evaluating social norms programming, including experience using communications/social marketing approaches to promote changes in attitudes and behavior is desirable;
• Experience in understanding and managing international donor standards for evidence and experience producing and/or reviewing technical learning and knowledge products is an added advantage.
• Experience in providing technical advice to inform programme design and planning processes, including development of theories of change is an asset;
• Experience and resilient working in fragile contexts is an added advantage.
• Experience working with multilateral and other development partners as well as civil society organizations is an asset.
• Experience/knowledge of Google Suite products, especially google forms, sheets, docs and slides is an asset.

Language requirement

• Fluency in English Language (i.e. writing, reading  and speaking) 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 the Desk Review will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• 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.
• Part-Time (Home-Based) Assignment
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon   request.
• 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.

1. Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: IICA 3 /ICS 11
3. Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘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.

Africa Region

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.

Somalia Country Office:

UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) has had a solid and continuous in-country expert presence successfully implementing programs since the mid-1990s, where it is currently undertaking various projects and initiatives in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS) and partners from the global donor community. UNOPS’ projects in Somalia focus on several key sectors that include infrastructure development, institutional capacity building, project management, advisory services, and procurement services. These projects cut across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, national security, law enforcement, immigration services, justice, transport, and public works among others. UNOPS work in Somalia is geared towards driving growth and development in the country, a process that requires developing a close relationship with the FGS and the other development partners.
  
Through its involvement in Somalia’s development process, UNOPS is providing transparent and accountable solutions in the country’s state and nation-building process. In addition, UNOPS is also committed to implementing the United Nations Strategic Framework Somalia 2017 – 2020, with the aim of helping Somalia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNOPS work within the context of these commitments means that the projects it implements in Somalia are specifically designed to provide long-term solutions in the country, leading to sustainable and inclusive growth.

What drives us is a passion to fight inequalities and to provide opportunities to those most vulnerable. This means we often work in the most challenging environments, building foundations for communities to function and people to live with dignity and respect.

To succeed here, he/she need to be able to combine creativity with the organizational skills to manage numerous different projects to tight deadlines simultaneously, as well as working with the different units to meet their expectations.