Senior Programme Manager - Lumpsum

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management. The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

In response to this situation and to support Member States in addressing the protection imperatives, political sensitivities, legal complexities, and security concerns regarding the repatriation and reintegration of nationals with associations to ISIL/Da’esh, in 2020, the UN developed a Global Framework for UN Support on Syria/Iraq Third Country National Returnees (Global Framework). This Global Framework is intended to support Member States to 1) protect and address the needs of returnee victims, including children, and 2) to develop comprehensive and tailored prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration strategies for individuals suspected of committing terrorist acts or offenses, as outlined in resolutions 2178 (2014) and 2396 (2017). Such strategies must be undertaken in accordance with international human rights law, international refugee law, and as applicable, international humanitarian law, be gender-responsive and age-appropriate. 

The Global Framework enables a coordinated “whole-of-UN” response to the situation of individuals returning from Iraq and Syria, mainstreaming, and integrating human rights-based, age-appropriate, and gender-responsive approaches to address the needs of men, women, boys, and girls. The Global Framework also emphasizes that human rights considerations, protection needs, and a solid gender analysis, will need to be integrated and mainstreamed into every proposed action, backed, and supported by dedicated human rights and gender experts, grounded in national legal frameworks and fully compliant with international law, including human rights, humanitarian, and refugee law.

To further its understanding of where and how it can apply the Global Framework to further support the Government of Maldives (GoM) with the return of Maldivian Nationals from northeast Syria and Afghanistan the UN plans to conduct a comprehensive Joint Scoping Exercise (JSE). The JSE will bring together UN legal, human rights, gender, security, children protection and humanitarian expertise to identify needs and develop a risk-informed joint framework for the UN and GoM which articulates the principles and minimum conditions, resource mobilization strategies, and programmatic direction and activities for the provision of UN support.

The United Nations is seeking a senior consultant to coordinate the JSE. 

Under the supervision of SDC Head and in collaboration with the Resident Coordinator (RC), and the UN Reference Group (RG) of the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Maldives and the Global Framework Steering Committee, the Senior Consultant will coordinate a JSE to determine the principles and minimum conditions, resource mobilization strategies, and relevant programmatic activities and risk mitigation strategies required to support the protection, prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Maldivian nationals returning from camps in northeast Syria and detention facilities in Afghanistan, including those who have alleged or actual links or family ties to designated terrorist groups. 

• Conduct and coordinate a desk review and analysis of existing reports, assessments, evaluations, mapping exercises, legal and operational documents, policies and strategies, programme documents, lessons learned, and data gathering exercises (in line with the standard Methodology and Terms of Reference for the exercise). 
• Conduct and coordinate an inventory and analysis of relevant existing systems, legal frameworks, policies, and practices applicable to Maldivian citizens returning/returned from Syria and Afghanistan, including but not limited to the application of due process, individual case assessment, provision of services, protection against inhuman treatment and arbitrary detention, community-based reintegration, criminal justice, juvenile justice and non-justice based approaches of individuals with perceived affiliation with ISIL, and other human rights, child rights, and gender considerations.
• Coordinate data collection through questionnaires, consultations, key informant interviews, and focus groups (internal and external) through field visits and/or virtual meetings.
• Coordinate and support the collection of gender-sensitive and human rights focused context analysis to provide the basis for a shared understanding of opportunities, risks, and needs, in collaboration with OHCHR and dedicated human rights and gender experts.
• Map existing programmes in support of Maldivian returnees across all relevant Global Framework areas of interventions (UN and non-UN). 
• Coordinate the analysis of the engagement, political will, interests, and capacities of national and local authorities and stakeholders relevant to the Global Framework.
• Coordinate the analysis of the needs of returnees, authorities, and programmatic gaps (to include funding gaps) across all relevant Global Framework areas of intervention.
• Propose, consult, and stress-test recommendations regarding programmatic support required for differentiated human rights-compliant approaches for specific individuals or communities that could be provided in Maldives, highlighting applicability and requirements of the UN’s Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.
• Lead the drafting of the JSE report, for consideration by the RC/UNCT and the Global Framework Steering Committee.
• Based on the findings and analysis of the JSE, lead the development of a joint United Nations - Government of Maldives Framework articulating the: objectives, principles, conditions, roles and responsibilities of the UN and GoM for expanded support, and recommended human rights-based and compliant, gender-responsive, age-appropriate, and needs-based programmatic support and safeguards to be put in place to enable the voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of Maldivian Nationals from northeast Syria and Afghanistan.
• Develop a risk management matrix (legal, political, security, reputational, etc.) detailing risk, minimum conditions, and mitigating measures specific at the Project, Country, and Global levels, related to current and future UN support, with a specific focus on risks related to, inter alia, human rights violations, conflict sensitivity, ‘Do No Harm’ principles, and the rights of children. 

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in political science, law, international relations, international security, journalism, or another relevant field is required; Or
• A first-level university degree in combination with 2 years of additional experience is required.

Experience 

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience, interalia, in countering violent extremism, reintegration, post-conflict programmes, or any other related field. is required.

• Experience in strategic planning, and inter-agency coordination is desirable.
• Experience with the United Nations or other International Organizations is essential.
• Experience in developing proposals for donors is desirable.
• Experience on counter-terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism policy is desirable.
• Experience in conflict resolution and consensus building is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in oral and written English is required. 
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an asset.

• 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.