Programme Management - Associate (Project Support for Implementation)

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peacebuilding, 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.

Background Information – Philippine Office

Established in 2016, UNOPS Philippines provides expert support to ensure sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure activities in projects. With funds from the European Union (EU), UNOPS supports the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government under the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme (GOJUST2) through procurement, logistics, and grants management to push forward the justice reform agenda of the Philippine government through innovations and interventions; as well as providing grants to civil society organisations to improve access to justice of marginalised groups. In the Support to the Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) Programme, UNOPS is working with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Government strengthening capacities of the executive, legislative and judicial branches to ensure a smooth transition, also with funds from the EU.

In the health sector, UNOPS works with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for the construction of health facilities in Eastern Samar, and with the DOH / ADB in the HEAL project (Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit COVID-19).

The UNOPS Philippines Office is part of the UNOPS Cambodia Multi-Country Officer (KHMCO), which provides oversight, support and services to UNOPS operations in the country offices.

UNOPS Philippines is in the process of expanding its area of engagement in cooperation with its development partners, focusing mainly on a portfolio of projects and programs in the infrastructure, logistics management, procurement in health, rule of law,  and governance sectors and subsequently is looking for qualified and committed experts.

Background Information – Philippines and Project 

Over  recent  years,  the  Philippines  has  demonstrated  a  high  potential  for  development.  In  2013, in  spite  of  Typhoon Haiyan, its Gross Domestic  Product  (GDP) grew  by  7.2%,  a net  increase from 6.8% in 2012. The country thereby became the fastest growing amongst the  five  largest  economies  in  the  Association  of  Southeast  Asian  Nations  (also  including  Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand) and the second in Asia after China. However,  the Philippines still faces some challenges to ensure inclusive growth for its population. 

With  the specific aim of promoting inclusive growth by generating mass employment and  reducing  poverty,  the  Philippine  Development  Plan  (PDP)  2011-2016  sets  out  nine  key  priorities. Good governance and anticorruption constitute one of the nine distinct priorities,  as  well  as  being  an  overarching  theme  to  each  and  every  intervention.  Within  the  governance  chapter,  the  PDP  gives  a  particularly  prominent  place  to  the  rule  of  law,  emphasizing its function as a key driver for both economic and social development.

Despite  some  exceptions,  traditional  governance  indicators  for  the  rule  of  law  are  on  an  upward trend. The country's percentile rank in the general rule of law measurement of the  Worldwide Governance Indicator has been steadily improving since its lowest score of 34.1  in 2009,  to 36.5 in 2012 and 41.7 in 2013, although it is  still  far  from its highest  score  of  52.2  in  1998.  Likewise,  the  more  detailed  2014  World  Justice  Project  Rule  of  Law  Index   shows  major  gains  with  regard  to  the  absence  of  corruption  and  order  and  security,  and  slight improvements regarding regulatory enforcement, constraints on government power,  and fundamental rights since 2010. On the other hand, the Index also indicates some lags in  the  standard  of  civil  and  criminal  justice,  might  be  partly  due  to  the  contrast  with  improvements in other sectors more than to an actual worsening. However it nevertheless addresses the need to emphasize the areas in most need of attention.   

To support  the  reform  agenda  for  the  rule  of  law  as  part  of  the  Philippine  Development  Plan  (PDP)  2011-2016,  the  Government  of  the  Philippines  (GoPh)  and  the  European Union (EU) started to implement a Justice Sector Reform Programme to contribute to a  better  delivery  of justice  services.  The Justice Sector  Reform  Programme:  Governance  in  Justice  (GOJUST1), was implemented from 2016-2020, focused on four interrelated  components and laid the  ground  for  reforms such as: strengthened  sector  coordination  and  policy-making; implementation of case decongestion and automation; improvement  of  administrative  and  financial  management;  and  sustainability of reforms through enhanced accountability.

Building on the success of GoJUST I, the EU in partnership with UNOPS and British Council agreed to support another five-year (2020-2025) Justice Sector Reform Programme: Governance in Justice II (GoJUST II).  This successor project aims to strengthen the Rule of Law through a two-pronged approach by combining improved administration of justice and enhanced promotion and protection of human rights.  GoJUST II will build on the experiences and lessons learnt from the work done in the previous GoJUST I and previous EU-Philippines Justice Support Programmes in the sector.

GOJUST II seeks to achieve four major result areas, as follows: 

The justice component will continue and expand some previous GOJUST activities such as improved coordination between and within the justice sector agencies (both at the national level through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) and at the local level through the Justice Zone (JZ) and case management automation interventions to strengthen capacities to decongest overburdened courts, prosecution offices, and reducing pre-trial detention. GOJUST II will also focus on new result areas such as increased access to justice for vulnerable groups and evidence-based policy research and advocacy to inform policy making for improved justice outcomes. 

UNOPS is one of the implementing partners of GOJUST II under Indirect Management and will be responsible for the provision of logistical and administrative support, which may include the organization of training, workshops, seminars and study tours; procurement of goods and services; small works; grants management and communication and visibility.   

Role Specific

Working closely with the Senior Project Manager and the GoJUST2 Senior Advisers, the Programme Associate (Project Implementation) will be responsible for supporting the implementation for Results2 and Result4 to aid the conceptualization, implementation, monitor and reporting of the assigned activities linked to each results as indicated in the approved program plan.  The role will also over-all provide the link with the target partners/stakeholders on the operational assistance required to implement the key activities.

• Assist in the program advisers in the administration and logistical requirements related to the implementation of the planned activities; 

• Assist in the preparation of the sub-area work plans and budget,

• Provide operational and technical support to Implementing Partnersas assigned including gathering of work plans, activity requirements and requirements for timely submission of reports,

• Participate in project activity assessment sessions when requested; Assist in training and capacity building activities,

• Convey timelines, deliverables, risks, delays, and impacts to project team members, 

• Assist in the preparation of project reports and success stories,

• Gather relevant indicators and data for monitoring and evaluation purposes and coordinate with the GoJUST Programme MEL Officer,

• Coordinate with implementing partners related to administrative and other logistical requirements in the activity implementation 

• Collaborate with all cross-functional team members/system owners to accomplish required tasks and provide programme updates,

• Support in the facilitation of meetings and assist in documentation of activities

• Collaborate with Programme Associates in UNOPS with close coordination of vendors (if necessary).

• Collaborate within the UNOPS and Technical project team members on operational requirements for implementation of activities in close coordination of vendors (if necessary)

• Assist in the administrative, logistical, and procurement activities before, during, and after each of the GOJUST II supported activities, 

• Assist the Senior Key Experts and Non-Key Experts from the GoJUST Technical Assistance Team in the  events coordination and implementation,

• Check to ensure the completion of the documentary requirements for implementation of GoJUST 2 assisted project activities,

• Provide assistance in the coordination of operation requirements for project implementation

• Completion of secondary/high school is required. 

• University Degree (Bachelor or Masters) in Political Science, Public Administration, Law, or related fields would be an asset and may substitute some of the required years of experience

• At least 6 years experience (or less depending on academic credentials) in program/project coordination support, secretariat functional work, project implementation and operational support to  multi-stakeholder or multi-agency contexts or NGOs in national and/or international public or corporate organizations is required.

• Experience in conducting project design or formulation, assessments, and implementation is an asset.

• Experience or exposure to local and national levels of planning, implementation and monitoring multi-stakeholder programs/projects is an asset.

• Experience in producing project and activity documentation reports is desired.

• Experience in workshop/seminar/events facilitation, management and facilitation is an asset;

• Experience in networking with development partners, justice sector agencies, local government units and national agencies (regional or local offices) in the Philippines is an advantage.

• Some experience in UN system or international organizations is desirable;

• Computer Literacy in google documents, sheets and presentations or similar platforms are desired.

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is desirable

• Fluency in Tagalog/Filipino Language is desirable.

• Knowledge of other Philippine Regional dialects is desirable.

• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request
• 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.