Head of Joint Policing Programme (JPP)

Somalia is undergoing a significant phase in its political and security development – one that offers opportunities as well as challenges to efforts to secure the foundations of longer-term stabilization and peace. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), established in 2012, is set to hold their second landmark Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2021. Power relations between the country’s centre and periphery remain at the centre of the Somali crisis and significant questions regarding Somalia’s national security architecture are yet to be adequately negotiated and resolved. Against this backdrop, expansion and development of professional and accountable civilian policing is both a critical precursor to peace-building efforts, and a point of significant political contestation. To that end, Somali authorities have developed a New Policing Model (NPM), which codifies a two-tier federated policing structure.

Background on the Joint Police Programme (JPP)

UNOPS seeks a Head of JPP to provide technical and programme leadership to a current and future phase of a USD $56 million police reform programme in Somalia, referred to as the Joint Police Programme (JPP). This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to help shape and lead UNOPS’ support for the expansion of affordable, accountable and effective policing in Somalia.

International funding has been crucial in sustaining the Somali Federal and Federal Member States (FMS) Police in returning a degree of security and rule of law to the country. The continuation and expansion of these efforts are crucial over the coming years. To enable this, the Joint Policing Programme (JPP) supports the Federal and FMS police to implement the country’s two-tier federated New Policing Model (NPM). The JPP takes advantage of the current situational opportunity to enhance collaboration in support of specific and realistic activities aimed at increasing the number of police officers operating across the country and their effectiveness in providing critical basic policing services to communities. By bringing together donor funding for the Police into one programme, the JPP enables the efficient and effective allocation of resources and fosters stronger strategic partnerships between Somali and international actors.

UNOPS has initiated the design of a second phase of the JPP, which will launch in January 2023 following completion of the current phase. This new phase will build on the significant strengths and successes of the current phase. It also presents an exciting opportunity to significantly amend the programme’s approach to test new ways of working that will  further strengthen policing across the country. 

Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

The Head of JPP will provide technical and programmatic leadership and oversight of the JPP, ensuring that the programme is delivered to a high standard and ultimately achieves or exceeds its expected results. S/he will be an integral member of UNOPS’ growing security and justice portfolio, and will report directly to the Senior Programme Manager. They will manage a team of talented technical, programme and fund management staff, who form the JPP Secretariat, and be responsible for building and maintaining strategic partnerships with a wide range of Somali and international stakeholders. The Head of JPP will be responsible for assuring the technical quality and strategic/developmental impact of programme outputs. They will oversee the development of the programme’s approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning. They will ensure that the programme evolves to respond to emerging evidence, changing political circumstances and opportunities for development, including through overseeing the design and launch of a new phase of programming. 

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Head of Joint Policing Programme will provide technical and programmatic leadership and oversight of the JPP, ensuring that the programme is delivered to a high standard and ultimately achieves or exceeds its expected results. S/he will be an integral member of UNOPS’ growing security and justice portfolio, and will report directly to the Senior Programme Manager. They will manage a team of talented technical, programme and fund management staff, who form the JPP Secretariat, and be responsible for building and maintaining strategic partnerships with a wide range of Somali and international stakeholders. S/he will be responsible for assuring the technical quality and strategic/developmental impact of programme outputs. They will oversee the development of the programme approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning, and ensure that the programme evolves to respond to emerging evidence, changing political circumstances and opportunities for development

1. Strategic Direction and Programme Design. Ensure JPP’s strategy and approach is informed by and continually adapts in response to emerging political dynamics, evidence and learning to achieve the intended outcomes and impact.  Oversee design and launch of a new phase of the JPP, which builds on and challenges existing ways of working to maximize the programme’s impact.  Ensure the programme contributes towards wider reform agendas, including discussions surrounding federalism, fiscal sustainability and right-sizing of the police force. Facilitate and encourage development of comprehensive work requests, which deliver against longer-term developmental priorities and existing strategic policing plans objectives of the Police in Somalia. Embed sustainability and a commitment to transformative gender equality and social inclusion, incorporating environmental and economic considerations across the programme. 

2. Programme and Financial Management. Ensure the programme is delivered effectively, that milestones are delivered on time and to quality, and that the overall workplan provides the framework for delivery, that progress is reviewed and lessons are learned to constantly update, adapt and optimize performance and realize Value for Money. Ensure systems are in place, and are being used which address: programme and financial management; procurement and asset management; compliance; safeguarding; risk management; monitoring evaluation and learning; and office management. Drive efficiency and value for money in the delivery of JPP approved activities. Proactively identify, monitor and manage/mitigate against a wide range of risks, including human rights issues.  Identify potential partnerships with the aim of strengthening JPP financial capacity, identify funding gaps and advise accordingly.

3. Stakeholder Management. Establish and maintain constructive partnerships through confident, direct interface with a wide range of Somali and international actors, including members of the Federal and Federal Member State (FMS) governments, JPP donors (EU, Germany, UK), UN and AU missions. Facilitate and convene spaces for collective negotiation and action, with a particular focus on extending genuine Somali ownership and leadership of policing development. Provide timely and well-informed strategic advice and guidance to the JPP Executive Board. Encourage joined up approaches and information sharing with the wider community of actors supporting security sector governance and police development in Somalia. Deliberately locate JPP within the broader security and justice reform agenda, ensuring programmes collaborate effectively and that the JPP draws from and shares freely learning and evidence of what works/doesn’t.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation and  Learning (MEL). Oversee development and execution of a robust approach to MEL across the programme. Institutionalize a deliberate and structured process through which the programme reflects on progress on lessons learned, reviews emerging evidence (including from the programme’s MEL framework), and adapts its delivery strategy. Ensure programme achievements and lessons are communicated widely and effectively to both Somali and international audiences.

5. Articulate and Persuasive Reporting and Advice to senior UNOPS management and JPP Executive Board members. Provide quality reporting on progress towards JPP outcomes. Oversee development and implementation of a robust knowledge management and public communications strategy. Prepare substantive briefings, where necessary, to inform Executive Board decisions and donor engagements.

6. Team and Personnel Management and Development. Responsible for recruiting, retaining, managing and developing a talented team of technical, financial, and operational staff that make up the JPP Secretariat. Oversee development of a  programme and team culture that encourages high performance, personal accountability, active collaboration and innovation. Support a process of defining appropriate shared working values, which are supported through rigorous performance management for all team members. Support the Deputy Head of JPP to develop approaches that encourage and enable effective delivery as a team and to proactively identify and support staff to develop their professional skills and leadership abilities.

Qualifications and Experience

A.  Education

• Master’s Degree in International Relations, Political Science/Security Management/Development or Conflict Studies, Law or other relevant discipline is required.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science/Security Management/Development or Conflict Studies, Law or other relevant discipline in combination with additional two (2) years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Advanced university degree.

B. Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years’ work experience in senior technical and programme leadership roles for security and justice reform and/or conflict management programmes is required.

• Substantial technical expertise designing, delivering and/or evaluating security sector governance and/or police reform programmes in Somalia or similar conflict-affected environments is an asset.

• Successful track record managing complex, multi-partner programmes in fragile and conflict-affected environments (including programme planning, compliance, finance, risk and grants/contract management) is an added advantage.

• Experience overseeing the successful financial management and delivery of large (i.e. $20mn+) programmes is an asset.

• Successful track record developing and delivering through constructive partnerships with a wide range of both domestic and international stakeholders is desirable.

• Effective communications and interpersonal relationships; 

• Successful track record managing and developing team performance, including through the establishment of performance management and professional development frameworks is desirable.

• Knowledge of human rights, international humanitarian law, gender equality and social inclusion and their application to police and wider security sector development are assets.

• Experience managing adaptive programming, and familiarity with adaptive management and results frameworks would be a significant asset.

• Experience in the use of Google Suite applications as well as experience in handling web-based management systems is desirable.

C. Language requirement

• Fluency in written, reading and spoken English 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 the Interview 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.
• Mogadishu is not a Family Duty Station.
• 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 (Open-ended agreement, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funding 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.