Partnerships Development Senior Advisor - Sahel

UNOPS Africa Region (AFR) has approximately 300 operational projects in 40 countries and counts over 800 personnel, with an annual delivery value of more than US$400 million. The regional portfolio of programmes and projects focuses mainly on supporting fragile and conflict-affected African states in infrastructure development and procurement in support of health, peace and security, and social infrastructure interventions.

The office of the Regional Director for Africa provides strategic leadership, technical guidance, and advisory support and oversight to the operations across offices within the UNOPS  Africa region (AFR). The region’s operations are divided into five sub-regional Multi Country Offices (MCOs) and one standalone Country Office (COs). The Office of the Regional Director for Africa is currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark, but will likely move to Africa in 2023.

To join the UN collective actions, to engage in developing partnerships across the Sahel and to support all development actors in the Sahel region in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals  across ten countries - Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal - UNOPS is recruiting a Partnerships Development Senior Advisor.

Under the direct supervision of the Africa Deputy Regional Director (DRD), the Partnerships Development Senior Advisor will act as the relationship manager for the office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel and other UN processes for the broader Sahel Region, such as the UNISS (United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel), the Great Green Wall, the UNDP Sahel Energy Task Team, and the Joint Programme for the Sahel, among others. The Partnerships Development Senior Advisor will receive strategic guidance from the UNOPS AFR Sahel Steering Committee, composed of the AFR DRD and the Directors of the Senegal, Ghana, and Democratic Republic of Congo MCOs, and will report to the deputy regional director on a day-to-day basis.

Extensive travel activity in the Sahel is expected.

• In close collaboration with MCO directors, the Partnerships Development Senior Advisor will lead the development of a regional partner engagement strategy to position UNOPS in the Sahel.

• In alignment with MCO directors, develop strong relationships with relevant government focal points and key partners in targeted countries of the Sahel.

• Participate in relevant Sahel discussions in UNCT meetings and other country-level partner meetings on the Sahel on behalf of the respective UNOPS multi-country directors, if and when useful.

• Raise UNOPS profile through the participation and representation of UNOPS in key regional forums such as the United Nations Integrated Strategy on the Sahel, UNDP-led Joint Programme on the Sahel, Great Green Wall, etc.

• Keep track of the political developments in the Sahel countries and provide advice to UNOPS personnel on engagements with Governments in these countries. 

• Keep track of regional opportunities for the Sahel with key partners such as the World Bank, AFDB and the European Commission.

• Identify opportunities for UNOPS to develop partnerships with Governments, and funding sources in support of the Sahel priorities.

• In collaboration with the relevant UNOPS MCOs, develop UNOPS portfolio of projects and programmes in the Sahel region.

The Partnerships Development Senior Advisor may be assigned a few focus countries that they will pay special attention to. The incumbent will work closely with the Multi-Country Office directors and other UNOPS colleagues. The aforementioned responsibilities may need to be refined according to institutional developments and the evolving context in the region. 

Education

• An advanced university degree (e.g. Master) 

• A first level university degree (e.g. Bachelor) in with an additional 2 years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience

• A minimum of 10  years of experience in an international development context combining strategy development and execution, acquisition of new business and establishment of partnerships with UN organizations, development finance institutions, governments, foundations, international NGOs or private sector organizations, is required.

• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the Sahel and/or in post-conflict and/or fragile environments is required. 

Language Skills

Fluency in English and French is required.

Contract type: ICA

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.