Project Management Support Specialist (Cash for work)

Background: UNOPS

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 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 Project will fall under the purview of the UNOPS KEMC (Kenya Multi Country Office) Located in Nairobi, Kenya. The Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Center in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes a large portfolio of Infrastructure, procurement and project management service projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and several Island states. This specific project will be based in Pemba, Mozambique.

Background Information: Project - NCRP (Northern Crisis Recovery Project)

The Mozambique Northern Crisis Recovery Project is based in Cabo Delgado Province supporting the internally displaced population and the returnees to the recently liberated districts in the northern part of the province. The project comprises 4 main components:

Component 1: psychosocial social support and community peace building; and enhancing state-society trust and confidence.

Component 2: provision of agriculture and fishery inputs, cash for work programs for youth and women and the provision of kits for micro and small business development; and training on entrepreneurship and business management.

Component 3: the restoration of basic services, small works for agriculture production, education and health infrastructure and the construction or rehabilitation of school and health infrastructure and community services and amenities in temporary and relocation sites and host communities.

Component 4: strengthening of technical capacity of government authorities and local governments for conflict management. This component will also support project implementation, financial management, procurement, safeguards, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.

Job Specific:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Social Cohesion Unit Lead, the Project Management Support Specialist (Cash for Work) shall manage the implementation of the Cash for Work (C4W) component in frames of the Component 2 of the Northern Crisis Recovery Project. As such the incumbent will be responsible for direct coordination of the implementation of the component with the government counterparts and UNOPS infra and social teams. This includes the identification of works with the district authorities and UNOPS teams, preparation of beneficiary lists with the engagement of relevant sectors at district and provincial level, engagement of implementing partners where necessary, support the establishment  and roll out of efficient payment mechanisms for cash transfers to beneficiaries, supervision of all C4W activities implemented in frames of NCRP, reporting on the progress of the C4W component to the Unit Lead and other relevant tasks as assigned by the Unit Lead. 

The position requires experience in social support and cash transfer community interventions, experience in collaboration with the public sector, and a good understanding of the framework of the social action sector in Mozambique as well as the UN frameworks for cash transfers. 

1. Planning, implementation, management and monitoring of all cash activities

• Keep up to date with all other cash and voucher based programmes and services being implemented in Cabo Delgado by Governmental agencies, other development and humanitarian players, and commercial enterprises and use this information to help select and design optimal solutions for C4W interventions.

• Engage with relevant government counterparts and UNOPS teams to identify works at district level and compile beneficiary lists. 

• Develop detailed implementation plans for the C4W component implementation at district level. 

• Engage and supervise Implementing Partners where relevant.  

• Support the establishment of an efficient mechanism for cash transfers to beneficiaries, either directly by UNOPS or through an engagement of a third party. 

• Overall day to day oversight and monitoring of all C4W activities implemented under NCRP. 

• Liaise closely with other UNOPS teams which have direct responsibilities for elements of the operational management of cash delivery to beneficiary level e.g. Logistics, Finance, Procurement, MIS and ICT. Advise supervisor of any bottlenecks that may impede the timely delivery of cash transfers to beneficiaries.

• Facilitate and support communication and discussions, and ensure an adequate level of coordination, between relevant UNOPS units review any contractual arrangements made.

• Liaise closely with relevant government authorities, UN agencies and NGOs engaged in cash based activities.

• Periodically review the appropriateness for cash based responses in accordance with the community needs and project guidelines. Draw up plans for timely delivery of cash transfers in coordination with government, NGO and UN partners, donors, and commercially contracted companies, and monitor their implementation.

• Closely coordinate with UNOPS M&E team to ensure that relevant output and outcome indicators for C4W interventions are systematically being collected and analyzed in a manner that will help the project determine efficiency and effectiveness, 

• Undertake visits to project sites and meet beneficiaries in order to ensure that progress is made in the achievement of project objectives.

• Advise the project on risk management for C4W activities implementation.

• Ensure adherence of the implementing partners and contractors with the reporting obligations as stipulated in any Letters of Agreement, MoUs, GSAs or contracts.

• Prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on C4W, activities including proposals for operational improvements and potential scope for NCRP cash activities and reconciliations.

• Ensure compliance with UNOPS’s policies and procedures for C4W programming.

• Supervise other project staff involved in the planning and implementation of C4W activities and provide training and technical guidance in their work (for example the Community Mobilizers). 

• Develop necessary C4W training manuals, SOPs and tools in liaison with the C4W working group.

2. Other Project Management activities

• Monitor, coordinate, and communicate strategic objectives of the project to relevant stakeholders. 

• Facilitate communications between UNOPS and other UN agencies with regard to C4W programming. 

• Work with project field personnel to develop a greater understanding of the project and any other issues that arise.

• Provide substantive inputs to assist the Social Cohesion Unit Lead and the Team Lead in the preparation of project reports and documents.

• Assist the Social Cohesion Unit Lead / Team Lead in the preparation of project completion reports and ensure compliance with contractual obligations.

• Support the coordination and management of communications. 

• Participate in meetings with UN agencies, NGOs and other Stakeholders as required.

3. Knowledge management and innovation

• Actively interact with other work package managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices 

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice

• Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.

• Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

Impact of results

The Project Management Support Specialist (cash-for-work) directly impacts on achievement of  results of the livelihood recovery and economic strengthening component of NCRP, by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, managing stakeholders and improving success rates.  This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of  UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services, working in partnership with national governments. 

• Masters degree or advanced degree in Economics or Agriculture or International Affairs or Business Administration or Social Sciences or Development Studies or relevant field is required.

• Bachelor degree in Economics or Agriculture or International Affairs or Business Administration or Social Sciences or Development Studies or relevant field with additional 2 years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master's degree.

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
2. Contract level: ICS10 (LICA 10)
3. Contract duration :Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• 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 

• 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.

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.