Capacity Building Officer for Social Inclusion in the Waste Management System (two retainer positions), Multiple positions

The Joint UN Programme "PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature" contributes to improving the quality of life of citizens through the improvement of local governance, social inclusion and environmental protection in 110 cities and municipalities throughout Serbia. The Programme is jointly implemented by the United Nations Agencies in Serbia - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP, in cooperation with the Government of Serbia, and with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland, in the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2026.

To achieve the Programme’s Objective, the intervention will focus on three key Pillars and Outcomes: 

• Pillar Good Governance, Outcome 1: LGs improve capacities and apply good governance principles in practice;
• Pillar Social Inclusion, Outcome 2: LGs and other relevant local actors improve capacities and develop evidence-based local social protection policies;
• Pillar Environmental Governance, Outcome 3: LGs improve capacities and apply environmental governance processes in practice. 

The key stakeholders at the local level are also direct users of support: local governments (cities and municipalities), including their administrations/staff, other relevant local organisations and institutions (Centres for Social Work - CSWs, Primary Health Centres - PHCs, pre-school institutions and schools), and local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The final users of support will be the citizens from participating LGs, especially those from left behind groups, with a focus on people with disabilities, Roma, children and families, youth and older people. The support will be provided to a certain number of informal waste pickers as well. 

All Programme activities will be undertaken in partnership with the Government of Serbia, especially the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Governments (MPALSG), the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs (MLEVSA), the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP). 

The Programme will coordinate its activities with the key line national-level institutions, while observing the national strategies, laws and relevant development documents, which will contribute to sustainability, ensure national ownership and develop national capacities.

Background Information – relevant for the assignment

The Solid Waste Programme (SWP)(1) will upgrade Serbia's waste management system through the closure of 15 municipal dumpsites and development of six regional waste management centres serving a total of 42 municipalities. The waste will be redirected to six new Regional Waste Management Centres (RWMC), causing many informal waste pickers to face losing their livelihoods. 

The intervention will be implemented in 42 LGs that are covered with newly established RWMCs as follows:

• Banjica (Nova Varoš) - four LGs: Sjenica, Priboj, Prijepolje and Nova Varoš
• Kalenić (Ub) - 15 LGs: Obrenovac, Ub, Vladimirci, Valjevo, Lajkovac, Ljig, Mionica, Osečina, Koceljeva, Barajevo, Lazarevac, Mali Zvornik, Loznica, Krupanj and Ljubovija
• Rančevo (Sombor) - five LGs: Sombor, Apatin, Odžaci, Kula, Bač
• Srem Mačva (Sremska Mitrovica) - five LGs: Sremska Mitrovica, Šid, Bogatić, Šabac, Ruma
• Duboko (Užice) - nine LGs: Užice, Čačak, Bajina Bašta, Požega, Arilje, Čajetina, Kosjerić, Lučani, Ivanjica
• Pirot (Pirot) - four LGs: Pirot, Babušnica, Dimitrovgrad and Bela Palanka

The most significant social impact of the SWP is the anticipated economic displacement of persons engaging in waste collection at municipal waste dumps which are planned to be closed in the future. To ensure that this economic displacement is addressed, the Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP) was developed within the SWP and it served as a basis for development of this intervention. 

The Programme intervention will provide support to a number of informal waste pickers, affected by modernisation of the waste management system on the territory of those LGs covered by the SWP, aiming to enhance livelihood recovery and access to the public services relevant for social inclusion (health, education and social protection). Although the LRP census recorded up to 150 individuals engaged in waste picking and up to 250 of their household members, the modernisation of the waste management system will also affect the livelihood of the general group of informal waste pickers.

Considering the extreme vulnerability of the priority target group and the need for their livelihood restoration, the Programme will support LGs in developing and establishing systemic policies, structures and processes for addressing the rights and needs of informal waste pickers in their respective areas. The Programme will coordinate this activity with the MEP and MLEVSA while respecting national strategies, laws and relevant development documentation, which will contribute to sustainability and ensure national ownership.
 
(1) Financed through the loan of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and French Development Agency (AFD)

UNICEF and UNFPA, as participating United Nations organisations, will also provide technical assistance to participating LGs, mainly focusing on education, health and social services as well as their inclusion into the labour market. In this regard, UNOPS part of technical assistance will be focused on improving local governance and promoting sustainable waste management with integration of social inclusion aspects into the waste management system by addressing waste pickers` rights and needs as final beneficiaries.

The Officer(s) will undertake below activities/responsibilities:

Preparatory activities: 

• Study findings from the Programme initial assessments of the local context to understand the broader context of the SWP and its implications on final beneficiaries
• Prepare detailed approach for implementation of the TA including identified key policies 
• Elaborate application of Good Governance (GG) principles in the process of development of local policies addressing the rights and needs of final beneficiaries
• Prepare detailed work plan for implementation of the activities including visits and consultations with at least ten LGs 

Delivery of technical assistance to support LGs, that may include but is not limited to:

• Delivering two 2-day workshops:

• understanding the socio-economic impact of the SWP on informal waste pickers; 
• policy discussions on social inclusion of waste pickers in the waste management system;
• promotion of sustainable waste management, including waste pickers' rights and introducing measures for their social inclusion; 
• strengthening institutional foundations related to social inclusion in local waste management systems.
• The separate topic of the first workshop will be the establishment of grievances mechanisms by the LGs in line with the PRO Programme Guidelines addressing complaints of affected waste pickers.
• Prepare workshop report.

• Provision of technical and mentoring support:

Education 

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Law, Public Administration, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or relevant field is required. 
• Master Degree in relevant discipline will be considered an advantage

Work Experience 

• Minimum two years of experience related to provision of capacity development of local governments and/or national institutions in Serbia is required. 
• Experience in dealing with the waste management processes will be an asset.
• Experience in dealing with social inclusion aspects of waste pickers will be an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Serbian and English is required

ALL CANDIDATES ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT A CV AND COVER LETTER INDICATING A PREFERENCE IN TERMS OF DUTY STATION ALONG WITH THEIR APPLICATION.

• Driving license and ability to travel independently is required

This is a local position, it is therefore open to nationals of Serbia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) - retainer
Contract level: Local ICA, Level 8
Contract duration: Up to 70 working days per position within the 10 months

• 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.

The UNOPS Republic of Serbia Multi Country Office (RSMCO) is implementing 14 projects in Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

In Serbia, where UNOPS has been active since 2000, and North Macedonia and Montenegro where UNOPS works since 2017, the organisation provides support in demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union. The projects focus on sustainable socio-economic development, good governance, social cohesion, environment and emergency response. The projects are implemented with the funding from the European Union (EU), Kingdom of Norway, Governments of Switzerland, Sweden and North Macedonia.

All projects have gender equality as a transversal theme, and have been contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives.