Partnerships Advisor Roster (Programme Advisor/Technical expert on the Reform Agendas under the Reform and Growth Facility)

Background Information - Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO)

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, Türkiye, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

• Infrastructure

• Procurement 

• Project Management

• HR and Transactional Services

• Grants Management 

• Technical and Advisory Services

(1) Rule of Law and Fundamentals i.e. the relevant principles such as fundamental rights, democratic principles, justice, anti-corruption, equality and non-discrimination, including their mechanisms and frameworks for support and monitoring ;

(2) Governance, Public Administration Reform and Public Financial Management i.e. institutions and processes, transparency and accountability, human rights, legislative reforms, service delivery improvement, human resources management, budgeting, revenue administration, expenditure management, financial reporting and procurement;

(3) Human Capital i.e. fairness and inclusiveness in growth, a well-functioning labour market, a well-trained and productive workforce and, overall, the areas of education and skills, employment, and social protection and inclusion including youth, healthcare, culture and sport etc; 

(4) Energy and Green Transition i.e. addressing reliance on fossil fuels, transition to renewables, energy efficiency, addressing energy poverty, developing energy market mechanisms, decarbonisation and private sector participation etc; 

(5) Digitalisation i.e. the interconnection of administration, research and education networks, high-performance computing, the Digital Agenda, internet access and digital skills, addressing fragmentation in the digital market; and 

(6) Private Sector Development and Business Environment i.e. a robust private sector for regional socio-economic development and integration, improvement of competitiveness and job creation, supporting start-ups and micro-, small and medium-sized businesses, innovation and open, innovative, business friendly eco-systems etc. 

When submitting your application, please include a short Cover letter (max. half a page) indicating one or more of the above areas of specialisation.

Selected experts will work on the implementation, monitoring and the overall physical and financial management of the Reform Agendas of the beneficiaries. In that regard, they should be able to provide evidence of experience in the implementation or monitoring of results-based, EU-funded programmes/projects entailing structural reforms and/or investments in the EU or accession countries (mandatory specialisation).

The selected candidates will perform functions such as the following with a thematic focus, according to their expertise in line with the thematic areas’ categories from (1) to (6) specified above. They will support the beneficiaries by 

• providing technical advice in line with their thematic area of expertise; and/or

• supporting the implementation, monitoring, reporting, financial control and evaluation of the Reform agendas under the respective Reform Agendas, and in particular their:

  • measures, including structural reforms, investments, and measures to ensure compliance with related EU and national objectives;

  • investment projects and programmes intended for financing under the WBIF, including respective investment volumes and envisaged timelines for implementation;

  • alignment with the indicative timetable and the envisaged payment conditions;

  • measurable qualitative and quantitative steps and relevant indicators;

  • outreach, communication and visibility plan for local audiences

Other Tasks and Responsibilities may include:

• Provide process advice, in line with the Regulation on the establishment of the Reform and Growth Facility; and

• Prepare technical meetings and workshops related to the execution of the Reform Agenda.

• An advanced university degree or higher, preferably in Public Administration, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Development Studies or Natural Sciences or in any other field related to the 6 thematic areas specified above i.e.

Experience

• Programme planning, implementation or monitoring within the context of public sector reform, governance, or development projects;  

• Technical aspects of reforms and investments in the context of the EU accession process of the Western Balkan countries/territories.

• In-depth understanding of reform processes, including legislative, administrative, and economic reforms in the context of the EU accession process of the Western Balkans.

Desirables/ Assets:

1. Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) 
2. Contract level: ICSC 11/ IICA 3 
3. Contract duration:  ‘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 

• 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.