Partnerships Advisor

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 New York Portfolio Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries. 

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement the project activities for the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

UNDP’s Global Programme on Nature for Development brings together three different initiatives -- the Equator Initiative, and the National Biodiversity Initiative, and Learning for Nature under one program in order to identify, foster, showcase and celebrate nature-based solutions that help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at local, national, and international levels. The work of the Global Programme on Nature for Development contributes to UNDP's Strategic Plan 2018-2021 by charting sustainable development pathways through the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems; and by promoting inclusive and effective democratic governance in the area of natural resources.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. The Equator Initiative seeks to:

• Identify and recognize the success of Indigenous and local initiatives,
• Create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practice,
• Inform policy to foster an enabling environment for Indigenous and local community action, and
• Develop the capacity of Indigenous peoples and local communities to scale-up their impact. 

The National Biodiversity Initiative supports countries to manage their ecosystems and biodiversity to improve national planning and governance of biodiversity and ecosystems, and to promote resilience for sustainable development. The initative’s GEF Enabling Activities work supports developing, middle income, and small island nations in their commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): early action on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), National Reporting. The use of spatial data for spatial planning is an important cross-cutting theme across these project areas, including through our flagship platform  UN Biodiversity Lab (UNBL) and to map Essential Life Support Areas (ELSAs). The UNBL, created in partnership with UN Environment (UNEP) and the CBD Secretariat provides policymakers with access to 100 of the world’s best spatial datasets on nature, climate, and sustainable development for planning, monitoring, and reporting. Building on this base, our work to map ELSAs brings together the world’s best scientists and governments in 11 pilot countries to use spatial data to identify where nature-based actions to protect, manage, or restore ELSAs can deliver efficiently across national priorities for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. A nascent area of work is building the spatial literacy of Indigenous peoples and local communities and ensuring their participation in spatial planning. 

Learning for Nature is a capacity-building offer provided by the Global Programme on Nature for Development, cutting across the three areas of work. This programme connects biodiversity policymakers, change-makers, and on-the-ground subject matter experts to facilitate the delivery of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Access to the global multi-stakeholder networks mobilized by the Equator Initiative and the National Biodiversity Initiative allows Learning for Nature to circulate knowledge while promoting best practices. Building on our learnings on the ground, we seek synergies, build linkages, and engage thousands of course participants on their journey towards sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities. Learning for Nature builds capacity to scale up efforts for nature-based sustainable development through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), webinars, self-paced e-learning modules, podcasts, and private training courses.

Knowledge Sharing is a main goal of the Equator Initiative, the National Biodiversity Initiative, and Learning for Nature. The Equator Initiative has a large series of research papers, books, and other publications focusing on local approaches to poverty reduction and conservation, informed by community-based initiatives. 180 case studies in over 30 languages have documented the Equator Prize winners’ innovative practices that deliver the win-win-win solutions that ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The National Biodiversity Initiative works with partners to share knowledge on the role of spatial data in biodiversity planning, policymaking, and reporting through story maps, blogs, Google Earth stories, articles etc.

For further information please go to: www.equatorinitiative.org, www.nbsapforum.net, www.learningfornature.org, or http://www.unbiodiversitylab.org.

This is a position to support a project which UNOPS is implementing for the United Nations Development Programme. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Under the supervision of the Senior Technical Manager the incumbent will carry out the following activities:

• Maintain responsive and proactive dialogue with donors to build relationships, ensure regular communication, manage substantive annual bilateral consultations with donors, raise awareness and support for Global Programme on Nature for Development priority actions.
• Identify and leverage donors’ key areas of interest, priorities and concerns as they influence funding decisions and their partnership with the Global Programme on Nature for Development. 
• Identify and access new funding opportunities and sources.
• Monitor use of contributions; take necessary action to satisfy donor requirements and ensure allocations are respected. 
• Monitor assigned resource levels and alert the managers as relevant of potential excessive or minimal assigned contributions.
• Provide donor counterparts with information on Global Programme on Nature for Development operations including responding to donor ad-hoc requests in coordination with other stakeholders.
• Draft internal and external correspondence, including talking points and briefing notes for senior management as necessary, to support them in advocacy, negotiation and follow-up of contributions with donors.
• Organize, coordinate and facilitate donor briefings, donor missions and missions by Global Programme on Nature for Development staff as relevant in order to support fundraising and donor engagement.
• Establish targeted donor engagement strategies to strengthen partnerships, sustain support and leverage additional fundraising opportunities in coordination with donor capitals and counterparts.
• In collaboration with respective counterparts and partners, prepare submissions for specific funding from donors or provide other information donors might require in determining their financial support to the Global Programme on Nature for Development.
• Follow-up the funding situation of specific programme areas and update the corresponding funding and projection tables. Share funding tables with managers and partners.
• Negotiate contributions advocating for quality funding, striving for timeliness, predictability and maximum flexibility; negotiate, draft and follow up on bilateral agreements with donors, striving to reduce risk, exposure and reporting burdens.
• Liaise, coordinate and provide information and guidance to counterparts in the Regional Bureaux; ensure that Bureaux and operations implement and actively support Global Programme on Nature for Development fundraising priorities; represent donor interests, communicate donor requirements and concerns to country offices.
• Supervise the recording and tracking of contributions.
• Follow-up the funding situation of specific programme areas and update the corresponding funding and projection tables. Share funding tables with relevant Bureaux and Offices to build common understanding on funding status and needs. 
• In collaboration with UNDP BPPS, prepare narrative and financial reports on contributions, in compliance with specific donor requirements. Actively contribute to donor recognition efforts as needed, in collaboration.
• In collaboration with UNDP BPPS, prepare submissions for specific funding from donors or provide other information donors might require in determining their financial support to the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The assignment is supervised by the Manager of the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in international relations, project management, sustainable development, engineering, environmental management/sciences, law, science, social/political science, business, management, and/or other relevant fields with seven (7) years of relevant experience  is required; OR
• A first level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) preferably in international relations, project management, sustainable development, engineering, environmental management/sciences, law, science, social/political science, business, management, and/or other relevant fields with nine (9) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

• Relevant experience at the national and/or international level, in strategic external engagement with donors, UN agencies, partners or governments. 

Language

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Knowledge of additional UN languages is an advantage.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA 3)/ICS11
Contract duration: Open-ended (subject to good performance, availability of funds, organizational requirements and project duration).

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

• 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.