The United Nations Mine Action Service
(UNMAS) Mine Action Programme in Western ...
The United Nations Mine Action Service
(UNMAS) Mine Action Programme in Western Sahara is executed by UNOPS.
The Programme comprises of the following main
components:
- Mine
Action support to MINURSO, Western
Sahara
- UNMAS
Western Sahara Mine Action provides a humanitarian response to the Mine and
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) threat throughout the east of the berm in
Western Sahara, and
- Supports
the ongoing Capacity Development of the Saharawi Mine Action Coordination
Office SMACO) east of the berm.
Sixteen years of
fighting between Morocco and the Frente Popular para a Liberacion de Saguia
el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro (Frente POLISARIO) resulted in landmine and ERW
contamination to both sides of the 1,645 km long berm which divides the
territory of Western Sahara. In order to determine the extent of the
landmine/ERW threats in Western Sahara – east of the berm, UNMAS, conducted a
survey of the region from 2006 – 2008. At the time of the survey, a total
of 158 cluster strike areas, 37 minefields, one ammunitions dump and hundreds
of ERW were identified. The continued presence of landmines/ERW constitutes a
high threat for more than 10,000 Saharan nomads and their families, as well as
UN
The Saharawi Mine Action Coordination Office
(SMACO), a mine action entity within the Frente POLISARIO, was established in
September 2013. It is currently staffed by a Coordinator,
Operations/Quality Assurance Officer, IMSMA Officer and an Admin/Finance
Officer. UNMAS seeks a contractor to add to the initial assessment and further
strengthen the policy, technical and operational capacities of the SMACO for an
initial period of 100day.
The MACC office is part of the
office of the SRSG within the headquarter of MINIURSO however the
MACC is functionally located in Tindouf, Algeria within the mission AOR, with the
majority of the humanitarian clearance being conducted east of the berm. The incumbent would
be located in the MINURSO Liaison Office in Tindouf, Algeria and travel the
SMACO office location on a daily basis in Rabouni, and he/she is responsible to
abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures
of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
Under the line management of the UNMAS PM,
the Capacity Development Technical Advisor will undertake activities based on
the strategic direction of the UNMAS Programme Manager.