Proposal Development Officer

Established in 2009, UNOPS Ethiopia Office has been providing services to various partners, including the government of Ethiopia, UN agencies such as WHO, UNHCR and WFP, and other international organizations. In 2014, the UNOPS Executive Director decided to establish the UNOPS Ethiopia Operational Hub (ETOH), which manages and coordinates the UNOPS activities in Ethiopia, as well as Sudan and Djibouti.

UNOPS ETOH activities range from tailor-made administration, operations, human resources and logistics support for implementation of development and humanitarian projects; infrastructure and procurement management services; and advisory services to partners to facilitate effective procurement, supply and financial management.

Accordingly, the Program Development Associate will be responsible for assisting in the development and presentation of programmes and projects, as well as overall communications with external stakeholders. Such communications efforts may take the form of reports, proposals, project documents, terms of reference and other key programming documents.  S/he will be responsible for ensuring documents are high quality, professional in content and presentation, well-structured, and grammatically correct.

The Proposal Development Officer will develop, in consultation with ETOH senior management, a detailed work plan that will include undertaking the following tasks, and other relevant activities.

1. Proposal Development

a)       Facilitate preparation of professional and presentable programme and project proposals with the relevant program, partnerships and operations teams. To facilitate proposal development process, help develop and implement concepts and work plans.

b)      Review secondary literature on relevant subjects relating to proposed projects and programs. Based on data analysis, identify data, information and analysis gaps. This should include reviewing and compiling relevant research, evidence from prior similar interventions, best practices and lessons learned.

c)       As required, help conduct field visits in target areas to carry out assessments relevant to existing and proposed projects and programs, and based on the relevant strategic and program key performance indicators.

d)      As required, help conduct problem tree analyses and validation workshops with key partners and other relevant stakeholders.

e)      Based on the primary and secondary information gathered, and building upon the strengths of UNOPS, help design projects and programs, including results frameworks, budgets, and narrative concept notes and proposals, required to apply for funding from existing and potential donors and partners.

f)        Compile, edit and proofread draft and final proposals, and other partnerships and stakeholders documents.

2. Report writing

The incumbent will assist in the production and presentation of reports, and reports on UNOPS ETOH activities:

a)       Help report on UNOPS ETOH activities, community impacts and outcomes, in accordance to the GRI Sustainability reporting requirements, and in line with the M&E Plan of the ETOH Strategy.  Help build a culture of transparency and sustainability awareness for the organization.

b)      Report on UNOPS ETOH activities, community impacts and outcomes, in accordance to the GRI Sustainability topics and their Indicators identified as relevant for UNOPS on the M&E plan, with the purpose of building a culture of transparency and sustainability awareness for the organization.

c)       Adopt the GRI G4 Sustainability Reporting Framework, in order to lay a foundation for implementing the UN SDGs and measuring performance against key performance indicators.

d)      Through a world-class report, to lead the way for other UN entities in sustainability reporting and serve as a foundation more targeted communications (including web).

Education

• A Master’s Degree in Communications, Social Sciences, Literature or a relevant area is required.
• A combination of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Work Experience laugh

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in proposal writing, report writing and graphic design services required. This should include strong programme design skills, including capacity to prepare logical, coherent, and consistent documents, including results frameworks and budgets.
• Prior demonstrated experience developing proposals for donors required.
• Background of demonstrated success in designing proposals for international donors, IFI, governments, foundations and other bilateral and multilateral development partners strongly preferred. This will need to include scoping, reviewing, analysing, and integrating existing plans, projects, and areas of expertise.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with project members in various locations and from multiple organizations, including remotely writing and revising proposal documents strongly preferred.
• Ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of stakeholders, organizations, and technical experts from multiple sectors strongly preferred.

Languages
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English is required. Fluency in French would be considered as desirable.

Functional Competencies

Professionalism: Shows solid understanding of proposal development and report writing. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work and, where applicable, human rights issues.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.