Social Norms & Research Expert

DFID funded Integrated Programme for Strengthening Security and Justice in Nepal (IPSSJ)

The Integrated Programme for Strengthening Security and Justice (IPSSJ) is a six year (2014-2020) complex, multi-dimensional investment in improving security and justice for the poor and marginalised in Nepal with a specific focus on gender-based violence. IPSSJ works closely with Nepali government stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), the Nepal Police and the Federal Ministry for Women, Children and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC) and relevant Local and Provincial Governments. IPSSJ currently has 8 implementing partners but with several partnerships coming to a natural end from 2019 onwards, it will have 4 implementing partners:

1. UNOPS working with Nepal Police nationally and in 27 districts;
2. CARE delivering a community-based access to justice intervention in 5 districts;
3. Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)/International Alert (IA) Consortium testing different combinations of social norms and community-police interventions in 46 Gaun/Nagarpalikas overlapping with UNOPS project areas;
4. A Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) component led by Palladium.

Although IPSSJ has had a wide national reach, in its final two years, IPSSJ will focus in 3 provinces selected based on the prevalence of gender-based violence and police priorities. In the final two years, there will be an increased focus on generating evidence of  the impact of integrating social norms approaches with security and justice programming to inform the development of a successor programme. Therefore, IPSSJ needs to its capacity on social norms, research, and evidence.

Under IPSSJ, UNOPS is implementing the Modernisation and Improvement of Policing component, the largest component of IPSSJ. MIPP is increasing its efforts on community-police engagement work and other reform efforts of Nepal Police, as requested. MIPP has expertise on police reform, community engagement, infrastructure development, and training. This post will supplement existing expertise across IPSSJ implementing partners but take a more proactive role in ensuring that evidence and learning is shared and that social norms approaches are integrated across components.

Job Specific Background

UNOPS is seeking to recruit an energetic and collaborative Social Norms & Research Expert to support the Integrated Programme for Strengthening Security and Justice (IP-SSJ) as part of Nepal’s programme on mainstreaming approaches to tackle harmful social norms. The Expert will support the ongoing programme in security & justice in Nepal, with a particular focus on ensuring that approaches are tested and learning integrated into existing and future programming. The Expert will work in a dynamic and committed team spanning multiple organizations as part of the IPSSJ Programme.

One of the key objectives of the role is to support IPSSJ partners to learn about how social norms interventions focusing on GBV can best be coupled with wider security and justice interventions to have the most impact in preventing GBV as well as responding to it when it does occur.

The Social Norms & Research Expert will coordinate, advise and support MIPP, VSO/IA social norms/operational research, and the MEL components of IPSSJ ensuring that they complement and learn from each other. The Expert will share this learning and expertise with all IPSSJ partners and stakeholders as well as potentially other  programmes with a potential to positively impact on gender inequality. The Expert will have proven expertise in applying social norms approaches and operational research to programming, ideally in a South Asian context of security and justice interventions. They will be collaborative and partnership focused, ideally understand and be able to communicate in Nepali, and be prepared to frequently travel to project locations.

The successful candidate will be based in UNOPS Nepal and directly report to the MIPP Project Manager and will work closely with the Governance and Service Delivery Team (GSDT) of DFID. Staff working in the GSDT team include a Senior Responsible Officer (governance/conflict adviser), a GBV expert (social development adviser), and two part-time programme management staff. It is a strong, collaborative and busy team. The successful candidate will also work closely with this team and work collaboratively across IPSSJ partners, DFID Nepal, Nepal Police and relevant government agencies.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

IPSSJ is looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated Social Norms & Research Expert to ensure the quality of and oversee the social norms, learning, adaptation and research components of IPSSJ. This role will also support IPSSJ to integratesocial norms approaches to address gender inequality and tackle gender-based violence. The successful applicant will be based in UNOPS and will work very closely with the DFID IPSSJ Team and IPSSJ partners. It is envisaged that the successful applicant will divide their time equally between UNOPS, DFID, and IPSSJ partner premises, spending at least 20% of their time travelling to programme locations. This role will also provide thought leadership on social norms programming and research and work with other relevant programmes as requested.

IPSSJ is looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated Social Norms & Research Expert to ensure the quality of and oversee the social norms, learning, adaptation and research components of IPSSJ. This role will also support IPSSJ to integratesocial norms approaches to address gender inequality and tackle gender-based violence. The successful applicant will be based in UNOPS and will work very closely with the DFID IPSSJ Team and IPSSJ partners. It is envisaged that the successful applicant will divide their time equally between UNOPS, DFID, and IPSSJ partner premises, spending at least 20% of their time travelling to programme locations. This role will also provide thought leadership on social norms programming and research and work with other relevant programmes as requested.

The key functions of this role are as follows:

1. Technical and thought leadership support on how to integrate social norms approaches in programming with a key role supporting UNOPS, DFID and its partners to adapt programme approaches in ways that support contributions to gender equality and reduced vulnerability to gender-based violence;
2. Technical advice on generating and adapting to operationally relevant research;
3. Support Capacity building of IPSSJ and DFID and its partners on social norms programming, including mentoring and coaching of staff and designing and implementing training and learning initiatives;
4. In coordination with DFID programme manager support  two of the four components of the IPSSJ programme, namely VSO/International Alert and  Palladium, implementing Monitoring, Evaluation and Leaning component of IPSSJ, in coordination with a DFID Programme Manager;
5. Provide support to  DFID Programme Manager on the design  and development of a future programme on security and justice.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

1. Technical advice, especially on applying social norms approaches and operationally relevant research across IPSSJ;
2. Coordinate, advise and support VSO/IA and Palladium partnerships;
3. Cross-cutting capacity support on social norms programming and leaving no-one behind;
4. Adaptive programming approaches and context analysis;
5. Coaching and mentoring of staff, supporting a culture of empowerment.

A.  Education

• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) in Sociology, criminology, public administration, psychology, social science or related discipline is required;
• Advanced University Degree/Master’s degree in related field will be an asset.

B. Work Experience

• Four years’ of progressive experience in the field of social norms with a specific focus on generating impact on gender-based violence, particularly in the field of South Asian Context is required;
• Proven track record of designing, overseeing, conducting, and/or applying research in relevant social science areas, including understanding of qualitative and quantitative and mixed methods is an asset;
• Strong experience of programme design and implementation in a relevant field and demonstrated adaptation to evidence and context analysis is highly desirable;
• Demonstrated experience in building the capacity of others, sharing learning, coaching and mentoring methodologies is desirable;
• Strong partnership-building and communication skills, ideally both in community settings and policy level discussions is an advantage;
• Open, collaborative working style based on trust and delegation, with a genuine commitment to inclusion is highly desirable;
• Proven track record of drafting concise products in English on complex issues is desirable.

C. Language

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Nepali is required.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Specialist (LICA)
Contract level: LICA 9
Contract duration:Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

• This post is open to Nepal nationals only.
• 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.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.