Project Management Support Specialist (Resilience)

The EU Partnership Facility Project

The EU is currently funding the Resilience Programme for Somalia which is based on the objective “to revitalise and expand the Somali economy with a focus on livelihood enhancement, employment generation, and broad-based inclusive growth”, financed from the European Development Fund (EDF). Under this project UNOPS has been requested by the EU to provide support by filling in the identified gaps with flexible tools and mechanisms to implement the National Development Plan structure by establishing a Partnership Coordination Facility for Somalia. Coordinated efforts are essential in order to transform Somalia into a more resilient, and improved, economic sector with greater security, gender equity, improved human development, stronger infrastructure, and better access to basic services that are delivered by accountable governmental institutions. This transformation is hindered by slow institutions that are unable to respond quickly to emerging needs. The project will allow these needs to be identified by the Recovery and Resilience Framework (RRF) and Somalia’s 9th National Development Plan (NDP-9) Working Groups, and to be satisfied in a timely, strategic manner. 

The RRF priorities and strategies have been mainstreamed into NDP 9 as policy imperatives that cut across the three working groups – Inclusive Politics, Economic Development and Social Development. To enhance the effective coordination and coherence of resilience activities, a government domiciled inter-ministerial resilience technical secretariat is to be formed to ensure effective working group operations, timely deliverables and improved alignment of financing to government resilience priorities as laid out in the RRF. The technical secretariats are mandated by the SDRF Steering Committee (SDRF SC) and designed to provide technical and administrative support to the Working Groups. There is also a need for development of the government’s capacity to monitor resilience programmes outcomes and impact on targeted beneficiaries in the short and medium term. Strengthening actors’ collaboration especially in their planning and joint implementation of resilience programs in Somalia is a critical component to achieving the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. 

• Supporting in the development of a government-led concept note and proposal for the inter-ministerial Resilience Technical Secretariat that will be implemented at both Federal Government (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) levels;
• Providing technical and administrative support to relevant government ministries under the resilience technical Secretariat;
• Supporting the secretariat to track the National Development Plan (NDP) outcomes pertaining to resilience and monitor and track resilience commitments under the 2019-2020 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MAF);
• Developing strategies to strengthen the capacities of FGS and FMS to effectively coordinate and implement resilience activities e.g. organizing learning events to harmonize resilience approaches amongst government resilience stakeholders.

• Ensure effective knowledge sharing between the Social Development thematic Working Group and the Resilience Technical Secretariat and contribute to the strengthening of the social sector;
• Enhance effectiveness and increase coherence in the implementation of the Resilience Technical Secretariat by maximizing potential synergies with the other policy imperatives such as Durable Solutions, Environment and Natural Resources Management;
• Provide Ad Hoc analyses/support as needed. 

• Nutrition – Enhance the multi-sectoral approach to nutrition by supporting and strengthening network building between Somalia’s Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat and Focal Point at the OPM, Civil Society and Academia with the donor network.
• WASH – Support the government with the Water Master Plan and the implementation of the water strategy. Supervise the execution of a water desk review/needs assessment. 

• Oversee the mapping from inception, assessment to final report in close collaboration with a desk review consultant

• Implement, coordinate and monitor the scholarships programme which will sponsor qualified Somali students to attain a Master’s Degree in a variety of fields related to resilience, including but not limited to; climate change adaptation, livelihoods, durable solutions and sustainable development – in selected postgraduate study programmes.

Accountability for results and the use of resources.

• The EU Partnership Facility’s project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the Project Management Support Specialist (Resilience) to raise the issue to the Supervisor.

Excellence

• Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

Impact of Results 

The Project Management Support Specialist (Resilience) directly impacts on achievement of project results by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks and improving quality and success rates. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

• Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political and/or Social Sciences, Law, International Development, Economics, International Relations or other relevant disciplines is required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political and/or Social Sciences, Law, International Development, Economics, International Relations or other relevant disciplines with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 
• Diploma Certificate in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political and/or Social Sciences, Law, International Development, Economics, International Relations or other relevant disciplines with a combination of four (4) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

 B. Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5)  years’ relevant work experience in the field of International Development Cooperation and / or employment policy gained through work in a Government, Consultancy or International Development Agency context is required.

• Experience in working with and providing policy and technical advice to high ranking officials preferably Government institutions is as asset.

• Experience in resilience programming is an advantage.

• Experience in aid coordination, Somalia and / or other fragile states would be a considerable advantage.

• Experience working on or managing large and complex programmes, in coordination with Government authorities is desirable.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including oral, written and skills;

• Ability to translate strategic thinking and innovative ideas into practical operational recommendations is an asset.

• Excellent analytical skills, ability to synthesize and clearly present complex processes and issues is desirable

• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work independently without supervision is an asset.

 C. Language requirement

• Fluency in written and spoken English Language is required.
• Fluency in oral and written Somali language is an asset.

• 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.
• Mogadishu is not a Family Duty Station.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon   request.
• 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.

1. Contract type:International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: IICA 2 /ICS 10
3. Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

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.

Africa Region

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.

Somalia Country Office:

UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) has had a solid and continuous in-country expert presence successfully implementing programs since the mid-1990s, where it is currently undertaking various projects and initiatives in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS) and partners from the global donor community. UNOPS’ projects in Somalia focus on several key sectors that include infrastructure development, institutional capacity building, project management, advisory services, and procurement services. These projects cut across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, national security, law enforcement, immigration services, justice, transport, and public works among others. UNOPS work in Somalia is geared towards driving growth and development in the country, a process that requires developing a close relationship with the FGS and the other development partners.
  
Through its involvement in Somalia’s development process, UNOPS is providing transparent and accountable solutions in the country’s state and nation-building process. In addition, UNOPS is also committed to implementing the United Nations Strategic Framework Somalia 2017 – 2020, with the aim of helping Somalia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNOPS work within the context of these commitments means that the projects it implements in Somalia are specifically designed to provide long-term solutions in the country, leading to sustainable and inclusive growth.

What drives us is a passion to fight inequalities and to provide opportunities to those most vulnerable. This means we often work in the most challenging environments, building foundations for communities to function and people to live with dignity and respect.

To succeed here, he/she need to be able to combine creativity with the organizational skills to manage numerous different projects to tight deadlines simultaneously, as well as working with the different units to meet their expectations.