Position: Capacity Building Specialist

Application Deadline: August, 27/2023

Background Information - PSC

Peace and Security Cluster

The UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. It is led by the Director, who has overall authority and accountability for the performance of PSC on behalf of its clients. The Director is responsible for administering and providing oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client's requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations.

Background Information - Job-specific

Background Information UNMAS

Established in 1997 by the General Assembly, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) serves as the United Nations' focal point for mine action and supports its vision of “a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies.”

UNMAS coordinates and collaborates with fourteen UN departments, agencies, programmes and funds to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problems of landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions.

UNMAS establishes, manages, and provides strategic direction to mine-action coordination centers in countries and territories as part of peacekeeping operations and humanitarian emergencies or crises. In these situations, UNMAS may plan and carry out mine-action projects, support and coordinate the work of local and international mine-action service providers, and set priorities for mine clearance, mine-risk education and all other aspects of mine action.

Project information

Despite international support around the turn of the century, the Ethiopian Mine Action Authority (EMAO) has no working database of contamination, only one mine action standard aligned to IMAS, field staff with very limited experience in humanitarian mine action, no field offices, no tasking prioritization framework, little understanding of how mine action practices have evolved over the last twenty years and no mechanism through which international operators can become accredited.

The problem is further compounded by a lack of clearance operators working to international standards in northern Ethiopia. Those who are operating are not keeping records that may be audited or subjected to any form of recognized quality assurance. As such, there is little recognizable mine action capacity in Ethiopia today.

UNMAS has established itself as a trusted partner of the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) since it started its activities in the country in 2021 and is uniquely placed to initiate the required support to build the capacity of the mine action sector in the current political climate. UNMAS will assist in the development of an interim operational mine action capacity, which should facilitate the introduction of clearance operators, will enable the design of a functioning hazard database and a prioritization system, and will work with the Ethiopian authorities to establish a framework under which mine action can take place. 

To do so, UNMAS Ethiopia is recruiting a Capacity Building Specialist in Mine Action.

Functional Responsibilities

Purpose and scope of the assignment

Reporting to the Head of the Project Unit (HPU), the Capacity Building Specialist will be responsible for the overall coordination and successful development of mine action capacity to manage and coordinate the threat posed by explosive ordnance. 

More specifically, the successful incumbent will support the mine action sector in Ethiopia in identifying capacity-building priorities. S/he is expected to work closely with the various colleagues within the Project Management Unit (PMU) to support the delivery of the project and maintain regular engagement with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defense, Government entities at Federal and Regional levels, the wider UN system, (inter)national NGOs and service providers involved in mine action in the country.

They must be able to apply, with a great degree of autonomy, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria: 

1. Ensure coordination, coherence, and quality of the capacity development approach project-wide:

• Conduct a capability assessment, analyze the capacity of the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) and draw up a capacity development implementation plan 

• Ensure the coordination between the different units of the project and advise the Head of the Project Unit on changes or deviations from plans, including through the identification and management of risks and issues, ensuring maximum benefit to clients and stakeholders

• Advise the EMAO on conducting accreditation for mine action operators in Ethiopia

• Develop a reporting framework to ensure EMAO receives sufficient information from mine action organizations to enable it to track and manage activities 

• Support the legal advisor in mapping the process through which mine action operators may become operational in Ethiopia

• Guide and assist EMAO in the implementation of a plan to progressively and systematically develop its capacity to manage mine action, and organize review workshops and coordination meetings accordingly

• Ensure that UNMAS Ethiopia is fully informed of the progress made on capacity development initiatives in the mine action sector in the country

• Ensure that information gathered from monitoring and evaluation is used to inform stakeholders of progress and to improve the project delivery

2. Manage institutional capacity development assistance and support for the Ethiopian authorities

• Support sector-wide interaction with the national authorities at institutional and technical levels to operationalize a sustainable and context-relevant technical capacity to meet the needs of the mine action sector in Ethiopia

• Develop a prioritization process for task selection

• Assist the EMAO through the drafting of ten national mine action standards in accordance with IMAS, including:

  • Non-Technical Survey

  • Technical Survey

  • Battle Area Clearance 

  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)

  • Medical Support to Demining Operations

  • Quality Management of Mine Action Activities

  • Land Release

  • Post Clearance Documentation

  • Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)

  • Information Management for Mine Action

  • Reporting and Investigation of demining incidents

• Provide guidance on key sector regulatory issues, including boards of investigation, ensuring periodic reviews of national standards, critical non-conformities, land release policy, and information management

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) with five years of relevant experience OR

• First-level university degree (bachelor's degree or equivalent) with seven years of relevant experience 

Work Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in project management or project development, supporting operations in military, humanitarian, conflict, post-conflict, or development contexts with public or private sector organizations

• Mine action operations experience in a humanitarian, conflict, or development context is required

• Experience working with local actors and building the capacity of local governmental institutions is required

Language Skills

• Fluency in English is required (speaking, reading, and writing)

Competencies

• Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)

• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

• Open to change and flexible in a fast-paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

• Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Additional Information

• 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 that 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 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• 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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)

Contract level: ICS-10 (P3 equivalent)

Contract duration: ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

SUMMARY OF TOTAL REWARDS PACKAGE FOR IICA PERSONNEL

• Remuneration is an inclusive monthly fee and varies according to the contract level, the hired candidate’s background, duty station specification as well as eligible dependents (i.e. hardship and risk levels, cost of living, etc.), among other criteria.

• For retainers and contracts with a duration of less than one (1) month, the fees may be established based on an hourly or daily rate.

Benefits and Entitlements

All IICA personnel benefit from UNOPS learning opportunities as well as a variety of family-friendly, work-life and well-being provisions at the workplace. Hardship leave is provided according to duty station classification.

Other benefits and entitlements are available for contracts with a minimum duration of 3 months. These include:

Leave

• Annual leave: 10 official UN holidays per year plus 2.5 additional days of accrued leave per month.

• Paid sick leave: 2 days of certified sick leave per month up to a maximum balance of 24 days, plus 6 uncertified sick days per year; depending on tenure, fee protection for longer periods of certified sick leave.

• Paid parental leave: Up to 26 weeks for eligible parents who give birth and 16 weeks for other eligible parents.

Medical coverage

• IICA holders must pay for their own schemes, the cost for which is accounted for in their fee.

Relocation support

• Financial Mobility Support is offered to International ICA holders and their dependents when relocating to a new duty station as per eligibility.

Security

All personnel regardless of contract modality are enrolled in the United Nations Security Management System for emergency relocation/evacuation.

How to apply:

• Register using the following link CLICK HERE