The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions. HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.

Since 2005, UNOPS has supported South Sudan’s development through critical infrastructure projects that improve access to essential services and livelihoods, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Efforts focus on the design, construction, and rehabilitation of roads, airstrips, ports, and bridges to enhance connectivity and promote economic activity. UNOPS also builds schools, health facilities, and government offices to strengthen basic service delivery and institutional capacity. In addition to infrastructure, UNOPS provides procurement and operational support to the Government and development partners, enabling efficient and transparent implementation of key initiatives. All efforts are geared toward improving socio-economic conditions, fostering resilience, and supporting long-term development across South Sudan.

South Sudan remains one of the most fragile countries globally, with rural communities facing profound challenges related to food and nutrition insecurity, low incomes, and poor access to social and economic infrastructure and basic services.  These challenges are compounded by repeated climate change shocks that have eroded the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities. Despite its agricultural potential, systemic underinvestment, protracted conflict, and fragile governance have suppressed development. Against this backdrop, the South Sudan Livelihoods and Resilience Project (SSLRP), of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) presents a critical opportunity to improve livelihoods and resilience of rural smallholder households across three states, eight counties.

The South Sudan Livelihood Resilience Project (SSLRP) is a major initiative financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Dutch Government, and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). The project is implemented by the Government of South Sudan through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) appointed as the Lead Implementing Agency.

The overall goal of the SSLRP is to contribute to improved and resilient livelihoods among targeted rural communities in eight counties across five states (Torit, Magwi, Kajo-Keji, Wau, Jur River, Bor, Awerial, and Terekeka). The Project Development Objective is to empower communities to participate in decision-making processes that recover agricultural livelihoods, build household resilience, and promote stability.

Under the project structure, UNOPS is the Lead Implementing Agency with exclusive responsibility for the full implementation of two core technical components:

• Component 1: Community Driven Development Planning: Focusing on building inclusive Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and developing Community Development Plans (CDPs).

• Component 2: Community Agriculture Investment Fund (CAIF): Providing grants for micro-projects and constructing productive community infrastructure, including the significant rehabilitation of the Magwi Palotaka Feeder Road.

In delivering these components, UNOPS is also responsible for all associated project management, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and knowledge management functions to ensure effective execution, accountability, and learning. Component 3 (Policy, Coordination, and M&E) is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), with whom UNOPS closely coordinates

The Community & Rural Development Associate is responsible for the hands-on implementation of community mobilization, capacity building, and participatory planning activities at the county and community level. The incumbent serves as the primary field liaison, facilitating the formation and strengthening of inclusive Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and guiding communities through the development of their Community-Driven Development Plans (CDPs). By ensuring genuine participation, social inclusion, and the integration of resilience principles, the associate plays a critical role in laying the foundational governance and planning groundwork for all subsequent livelihood and infrastructure investments under the SSLRP.

1. Project Support and Data Collection

• Assist in collecting and verifying baseline data and community profiles essential for the participatory planning and targeting processes under Components 1 and 2.

• Support the implementation and regular use of community-led monitoring systems, including the Participatory Self-review and Planning (PSRSP), to track the progress of Community Development Plans (CDPs) and livelihood activities.

• Compile and manage field data on Community-Based Organization (CBO) formation, training sessions, and CDP development for input into the project's Management Information System (MIS) and reporting.

2. Site Monitoring and Reporting

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor the mobilization, formation, and capacity-building activities of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) across assigned counties.

• Monitor and report on the community-led development of Community Development Plans (CDPs), ensuring the process is inclusive and adheres to approved methodologies and tools.

• Prepare detailed field visit reports documenting progress, challenges, compliance with social and environmental safeguards, and providing actionable recommendations for the Community Development Specialist and Project Manager.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Serve as the primary field liaison with County Development Committees (CDCs), Payam Development Committees (PDCs), traditional authorities, and local government departments to ensure alignment and secure necessary support for project activities.

• Facilitate ongoing dialogue with community leaders, women’s groups, youth representatives, and persons with disabilities to gather feedback, foster ownership, and ensure their active participation in all stages of planning and implementation.

• Organize and co-facilitate community visioning, prioritization, and planning sessions using tools such as resource mapping, seasonal calendars, and the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) approach.

4. Grievance Redress Mechanism Support

• Act as a frontline focal point for the project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) at the community level, ensuring community members are aware of and can safely access reporting channels.

• Log and initially address community feedback and complaints in a confidential manner, escalating sensitive issues promptly to the Safeguards Officer in accordance with established protocols.

5. Community Representation and Coordination

• Coordinate directly with representatives of diverse social groups, including returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host community members, to ensure their meaningful engagement in CBOs and CDP processes.

• Support the coordination between CBOs, Community Interest Groups (CIGs), and local authorities to strengthen local integration and the legitimacy of community-led structures.

6. Meeting and Workshop Support

• Provide logistical and substantive support for organizing and facilitating training workshops, capacity-building sessions, and stakeholder meetings at the county and payam levels.

• Support the delivery of structured training to CBOs on governance, financial management, conflict sensitivity, climate resilience, and nutrition-sensitive planning as outlined in the project design.

7. Documentation and Capacity Building

• Document field observations, success stories, lessons learned, and innovative community approaches related to CBO strengthening and CDP development for knowledge management and reporting.

• Support the capacity-building efforts for community facilitators and CBO members, providing hands-on mentoring and guidance on participatory methodologies and group dynamics.

8. Other Duties

• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Community Development Specialist or Project Manager to ensure the effective implementation of SSLRP Components 1 and 2.

Required

• Completion of Secondary School education with 7 years of relevant experience OR

• Technical/Professional Diploma with 5 years of relevant experience

Desired

• Bachelor's Degree in Community Development, Development Studies, Social work, Project Management, International Relations/Diplomacy, Political Studies, Sociology, Administration or other relevant fields with 3 years of relevant experience.

Required

• Between 1 and 7 years of experience (depending on academic credentials) in the field of community development, social work, stakeholder engagement, liaison with the government, project coordination, and community engagement & mobilization is required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in reporting and monitoring and evaluation of field interventions is required.

Desired

• Experience in implementing donor-funded projects
• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. 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 which 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.

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.