Programme Management Advisor

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 Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, oversees more than 250 projects across 40 countries, with a strong focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by over 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices, it provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight across areas such as partnerships, communications, infrastructure and project management, health and safety, and security. This helps advance national priorities and improve project delivery across the continent.

Based in Nairobi, the UNOPS East and Southern Africa Multi-Country Office supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its presence in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements a wide range of partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacity, improving service delivery, and supporting progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals across the region.

Based in Nairobi under the UNOPS East and Southern Africa Multi-Country Office, the Technical Services Unit (TSU) provides multidisciplinary infrastructure design, design review, assessments, and advisory support for UNOPS projects. The team currently comprises about 17 permanent staff and more than 90 retainer consultants, including architects, civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, environmental and social risk management experts, monitoring and evaluation experts, data specialists, finance and transaction experts, and other specialist infrastructure practitioners.

TSU has recently been tasked with securing retainer consultants to support the important work of the Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, SHF.

SHF is a UNOPS project. Operational since July 2021, it is dedicated to advancing market-based approaches and catalysing finance for sanitation and hygiene for all, with particular attention to the needs of women and girls and people in vulnerable situations. Its portfolio focuses on building thriving sanitation economies and menstrual health (MH) markets in low- and middle-income countries, increasing access to essential products and services.

SHF works with governments, the private sector, funders, and investors to strengthen the enabling environment, expand the capacity of enterprises to deliver solutions effectively, and attract and catalyse funding, financing, and investment to bring these solutions to scale.

The role will lead strategic engagement with government counterparts and key public institutions to support the effective positioning and implementation of the SHF programme. The Advisor will help build trust, strengthen coordination, and support policy and institutional processes needed to create an enabling environment for programme delivery, reform, and investment.

Strategic Engagement,  Coordination and Representation

• Position SHF with senior decision-makers and support strategic coordination with government, development partners, and other stakeholders to advance reform, collaboration, and investment.
• Provide overall presentation for in-country programming, ensuring alignment with SHF strategy and national priorities, while serving as the primary liaison with government counterparts, development partners, and key stakeholders.

Policy and Investment Support

• Develop policy briefs to inform and support the operationalisation of sanitation and menstrual health investment plans at national and sub-national levels.
• Provide technical assistance at national and sub-national levels to strengthen the integration of menstrual health and sanitation priorities into investment plans.

Stakeholder Management

• Lead the planning and coordination of stakeholder forums with government, development partners, investors, the private sector, and other relevant actors.
• Advise the SHF leadership team on critical engagement opportunities with government, development partners, financiers, private-sector partners, and other relevant stakeholders, and recommend appropriate modes of engagement.

Partnership Building and Resource Mobilisation

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, private sector entities, and civil society organisations, to expand the reach and impact of SHF initiatives.
• Support resource mobilisation efforts by developing compelling proposals, concept notes, and presentations to attract funding from diverse sources, including bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, and private investors.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support the development and implementation of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress, measure impact, and ensure accountability in the implementation of SHF programmes.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project activities, identify challenges, and provide technical support to implementing partners.
• Prepare timely and accurate progress reports, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, for internal and external stakeholders.

Required

• An advanced University degree, preferably a Master’s degree (or equivalent), in Law, Political Science, Public Administration, Governance, or a related field, with seven (7) years of relevant experience, is required. OR
• A Bachelor’s Degree in any of the above or related fields, combined with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced University degree.

Required

• A minimum of 7 (seven) years of relevant experience is required in government engagement, partnership development, policy advisory, and institutional processes in sanitation, menstrual health, WASH, or related sectors.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in programme management, policy development, partnership development or strategic advisory roles in sanitation, menstrual health, WASH, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with government counterparts and development partners in Nigeria.

Desired

• Excellent and proven report-writing and communication skills.
• Knowledge of the local SME environment and financial actors is desirable

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.