Partnerships Officer - Liaison

Background Information – UNOPS

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

Background Information - 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. The Cluster is responsible for administering, providing support, and overseeing the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations.

Background Information – UNMAS

UNMAS is the coordinator for Mine Action within the United Nations system, located within the Office of Mine Action and Police (OMAP) at the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). Mine action comprises five areas of work: clearance, risk education, victim assistance, advocacy, and stockpile destruction. UNMAS leads, coordinates, and carries out efforts to mitigate these threats when mandated by the United Nations Security Council or requested by the Secretary-General or an affected country.

Background Information – UNMAS Nigeria Response

UNMAS Nigeria plans, manages, and oversees humanitarian mine action activities in Nigeria. It provides technical support to all partners and ensures the proper integration of mine action into wider humanitarian assistance and developmental programmes.

Background Information – Job Specific Context

The Partnerships Officer - Liaison will serve as a primary technical point of contact for routine coordination between UNMAS and national counterparts in Abuja and field locations.

In Nigeria, UNOPS implements the UNMAS programme to support the Federal Government and humanitarian partners in addressing the threat of explosive ordnance in conflict-affected areas, particularly in the north-east. The programme contributes to national mine action obligations under relevant international treaties, mainstreams Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) into national systems including the school curriculum, and supports the integration of mine action into broader humanitarian and protection responses. The Partnerships Officer - Liaison serves as a primary technical point of contact for routine coordination between UNMAS and national counterparts in Abuja and field locations, including the Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Ministry of Defence, and other federal and state-level partners.

PSC operates within UNOPS’ broader commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), as set out in the UNOPS DEI Strategy and Accountability Plan 2026–2029 and UNOPS GESI Strategy. Within the mine action context, these commitments are operationalised through the PSC GEDSI Strategy 2026–2029 which sets expectations for inclusive recruitment, workforce representation, and the integration of DEI, GESI and PSEAH into programme delivery and implementing partner oversight. All PSC roles, including this position, are expected to contribute actively to these commitments.

The position focuses on providing technical advice, maintaining open communication channels, and facilitating information exchange to support national treaty obligations and the mainstreaming of explosive ordnance risk education and other mine action activities. This role includes occasional travel to north-east Nigeria.

Key Responsibilities and Functional Duties

Under the supervision of the EORE specialist, the Partnerships Officer - Liaison is responsible for the following:

A. Coordination and Information Exchange

• Act as the focal point for routine information sharing between the organisation and relevant federal ministries (e.g., Ministry of Education (MoE), and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Ministry of Defence, etc.) and national counterparts. Stakeholder coordination should include the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (as the custodian of Nigeria’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325), the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and other gender and protection-focused federal and state-level counterparts, consistent with the UNOPS GESI Mainstreaming Strategy

• Support the mainstreaming of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) into the national school curriculum by coordinating technical meetings and sharing curriculum materials with educational authorities. EORE mainstreaming efforts should address the differentiated needs and access barriers of girls, boys, out-of-school children, internally displaced children, and children with disabilities, consistent with the UNMAS Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Programmes (3rd ed. 2019) and the UNOPS GESI Mainstreaming Strategy 2026–2029.

• Monitor the evolution of the inclusion of mine action concerns in all relevant sectors and liaise with colleagues for follow-ups as relevant 

• Contact Directory Maintenance: Maintain up-to-date lists of all project key contacts and stakeholders, and provide regular updates to national contacts.

B. Technical Assistance & Workflow Management

• Assist national counterparts by providing day-to-day technical inputs, suggestions, and data required for drafting obligatory national reports under international conventions (e.g., relevant Mine Action treaties).

• Task Registry Management: Maintaining a registry of tasks and agreed next steps/actions to ensure continuity and strengthened workflow management with government focal points.

• Provide technical inputs, suggestions, and relevant data to support national counterparts in the preparation of reports required under relevant international mine action treaties and conventions, and assist in drafting relevant standards and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

• Support knowledge management and programme coordination activities, including identification and monitoring of risks/issues related to government liaison functions. 

C. Operational and Administrative Facilitation

• Facilitate the scheduling, logistics, and documentation of formal meetings, technical working groups, and workshops between organizational leadership, government officials and other stakeholders.

• Prepare official correspondence, briefing notes, meeting minutes, and routine operational updates for both internal and external government audiences.

• Ensure that meeting, workshop, and event logistics reflect inclusive and accessible practices (including consideration of venue accessibility, mixed-gender participation, and participant safety) and that official correspondence aligns with UNOPS DEI and PSEAH standards.

Required

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• An Advanced University Degree (Master's degree or equivalent) is desired

Required

• Relevant experience is defined as progressive professional experience in liaison, public administration, program management support, or coordination roles

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience is required

Desired

• Experience working in Nigeria with related stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Education or the State Universal Basic Education Board, is highly desired.

• Experience in coordinating with diverse stakeholders, including national authorities, UN agencies, and other international and national partners, is desired. 

• Experience applying gender-sensitive, inclusive, or protection-responsive approaches in liaison, coordination, or stakeholder engagement, including in education, child protection, or community-facing contexts, is desirable.

• Fluency (speaking, reading, and writing) in local languages spoken in Abuja and northeastern regions of Nigeria is desired.
  
  

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
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• 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. 
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