ACU Access and Liaison Specialist (ALS) - Gaza

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.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Jerusalem Office – UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence

Since the opening of the Jerusalem Office in 2006, UNOPS has significantly strengthened its operations in Palestine. Our expert knowledge, skills and management systems contribute to the sustainable development of public infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank, including Area C and East Jerusalem.

In recognition of its ability to affect and lead positive change, the Jerusalem Office  has been named the UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence.

The Jerusalem Office is the first UN office to receive the Level 4 P3M3 Maturity Model certification in project management by APMG. This certification demonstrates the well-structured, standardized and defined project management processes and methodologies applied to projects, generating the best results desired by our partners.

This achievement is part of a broader agenda to increase the Office’s impact on development projects, by improving our services and adding value to the outcomes of our partners’ works. The office has benchmarked its capabilities against international industry level standards and through this has achieved several prestigious certifications, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety), ISO 14001 (Environment Management) and Level 4 P3M3.

To ameliorate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and advance the protection of civilians, an Access Coordination Unit (ACU) was created to develop a centralized pro-active and sustainable access strategy for the movement of humanitarian personnel and goods. The Access Coordination Unit is a joint project managed, administered and supervised respectively by UN partner agencies OCHA, UNOPS, and UNSCO. The ACU aims to provide operational support to UN, Diplomatic Missions, and INGO staff and goods facing access difficulties. Furthermore, the ACU aims to provide the Resident / Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) with a mechanism for effective dialogue with senior personnel of Host Countries on behalf of all UN Agencies, Donor Agencies, Diplomatic Missions and INGOs. 

UNOPS serves as the Administrative Agent for this project whilst UNOCHA, and UNSCO serve respectively as programmatic managers and supervisors of this project. In support of its partner organizations, UNOPS intends to recruit an International Access and Liaison Specialist (Gaza) for the Access Coordination Unit project.

The ACU, consists of one Access Coordinator who is responsible for the operational tasking and coordination of the Access & Liaison Specialists (ALSs), collation and dissemination of access related reports, ensuring consistency in the policies deriving from the Access Coordination Unit, and the real-time advice provided by the Joint Security Coordination Office located at the UNDSS Jerusalem Office and one ACU Project Support Specialist responsible for administrative aspects of ACU operations.    In addition, the ACU employs one Access Analyst, two Access and Liaison Specialists plus three local Access Assistants and one local ICT Assistant will provide specialized support to staff and goods facing access difficulties. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Access Coordination Unit Access Coordinator, the ALS will be responsible for all aspects of the liaison with the relevant Egyptian, Israeli and local counterparts and assistance to the Access Coordinator on day-to-day operations of Gaza access related incidents from Gaza. The ALS will receive guidance and supervision on administrative matters from the ACU Project Support Specialist.

The core tasks of the Access Liaison Specialist (Gaza) are:
Coordination

• Respond to and ensure logging of access incidents particularly in Gaza but also in the rest of Palestine/Israel via the ACU 24/7 hotline ;
• Follow up on the access incidents upon advice of the Access Coordinator (information gathering, liaison, reporting, etc);
• Assist UN Agencies in obtaining permits and timely coordination from relevant authorities needed for unfettered movement / access of UN, INGO and diplomatic personnel into and out of Gaza;
• Arrange for or provide special coordination for passage for UN, INGO dignitaries and diplomatic missions;
• Support the Access Coordinator in ACU related tasks within the areas of responsibility;
•  Negotiate access with the Palestinian and Israeli authorities when UN, INGO and diplomatic staff and UN, INGO and diplomatic goods face access issues;
• Assist in securing the necessary documentation and coordination for the access of staff and goods within the designated area of responsibility;
• Provide training and advice to Gaza based UN, INGOs and Diplomatic Missions for access of personnel and goods;
• Liaise with UNDSS, UNOCHA, UNSCO and other UN agencies, INGOs agencies and diplomatic missions and, Israeli and local authorities within the area of responsibility in coordinating the ACU tasks;
• Collate data and provide input to the Access Analyst in ensuring effective reporting on ACU tasks and updating of ACIS database;

• Contribute to the preparedness of UN Security Management System and staff to respond to foreseeable access related emergencies through supporting the implementation of the Gaza contingency plan;

• Gather information related to access, prepare and analyze reports to share with the AC on regular basis;
• Any other duties as required including tasks in other areas of responsibility.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Increased UN, INGO and Diplomatic Mission reporting to the ACU on access issues.
• Increased number of access reports generated.
• Increase in number of trainings and advice available to UN, INGO and Diplomatic Missions.
• Increased liaisons carried out with host country authorities.

4. Final Product

• A good working relationship developed with the host country authorities is developed and UN and INGO Agencies/staff receive real time expedited response when faced access issues at the checkpoints/border crossings.
• UN, INGO and Diplomatic staff, receive support and advice to overcome access difficulties through effective liaison and support.
• The development and humanitarian communities benefit from effective information analysis, training/briefing of the UN, INGO and diplomatic staff.
• The Access Coordinator and Project Support Specialist receive the necessary support to ensure project goals and objectives have been met.

a. Education

• Master’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Law, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights or another related field of study. Additional 2 years of relevant work experience, preferably in combination with a relevant bachelor’s degree, may substitute for the requirement for a master’s degree.
• Computer literate especially Word, Excel and Power-point.
• Negotiations training, in particular as it relates to humanitarian access, is preferred

Other Skills

• Conversant in humanitarian affairs and aid in the State of Palestine.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with the Governments of Israel and Palestine, other regional governments and other local authorities;
• Proven management and administrative skills;
• Holding a driving license is preferred;
• Knowledge of crisis management, access management, and the UN security management system are desirable skills; and,
• Ability to travel throughout Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank and region;

b. Work Experience

• Relevant experience working in a complex security environment, preferably with  relevant authorities such as Defense, Police, Ministry of Interior, diplomatic missions, UN and INGO and other local authorities;
• Exposure to humanitarian access, required.
• Previous experience in working alongside government sectors and/or knowledge of security operations in Israel and the State of Palestine is an asset; and
• Experience in working with international organizations is desirable.
• Experience in working in civil military coordination is a distinctive advantage.

Languages

Fluency in spoken and written English is essential.  Knowledge of Arabic and Hebrew is desirable.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.
• For staff positions only, 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.