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Experts for Support to the Programming of Peacebuilding Fund Resources in Country, Multiple positions

Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Mid level - IICA-3, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Information Technology and Computer Science
    • Conflict prevention
    • Programme Management
    • Peace and Development
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - Job-specific

At the request of the General Assembly and the Security Council the Secretary-General of the United Nations established in 2005 a multi-year standing Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). The Fund is the organization’s financial instrument of first resort to sustain peace in countries or situations at risk of affected by violent conflict. It addresses critical gaps for sustaining peace before, during and after conflict.

The PBF’s Strategic Plan for the period 2017-19, the third of its kind since three-year planning cycles commenced in 2013, sets a higher level of ambition than previous plans. The aim is to invest at over $500 million in at least 40 countries over this period. This will serve as a stepping-stone to the objective set in the forthcoming Secretary-General’s Report on Sustaining Peace of $500 million per year for the PBF.

This new objective is driven by increased demand and the context of the Secretary-General’s reform efforts, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Financing will retain a critical role to improve coherence across the Development, Peace and Human Rights Pillars. The PBF will build on its unique role as a timely, catalytic and risk-tolerant financing instrument to reinforce the reforms in three ways: i) driving cohesion of UN strategies in conflict situations in support of nationally-led efforts, through joint analysis, planning and implementation; ii) enabling strong integrated support from the broad set of organizational tools at HQ and in the field; and iii) strengthening partnerships, particularly with the Peacebuilding Commission the World Bank, the European Union, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) and other (sub-)regional organizations.

In order to achieve these objectives, the PBF setting up a surge mechanism to provide support the UN Teams in its focus countries. The surge will implement through experts who will provide support to the RC offices in programming PBF resources. In support to the Surge Mechanism, UNOPS will recruit experts under retainer contracts on the basis of their expertise in peacebuilding, monitoring and evaluation support, United Nations programme development experience and knowledge of PBF. These experts will be the backbone of the PBF Surge Mechanism and will be field upon needs and/or demand from the field.

The team of experts will help ensure that the following four attributes of the PBF is continued:

  1. PBF support is Timely and flexible. The experts will support the Fund with timely programme development in selected priority countries by providing additional and much needed capacities at the strategic time of priority setting and project developments.
  1. PBF support is Catalytic. The expert consultants will help ensure that the Fund will further expand its role as investor of first resort ensuring all its investments are catalytic. This means supporting programmes that enable peace processes to become unblocked, accelerate existing efforts, or kick-start longer-term change. Throughout, national ownership will be a key criterion to increase the likelihood of sustained peacebuilding change. The Fund will moreover continue to fill critical gaps, and provide seed investments to incentivize larger funding.
  1. PBF is willing to be risk-tolerant. The experts will in close coordination with the relevant Resident Coordinator work to strengthen the national risk-management system through refined risk markers and streamlining mitigation strategies through all procedures. This is to echo what the concurrent resolutions on Sustaining Peace recognized as the inherently political nature of peace processes. It means investing in strong political and conflict analysis that integrates risk management as part of the UN’s overall political engagement strategies and due diligence policies such as on human rights.
  1. PBF support is adequately monitored and evaluated, ensuring downward accountability of entities implementing projects and programs; and results-based evaluability assessments of PRF packages and PBF evaluations

The experts will also ensure that evaluations and all new funding proposals are developed jointly with government counterparts and submitted by the highest-ranking UN official in the country (SRSG or UNRC).


Functional Responsibilities

The peacebuilding consultants will increase programming capacities of the Office of the Resident Coordinators and UNCTs in:  i) identifying; ii) supporting development; iii) and finalization of PBF supported projects with a strong linkage to Peacebuilding and the Sustaining Peace Agenda. The support also includes assisting Resident Coordinators with ensuring balance of RUNOs implementing the PBF-funded projects; well-developed results framework and M&E strategies; and support conducting evaluations of PBF-projects. Country specific terms of Reference will be developed before each assignment based on the needs in the field and the particular of the PBF portfolio in each country.

Supervision

The project will be managed by the Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding Branch, Peacebuilding Support Office. The experts on the retainer roster will report on all technical issues directly to the relevant PBF programme officer, delegated by the Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding Branch, Peacebuilding Support Office.  The experts will also require clearance for any travel by the Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding Branch, Peacebuilding Support Office.

The consultants, based on the specificities of PBF portfolio in each country, will be required to support and lead some (or all) of the following processes:

  1. Support to conflict analysis. Support UNCT and partners to develop conflict analysis relevant to PBF engagement in-country.
  2. Support the identification and consultations on peacebuilding priorities for UN and for PBF more specifically.
  3. Support to PBF UNCT in project development on the basis of priorities identified ensuring quality and timeliness of project documents.
  4. Support to Monitoring and Evaluation of PBF projects by ensuring project develop have quality results framework and M&E strategies.
  5. Support to training and capacity development of UN staff and of PBF Secretariats (where applicable). More specifically, capacities to be strengthened include peacebuilding, M&E, and PBF modalities and Guidelines.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education
  • An advanced university degree in social science or other relevant discipline from a recognized university is required.
  • A Bachelor's degree in relevant field with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience
  • A minimum of seven years of experience in peacebuilding or related field is required;
  • Extensive international expertise on UN peacebuilding approaches and programming is required;
  • Extensive knowledge of PBF modalities, guidance, approaches and projects is an asset.

Language
  • Excellent writing and speaking knowledge of English.
  • Excellent writing and speaking knowledge of French or Spanish are an asset.


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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: IICA-3/ICS-11
Contract duration: ASAP - 30 June 2020
Contract Modality: part-time retainer 
Duty Station: Home-based, New York, PBF focus countries


For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

Additional Considerations

  • Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
  • 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.
  • Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
  • 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.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC)

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.


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