Victim Assistance Officer (Home-Based Retainer)

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 Head of Cluster is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Head of Cluster who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Cluster on behalf of its clients.

UNMAS Syria Response

Operating under the mandate of Security Council resolution 2165 (renewed in 2017 with SCR 2393), UNMAS deployed the Syria Response programme at the request of the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in August 2015 and subsequently activated the Mine Action Sub Cluster under the Protection Cluster to address the impact of explosive hazards within Syria. UNMAS is the lead agency for the Mine Action Sub Cluster for the Syria Response. Established in Damascus since 2018, following the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Syrian Arab Republic, UNMAS strives to expand humanitarian mine action in Syria, with the aim to respond to high humanitarian needs. This includes humanitarian mine action activities prioritized in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Syria: risk education, victim assistance, survey and clearance.

The conflict in Syria has been characterized by the extensive use of explosive weapons which resulted in large scale explosive hazard contamination, with the presence of diversified types of ordnances. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2019 for Syria, 10.2 million people live in communities reporting explosive hazard contamination; men, women, and children, are exposed to the threat of grave injuries and death on a daily basis. Millions of people live with a permanent disability and new conflict-related trauma cases lead to thousands of permanent disabilities requiring long-term and multi-dimensional support.

* CANDIDATES WITH NO UN OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!
Under the supervision of the Head of Office, your duties and responsibilities will be to:

• Report, establish, and follow-up an Action Plan for the Syria Response Victim Assistance (VA) pillar within a mid/long term perspective, based on the Victim Assistance Situation Analysis and recommendations.
• Monitor existing Victim Data Collection (VDC) and contribute to its development in new areas.
• Monitor data reporting process from by Mine Action Sub Cluster(MASC) members implementing VA activities.
• Analyze data available on accidents and victims and use relevant information to provide inputs in communication material, reports, and other relevant documents concerning VA.
• Support the coordination team to ensure the inclusion of VA pillar within the Humanitarian Response Cycle (HNO/HRP) through the Humanitarian Mine Action Sub Cluster (Protection Cluster).
• Support the Programme, Coordination, and Operations units in all related actions for developing VA approaches within the UNMAS Syria Response Programme.
• Support the Programme and Coordination units in reviewing project proposals and project reports submitted by MASC members implementing VA activities and provide technical comments on all documents related to VA component.
• Ensure the follow-up of UNMAS implementing partners implementing VA activities from Turkey Hub (Northwest Syria).
• Provide technical and planning support to the Damascus based VA associate/officer in achieving his/her objectives and especially in the development of a National VA strategy.
• Develop, implement, and follow-up a Quality Assurance framework for MASC members implementing VA activities.
• Provide coordination and capacity development support, including trainings for UNMAS, UNhumanitarian partners, implementing partners, and other humanitarian NGOs with regards to the technical, monitoring, and reporting skills needed for VA initiatives.
• Represent UNMAS in the relevant coordination forum and with relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to advocacy initiatives to guarantee that VA is integrated in humanitarian and national priorities.
• Perform any other duties as assigned. 

** Position may include travel to Amman, Jordan, Gaziantep, Turkey, and Damascus, Syria.

* CANDIDATES WITH NO UN OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!

• Advanced University Degree (Master Degree or equivalent) in education, social work, social sciences, or other related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; OR
• First level University degree (Bachelor Degree or equivalent) in education, social work, social sciences, or other related field with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience.

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in programme or project management related to humanitarian response initiatives
• Experience in victim assistance is required

Languages

• Fluency in English (read, speak, or write) is required.

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.

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.