Victim Assistance Advisor

Mali is facing a problem of weapons and explosive hazard contamination, as a result of protracted and recent armed conflicts. The presence of explosive remnants of war (ERW), improvised explosive devices (IED) and insecure stockpiles of weapons and ammunition (obsolete, abandoned or neglected), poses a serious threat to civilians as well as to United Nations and humanitarian personnel operating in the country.

UNMAS deployed to Mali in January 2013 to conduct an emergency assessment of the situation with regard to explosive threats. In July 2013, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established under Security Council resolution 2100 and is currently operating under Security Council resolution 2423 (2018). In accordance with these mandates, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has engaged UNOPS PSC to implement a mine action programme in Mali to:

• Improve the protection of civilians and facilitate humanitarian assistance;
• Enhance national capacity to mitigate explosive threats and enable compliance with international treaty obligations; 
• Reduce the explosive threat to MINUSMA and United Nations personnel.

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

Reporting to the Project Manager Humanitarian Mine Action and Protection of Civilians, the incumbent is responsible for implementing the following duties and responsibilities as follows:

• Identify the existing Victim Assistance capabilities and gaps regarding the  services provided to victims in Mali, including but not limited to: identification and referral, medical care including first aid capacity in the affected communities, rehabilitation, psychological and psycho-social support, education, social inclusion, and economic inclusion;
• Review the past and present VA projects of UNMAS and provide lessons learned and recommendations for further VA initiatives
• Identify VA needs for the Mine Action Working Group based on the data received from partners and propose monthly analysis to identify trends and priorities;
• Analyse existing data collection systems on victims/Injured people and propose steps forward to develop consolidated data collection system on victims;
• With the support of the UNMAS Mali Protection of Civilians in Mine Action and Programme units, devise a programme strategic action plan for increased support and inclusion of explosive hazard victims and other persons with disabilities within the wider humanitarian response.
• Produce key recommendations for short, medium term VA programming process
• Build an advocacy plan with the mine action stakeholders towards integrating victim assistance into national strategies an plans;
• Establish a coordination mechanism with relevant national and international stakeholders
• Provide relevant information and inputs for reports, public information content, and all other UNMAS documentation concerning VA in Mali;
• Assist in the development of new VA initiatives and projects in line with the identified needs and lessons learned and support their integration within wider programming;
• Provide coordination and capacity development support, including trainings, for UNMAS, UN humanitarian partners, implementing partners, and other humanitarian NGOs with regards to the technical, monitoring, and reporting skills needed for VA initiatives;
• And, any other duties as requested by the Programme Management.

3. Outputs

In addition to the functional responsibilities above:

• Development of a situation analysis on VA, including evaluation of past and current VA initiatives, identified needs and gaps, coordination mechanisms and key stakeholders
• Development of a strategic action plan to strengthen and expand VA services as well as to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the wider humanitarian response, in Mali
• Development of an advocacy plan to ensure the integration and inclusion of VA in national strategies and plans
• Development of tools for UNMAS Mali to better assess/monitor VA proposals and projects, report and communicate on VA.

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in relevant subject matter such as International Relations, Education, Social Work, Social Sciences, Health and/or equivalent with 7 years of relevant experience.
• First level University degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in relevant subject matter such as International Relations, Education, Social Work, Social Sciences, Health and/or equivalent with 9 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of Advanced University Degree.

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in implementing projects or programmes in the area of social/humanitarian work and health.
• Experience in humanitarian mine action activities or relevant health services is desirable;
• Experience of working in hardship locations, especially in Africa, is desirable.

c. Language

• Fluent in English and French (read, write and speak) is required.

Contract type: International Individual Contractual Agreement Contract level: IICA 3 (ICS11)
Contract duration: Retainer

• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• 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.
• 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
• 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.