Programme Associate (Victim Assistant and Risk Education)

Peace and Security Cluster

Afghanistan 
More than three decades of armed conflict in Afghanistan have left widespread mine and ERW contamination across the country. The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) has been working to clear this contamination since 1989. The MAPA currently focuses on implementing the ten-year 2013-2023 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) Extension Request Work Plan, which will see all recorded contamination cleared by 2023, subject to the continued availability of funding. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) supports the efforts of the Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) to achieve this goal.

The explosive hazard contamination in Afghanistan affects an estimated number of 2.3 million people in Afghanistan. Some identified at-risk groups affected by the contamination include returnees, IDPs, nomads, scrap metal collectors, and people on the move (travelers); among all, children have been known to be the most vulnerable to the threat of mines, particularly ERWs.

For the past decades, the MAPA has been using a standard set of Risk Education (RE) materials (trainers’ kit and materials for display in vulnerable communities), as well complementary RE merchandise (i.e. pen, a notebook with RE messages). Considering the recent rise in casualty numbers (170 casualties per month) resulting predominantly from ERW and Victim Operated improvised explosive devices (VOIED) (not traditional anti-personnel and anti-vehicle landmines), DMAC identified the need to update the MAPA Risk Education strategy and materials, UNMAS concurred and agreed to provide support.  UNMAS is anticipating to implement this in two stages, including, the development of a behaviour change and communications strategy for the Risk Education programme of Afghanistan that examines the current RE approach, the conflict context, the risk-taking behaviours, the at-risk groups and tailors RE better ensure positive behaviour change takes place, addressing the characteristics of the at-risk groups and risk-taking behaviours. This will serve as a guide for the second stage, which is the implementation of RE interventions in Afghanistan, and the actual design of targeted new RE materials or new interventions, such as outlining new approaches to stigmatise and dissuade actions, for example, collection of ERW as scrap metal or the use of VOIED by armed opposition groups.

During December 2017, UNMAS, in collaboration with its local partner, Danish Deming Group (DDG), supported the conduction of a national MRE workshop under DMAC’s leadership. The goal of the workshop was to highlight current casualty trends and risk-taking behavior, as well as to consolidate key stakeholders’ recommendations on the way forward for improving MRE interventions. A report is available at http://dmac.gov.af/publications/mine-erw-risk-education/. The MRE Workshop report also includes an in-depth analysis of the mine/ ERW casualty data for the years 2009 to 2017.

Below please see a list of few other key reference documents including reports of KAP Surveys, Evaluations and other events related to Mine/ ERW Risk Education in Afghanistan. All reports are available at the above link.

• Afghanistan Evaluation-CB Approaches for Improving MRE and Perception of Deminers 2012
• Afghanistan KAP Analysis Report - 2004-2005
• Afghanistan KAPB Survey Report - 2009-2010
• Attitudes towards Mine Action - An Afghan Women Perspective Report - Jan 2009
• DDG Afghanistan RE baseline KAP Survey Report - Mar 2018

Overall purpose of the position

UNMAS and its partners save lives by surveying, mapping, marking, detecting and destroying explosive hazards, as well as providing risk education. Mine action helps people survive for instance by clearing vital access routes and making arable land available for farmers to grow food. Mine action improves quality of life, for example, through assistance to survivors, which is vital to meet the immediate and long-term needs of explosive hazard survivors, affected families and communities.  UNMAS work builds on the five “pillars” of mine action a concept commonly referred to in the mine action sector:

1. Clearance
2. Risk Education
3. Victim Assistance
4. Advocacy
5. Stockpile destruction

UNMAS is active in 4 of the 5 pillars in Afghanistan: clearance, risk education, victim assistance and advocacy. The purpose of this position is to provide assistance to the Programme Management Office (PMO) - under the guidance of the Programme Officer - in the preparation (including research), management and administration of initiatives across the 4 pillars, with a special focus on risk education and victim assistance. For more information on the 5 pillars of mine action, please visit https://unmas.org/en/5-pillars-of-mine-action.

In light of the above purpose of the role, the Programme Associate – Victim Assistance & Risk Education (PA – VA & RE) will be responsible for the following;

Research & Advocacy

●      Contribute to the research and analysis of victim assistance, risk education and other mine action related issues by providing support in reviewing documents, analyzing data and information, and participating in interviews with key stakeholders

●      Help the programme unit to prepare a variety of summaries, reports, presentations, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams for information in order to facilitate the in-depth analysis of the research

●      Assist in the preparation of communication and advocacy materials based on the results of the research and analysis

Monitoring and Evaluation

●      In coordination with the Grants and Contracts team, assist to ensure information on the progress of all UN Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF) funded projects are accurate and up to date

●      In coordination with the Grants and Contracts team, assist in maintaining accurate and up to date information on the quality of Implementing Partner activities

●      Assist in collecting data and relevant information from DMAC

●      Support the Grants and Contract team in maintaining the Monitoring & Evaluation database

Reporting / Programme Support

●      Assist in the initial drafting of reports for donors and other stakeholder reporting obligations.

●      Assist in the preparation of quality proposal narratives both for internal and external submission;

●      Support in drafting bidding documents, including Request for Quotations (RFQ), Invitations to Bid (ITB), and Request for Proposal (RFP).

●      Assist in drafting the Term of Reference and specifications for the requested goods, services and works.

●      Assist in the tracking of delivery of suppliers and the administration of contracts and grants (e.g. the liaison with suppliers in case of a contract extension)

●      Perform other related tasks/assignments as assigned by the Programme Officer

 Education

• Advanced University Degree (master’s or equivalent) is desired
• First Level University Degree (Bachelor or equivalent) with two (2) years of relevant experience is required; or 
• Secondary School (High school diploma or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience is required

Work Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in research and report writing.
• Minimum two years of experience in reporting writing is required 
• Minimum two years of experience in research and analysis is required 
• Experience in using internet and MS Office is required

 Language

• Intermediate in speaking, reading and writing skills of English language

Contract type: Local Individual Contract (LICA) Contract level: 06

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• This is a local position,only Afghan nations will be considered for further assessment
• 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.

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.