Project Management Support - Specialist [Capacity-Building Project on Youth Employment and Skills Development]

Radicalization and violent extremism is sometimes linked to lack of adequate educational, self-development and employment opportunities for young people. As young people grow aggrieved in the face of difficult economic circumstances, they can become vulnerable to the hateful narrative of terrorists and violent extremists, and recruitment by terrorist groups. If offered to learn technical, vocational and soft skills that would help improve the employment opportunities and chances to a decent livelihood, young people would grow more resilient to terrorist propaganda and violent extremism.

The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288), adopted in 2006, is the cornerstone of a global multilateral response to terrorism and violent extremism, offering a comprehensive, integrated and preventive approach to a global security challenge. The four pillars of the Strategy span the whole spectrum of measures through which the international community can prevent and counter terrorism, and protect the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

Pillar I of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is specifically focused on the importance of addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. It enumerates several challenges as conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and calls upon all States to “pursue and reinforce development and social inclusion agendas at every level as goals in themselves,” and underscores the linkages between development and security by recognizing that “youth employment could reduce marginalization and the subsequent sense of victimization that propels extremism and recruitment of terrorists.”

In 2015, through the adoption of Goal 8 and Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Member States have also resolved to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all; and promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. This includes the strengthening of relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacities to prevent violence and combating terrorism and crime.

In 2016, the UN Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism noted the direct impact that lack of socioeconomic opportunities, combined with other factors, has on the rise of violent extremism. The Plan of Action also underscores the need to engage and support the world’s youth, in particular by supporting young people “both in gaining access to continued learning and vocational resources, and in incubating their entrepreneurial talent.” Young people in all countries should be considered an asset and helped by investing in key platforms that can help the youth achieve their potential and safeguard them from violent extremism. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) comprises the process of skills-development of the workforce in key industries of a country and delivers marketable and economically

relevant education for people. As such, TVET institutes are important to promote livelihood opportunities for young people. The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) within the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) aims to bridge the gap between technical training system and industry needs in Iraq through inter alia capacity building and strengthening of the relevant institutions. In that regard, the UNCCT, in partnership with the UN Country Team in Iraq, will organize one capacity-building workshop to train the principals and managers of TVET institutes on e.g. leadership development, management, curriculum enhancement, industry linkages and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the territories liberated from ISIL control. The workshop will be held to benefit a select group of TVET institutes with a view to improve and strengthen their service to young people and thereby contribute to addressing the country’s youth unemployment rates.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting a project with UNOCT. The contractor of this position will be a personnel member of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

The overarching product of this consultancy is the delivery of one capacity-building workshop to TVET institutes in Iraq, including the design and organization of workshop content/curriculum.

The below duties and responsibilities also apply to the consultancy.

• Deliver the capacity-building workshop in a timely manner to provide technical assistance, knowledge enhancement as well as other learning tools on education and training typologies, methods and procedures for principals and managers at TVET institutes.
• Coordinate the workshop with relevant Iraqi national authorities and United Nations entities, including through maintaining close cooperation with ILO, UNAMI, UNESCO and UNDP, and as directed by the Project Manager.
• Carry out needs assessments and outreach with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors in order to identify necessary adjustments to workshop delivery.
• Identify and invite additional co-trainers and presenters who can contribute to the capacity-building exercises through provision of advice and trainings.
• In close coordination with the UN Country Team, and as directed by the Project Manager, design and deliver training modules and curricula for the workshop.
• Monitor and evaluate established indicators at the workshop level to help ensure maximum impact on the ground.
• Performs other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Masters or equivalent). A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive practical experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in conceptualizing and designing of capacity-building programming in the field of technical and vocational training, aimed at facilitating the entry of young people into the labour market.
• Experience working with relevant United Nations bodies and other key multilateral forums is desired.
• Experience in research and analysis related to the priorities of the youth and labour market will be an asset.
• Experience in the development of policies, tools, and guidelines and in the design of educational and training programmes for the youth will be an advantage
• Experience in working and liaising with international bodies and agencies, such as UNESCO, ILO and UNDP will be an advantage.

Language:

• Proficiency in English and Arabic is required; working knowledge of an additional UN language is an asset

Contract type: International Individual Contractual Agreement 

• 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.

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.