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Programme Management Specialist-[Training Handbook for Peace Educators]

Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Mid level - IICA-2, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • Programme Management
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Peace and Development
    • Documentation and Information Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian, and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. 

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as 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

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement the activities for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which responds to a broad consensus across nations, cultures, and religions that all societies are interdependent, bound together in their development and security, and in their environmental, economic, and financial well-being. The Alliance seeks to forge collective political will and to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against such a consensus. UNAOC hopes to contribute to a coalescing global movement which, reflecting the will of the vast majority of people, rejects extremism in any society. 

The complex, demanding dialogue of civilizations, cultures, and religions is necessary, possible, and fruitful. It is a critical tool against isolation, mistrust, and confrontation and it is also the most powerful incentive for understanding, and tolerance. History has shown that dialogue is not a simple process, but that if we fail to teach and cultivate it, the situation can give way to a monologue or to mutism, which is conducive to conflict and violent extremism. 

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was created to serve as a soft-power political tool of the United Nations Secretary-General for conflict prevention and conflict resolution. It is a coalition against extremist forces; a movement to advance mutual respect for cultures, traditions and religious beliefs, and a platform to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was intended to promote collective action in society as a means of addressing the threats that emerge from the hostile perceptions that foment violence, overcoming cultural and social barriers, reducing tensions, and improving relations between societies and communities with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and combatting violent extremism.

During its more than fifteen years of existence, UNAOC has pioneered a range of approaches and activities across its four priority areas namely, Youth, Education, Media, and Migration. The impact of many of its projects on the ground has been significant and measurable particularly those implemented with civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth-led organizations. Nonetheless, the context of the current global challenges is more complex than ever before. The multidimensional nature of the scope of today’s conflicts requires a new approach to conflict resolution and conflict prevention. Around the world, there has been a rising wave of violent extremism conducive to terrorism, growing intolerance, hate speech, xenophobia, and discrimination, posing a threat to international peace and security. These new approaches are reflected in the UNAOC Action Plan 2019-2023. It builds on and develops existing UNAOC programming activities and suggests new focus areas that strengthen the Alliance’ ability to fulfill its mandate in a more effective and measurable way. The Plan further suggests new approaches for institutional development and political advocacy that should provide a viable framework for the way we respond to the current global challenges. Institutionally, the plan re-affirms the important role played by all stakeholders, including state and non-state actors, in developing and implementing national plans and regional strategies to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the mainstay of the Alliance. The framework aims to expand and consolidate the global scope of UNAOC in Africa, Asia, Europe, MENA, and Latin America.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting the implementation of UNAOC. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.

One of the tools promoted by the new action plan is sport. Sport has the power to convey essential human values, such as respect, discipline, inclusion, solidarity, courage and ethics. These values seem more critical today than ever—particularly in the resolution of significant global issues. To that end, UNAOC develops partnerships with sport organizations and create initiatives in which sport is used as a tool to foster social inclusion and cohesion, understanding and diversity. Sport can be a vehicle for positive change and development. It unifies those of all faiths, cultures and languages.

UNAOC is a partner in the Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism, a programme led by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), in consultation with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and with the participation of INTERPOL. Attacks against sports events are particularly condemnable, as sports have historically played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values throughout the world and across civilization and cultures, especially for the youth. Research has demonstrated that sports both play a positive role in preventing radicalization, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and facilitating integration at large, thus making sports a powerful vector for the development of efforts aimed at preventing and countering violent-extremism and radicalization. 

In this context we are working to launch a series of initiatives within the prevention of violent extremism component of the UN Global Sports Programme and one of those is a Training Handbook to assist the organizers of sporting events, particularly governments (at all levels), federations and organizing committees, to conduct initiatives aiming at preventing violent extremism by leveraging on sport values such as tolerance, respect, integrity, solidarity, and equality and advocate for youth and children’s participation in sports as a recreational activity helping current and new generations build transferable skills such as confidence, self-control and teamwork. 


Functional Responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible to draft the “Handbook to Leverage on Sporting Events to prevent Violent Extremism”, see “scope of assignment” for description of specific tasks. 

The incumbent will work remotely, tentatively start on 1 September, 2021, and report to UNAOC Project Management Specialist – Youth and Education Mr. Bram Van Haver. Evaluation of qualified candidates will include an assessment exercise, which will be followed by competency-based interview.

In close collaboration with the project partners (UNAOC, UNOCT, ICSS and UNICRI), the author will:


  • Analyze: 1) the outline and preliminary draft of the Handbook to Leverage on Sporting Events to Prevent Violent Extremism and 2) the sets of recommendations, collected during National Focal Point Meeting on 10 December 2020; during the Youth Consultations on 20-21 January 2021; and through the Online Questionnaire in December 2020 

  • Research, collect and analyze relevant material and reports to fully help in the development of the training handbook as a tool to assist sporting event organizers in preventing violent extremism 

  • Propose new and creative pathways to prevent violent extremism within the framework of a major sporting event

  • Share an outline (Deliverable 1) and first draft of the training handbook (Deliverable 2) with UNAOC and partners for review and contributions and ensure their integration into a consolidated version of the documents

  • Fully develop the training handbook (Deliverable 3)


Monitoring and Progress Controls

  • Deliverable 1: outline training handbook by 1 October 2021

  • Deliverable 2: first draft of the training handbook by 1 November 2021 

  • Deliverable 3: final version of the training handbook by 1 December 2021 


Competencies

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: International Individual Contractual Agreement (IICA)
Contract level: IICA-2/ ICSC-10
Contract duration: Short-term ICA – Maximum duration 3 months (lumpsum) 



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.
  • 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
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
  • 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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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