Partnerships Development Specialist (Proramme)

Contract

This is a IICA-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-2 contracts.

Background Information - Afghanistan

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need.

Background Information - Job-specific

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Programme (HoP), and in close coordination with the Regional Office and the Partnerships Group, the Programme and Partnerships Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing the partnership and programme management activities.

Functional Responsibilities

1. Partnerships development
2. Programme management
3. Representation and inter-agency collaboration
4. Knowledge management and innovation

1. Partnerships development - In support of the Head of the Project Development Unit, contribute to developing comprehensive partnership development initiatives in line with the UNOPS Strategic Plan, Asia Regional Office (ARO) and AFCO Strategies. This includes country context, analysis of the regional and national development and humanitarian landscape, identification of main partners, strategic positioning of AFCO in the potential operational niches identified, and the growth of pipeline opportunities in Afghanistan. Ensure the plan reflects in-house capacity, typology of projects and the internal tools and knowledge resources. - Contribute to the design of project proposals with a specific focus on implementation modality, procurement plans, HR plans, governance structure and budgets. - Examine risks and opportunities presented by the strategic positioning of the AFCO and propose appropriate responses to ensure sustainable growth. - Coordinate and collaborate with relevant Partnerships personnel at local, liaison and HQ levels, as well as Senior Programme Managers, Project Managers and project personnel to ensure aligned and coherent interactions with partners and identify synergies. - Monitor and evaluate humanitarian and development trends and needs to identify areas of collaboration within the UNOPS mandate and existing capacity. - Contribute to the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and draft concept notes and project document briefs for discussion with partners. - Create and maintain oneUNOPS opportunities and engagement functionalities in alignment with UNOPS corporate guidelines. - Coordinate technical and financial requirements and negotiate proposals to close new project opportunities. - Draft agreements and/or contractual documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects. - Understand and clearly explain UNOPS pricing policy to partners. - Contribute to the diversification of the AFCO in line with UNOPS strategic and Regional objectives.

2. Programme Management - Provide appropriate levels of programmatic management and administrative support to the HOP regarding all ongoing project activities while maintaining and implementing appropriate standards and best practices in line with UNOPS policies and procedures - With advice and guidance from HOP, provide support on programme and project management activities in line with service agreements, legal agreements and project documents. - Ensuring mobilisation stage requirements are in place by the time the PM is mobilised for the new engagements. - When required, act as start-up project manager and hand over to the incoming PM within 90 days of agreement start date (where applicable). - Provide comprehensive support and facilitate the timely delivery of progress reports to donors and project partners. - Ensure no projects within the portfolio have Lapsed/Expired MOUs. - Provide support on programme and project management activities in line with service agreements, legal agreements and project documents. - Support the HOP with all reporting, including UN Afghanistan reporting activities in line with AFCO’s business plan and in line with UNOPS corporate policies and procedures. - Support project implementation in the procurement process, recruitment, gender initiatives and communication with donors and partners.Support the development of plans and strategies related to programme/project management in AFCO to improve AFCO’s programme and project implementation. - Support the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) activities for AFCO projects and programmes and provide technical assistance to the Head of Programme

3. Representation and inter-agency collaboration - On behalf of the HOP, participate in and report on the relevant inter-agency, donor and government coordination meetings such as the UN Afghanistan Programme Management Team (PMT). - Take part in UN common planning and programming processes, including strategic country analysis, UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA), Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), and other response plans and Criticality Assessment. - Support the interagency Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) efforts and provide technical assistance to the HOP - Establish a comprehensive mechanism and framework for the monitoring and reporting on the strategic planning framework of the UN in Afghanistan and its partners based on the new aid architecture under UNSFA.

4. Knowledge management, including Quality assurance and innovation - Implement standards, tools and templates provided by HQ to effectively manage partnership and project development within the team to enhance/maintain UNOPS effectiveness as a provider of project services for sustainable results. - Undertake advocacy, public information and communication activities in collaboration with the Communications Officer and Funds/Programme Communication focal points when required. - Contribute to the ongoing research, development and implementation of best practices and innovative approaches to maximise performance and sustain achievements in project and partnership development. - Help build partnership capacity and negotiation skills among Programme/project managers - Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building within project and partnership development. - In close collaboration with the Programme/Project Managers, support AFCO Infrastructure, Programme, Project, Procurement and Partnerships unit in coordinating quality reviews of project documents, deliverables and programme/project implementation processes - Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.) ensuring donors’ and UNOPS compliance

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, or other relevant discipline.
• A combination of a Bachelor's degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

b. Work experience At least 5 years of experience in international development including demonstrated experience in:

• Programme and/or Project Management;
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
• Programme/Project development and proposal writing;
• Acquisition of projects;
• Establishing partnerships with UN agencies, international development organisations, governments, foundations, international NGOs or private sector organisations.
• Prior experience working in international organisations, international development, post-disaster and/or emergency contexts would also be an advantage.

c. Languages

• Fluency in English is required.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) 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 ICA

Contract level: IICA-2 Contract duration: Ongoing ICA - Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

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 Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.