Project Management Support - Senior Associate (Grievance Redress Mechanism)

Contract

This is a LICA-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA-7 contracts.

Background Information - Afghanistan

Afghanistan Established in 1995, UNOPS has been working in Afghanistan to build better lives for girls, boys, men and women living in the country. By offering efficient, professional, and agile services, UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) supports partners' contribution to the humanitarian response and development of the country.

Prior to August 2021, UNOPS AFCO was implementing projects in a range of sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building to ministries, and environmental protection, among others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan and the donor community.

Today, in response to the increased humanitarian needs and partner requests, the UNOPS AFCO portfolio supports humanitarian initiatives and basic human needs, including managing cash for work projects, supporting humanitarian actors, procuring emergency supplies, and administering inter-agency communications and accountability centre for all humanitarian actors in the country.

Background Information - Job-specific

Project Information

The project was established due to the significant, ongoing drought exacerbating water access issues which has created an emergency situation in rural areas across southern and central Afghanistan. Inadequate availability of efficient irrigation contributes to the food insecurity crisis. The project objective is to improve access to the quality of water supply and surface water irrigation services in selected rural and drought affected areas and regions.

The project will finance the provision of off-grid solar systems and, where applicable, emergency energy efficient equipment to support surface water irrigation in the selected areas. This will include installation of solar pump systems, and battery systems in high priority areas. These solar water pump systems will be installed to supply for irrigation to meet the needs of farmers pumping the surface water in identified rural areas. Solar pumps used for irrigation purposes will only pump surface water from rivers that have permanent water bodies and not from seasonal rivers.

Job-Specific Information

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the Project Management Support - Senior Associate (Grievance Redress) provides support to the project team in ensuring that complaints from communities are effectively and efficiently handled, responded to and resolved in a timely manner. The Grievance Redress Senior Associate works closely with the Social Safeguards Senior Associate and the Environmental Safeguards Senior Associate.

Functional Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Set up a simple, practical and efficient grievance redressal mechanism (GRM) for the project, as described in the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), that allows for all stakeholders of the Project to register grievances easily and, for the project management and all Facilitating Partners, to respond to them efficiently as well.
• Prepare and set-up grievance uptake channels, as per the ESFM, to facilitate the wide variety of project stakeholders. This includes a toll-free phone line.
• Ensure the set-up, maintenance and regular updating of a GRM related database, that will register all grievances received with details, and produce input/output-based reports on the same.
• Prepare reports on the grievances received and trends to be included in the quarterly progress reports of the project to the World Bank.
• Train the Private Energy Service Companies (PESC) and UNOPS Community Liaisons Senior Associates to set up and train the designated grievance redressal committees (GRCs) in the local communities and project sites on the project’s agreed GRM at the field level.
• Work with management to set up and train higher level GRM committees, and ensure that they include women and senior personnel trained in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and in sexual harassment and their redressal, and have distinct mechanisms in dealing with the same as per the GRM and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Action Plan in the ESMF.
• Ensure that protocols are developed and institutionalized to link the GRCs at various levels efficiently.
• Working together with the Communications Officer, provide support in the design of a communication plan for disseminating GRM as a whole, and especially the update and feedback channels to the public.
• Ensure the Monitoring and Reporting Officer and Deputy Project Manager or the environmental and social safeguards team are immediately informed and briefed on grievances that could impact on the overall project, and are supported in taking quick actions on the same.
• Ensure that all grievances that contain severe incidents are reported to the Project Manager and the World Bank within 48 hours, as per the ESMF.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education

• Completion of Secondary education is required.
• A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor) in management, business administration, development studies or other relevant discipline is desirable and can substitute for some years of experience.

b. Work Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in designing and managing grievance redressal mechanisms for development projects is required.
• Experience working with the World Bank, UN agencies or other donor agencies, government ministries, and/or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is valued.

C. Language Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of both written and oral English is required.
• Fluency in Pashto and/or Dari is desirable.

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

This VA is open only for Afghan nationals under CTG contract modality not UNOPS ICA.

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.