Vacancy Details
Vacancy Code UNOPS/2011/AFO/KEOC/PRJ/042
Post Title Consultant - Mogadishu Planning
Post Level International ICA 4 (Individual Contractor Agreement)
Org Unit Kenya Operations Center
Duty Station Nairobi, Kenya
Duration Three months (renewable up to a year subject to performance and availability of funds)
Closing Date 6th January 2012
Background
Somalia provides a unique challenge in aid planning, delivery and coordination. For the UN to work successfully in Mogadishu requires a deep and up-to-date understanding of the constantly changing and wide variety of national and international and national actors and their sometimes competing roles. To deliver assistance safely and efficiently, the UN is required to demonstrate a strong sense of development and political acumen as well as a clear understanding of the needs and desires of the Somali people. Supporting the transitional government in the face of a resilient insurgency also requires a strong security dimension and an ability to work with the TFG, the African Union military mission in Somalia, while understanding the possible perceptions of the insurgency. People living in the city of Mogadishu require the concurrent and continual delivery of a complex mix of relief, recovery, and development interventions in a deeply insecure and unpredictable operating environment. The security situation facing the United Nations and INGOs has meant direct implementation has been challenging. The international community has increasingly made efforts to work more closely with the Transitional Federal Government and at the same time has been forced to rely more on local NGOs and Somali businesses to deliver assistance. The international private sector is now playing a growing role in Mogadishu. With the end of the transition period of the Transitional Federal Government fast approaching, there is an urgent need to consolidate the gains made by the UN in delivering services and support to the people of Mogadishu. In addition to demonstrating the value of the UN’s work this position will also focus on the strengthening and extension of the legitimate authority of national authority in the region. Given the rapidly changing political context it is of critical importance to have a senior manager focusing on evaluating the changes in the operational developments in Mogadishu. This increased need for strong plans, well coordinated and managed programmes, projects and activities at this time also stems from the increased global focus on integration and the increased pressure from the UN Security Council to have a closer relationship between the UNCT and components of the Special Political Mission in Somalia.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Functions
• Agree a set of priority activities which will remain roughly constant over time and broadly applicable in various locations with the TFG, with Somali civil society representatives and across the UN and international community.
• Prepare a proposal for a joint UN coordination presence in Mogadishu including fully-consulted concept notes and a working budget in order to improve the ability of the UN to work in Mogadishu in the future.
• Manage the Mogadishu international co-ordination committee to take forward planning and coordination across the political, development and recovery spectrum of activities thereby bringing together the programmatic work of the UNCT with the political work of UNPOS and de-conflicting with the military support provided by UNSOA to AMISOM
Key results expected
• Agree a set of priority activities which will remain roughly constant over time and broadly applicable in various locations with the TFG, with Somali civil society representatives and across the UN and international community.
• Establish and agree a set of 10 common principles that should guide the work of all international and Somali partners when designing and implementing interventions in support of the Somali people.
• Map key donor funding intentions, pipeline allocations and ‘conditions’ under which they will seek to make any additional funds available for stabilization and recovery initiatives.
• Work with the UNCT and UNPOS to understand clan and other political factors affecting likelihood of support for TFG and international activities
• Ensure that UN-implemented programmes fit within the longer-term priorities and are coordinated with the activities of the TFG, NGOs and other actors, especially on job creation and livelihoods
• Identify and address discrepancies between the TFG’s expectations and priorities and the planned activities on the ground, including through the provision of information to the TFG.
• Suggest alternative implementation mechanisms for addressing issues which existing UN programmes cannot address.
Required Selection Criteria
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability • Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Functional Competencies:
• Strategic vision and strong technical and analytical capabilities • Very good political judgment • Excellent organizational and management skills • High level of self-management capacity and proactive self-drive under very low supervision • Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships • Strong written, interpersonal and oral communication skills • Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines • Maintain balanced and positive attitude even under continued high stress level • Knowledge of current development policies and activities • Excellent partnership management skills • Excellent analytic and written ability • The ability to work well with others and build good relations internally and externally • Experience in closely working with colleagues and counterparts of different nationalities and religions in challenging operational and living conditions • Maintain balanced and positive attitude with all counterparts even under challenging working, living and security situation during phases of continued high stress level
Technical Competencies:
• A sound knowledge of the prevailing situation and key personalities in Mogadishu • A basic understanding of military practice and international law • Gender equality and human rights knowledge and experience • A strong understanding of the working situation in Somalia • Ability to work to meet tight schedules under stressful environment and multi cultural context. • Ability to work in demanding physical and cultural context with government partners, under challenging physical conditions and poor national infrastructure. • Highly motivated with a positive attitude and pro-active problem-solving approach. • Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback • Ability to interpret, analyze and resolve problems • Working knowledge of computer use. Familiarity with procedures, reporting requirements and ethical practices of the UN system.
Education/Experience/Language
• Masters Degree or higher in Development, International Relations, Political Science, Economics or a related subject.
• A minimum of 15 years progressive, related professional work experience at the national or international level.
• Data analysis skills
• Process management skills
• Experience in conflict countries or experience in Islamic societies and/or in Africa and the Arab worlds
• Recent experience working in Mogadishu
• Sound knowledge of the UN system’s procedures and operational activities for development is desirable. • Fluency in English, both written and oral communication skills
Submission of Applications Candidates are strongly requested to carefully review the application guidelines below, incomplete documents and/or submissions not meeting the application guidelines will not be considered. Interested candidates must submit their applications, including
- Letter of interest
- Complete Curriculum Vitae
- Complete, updated and signed United Nations P.11 form
All of the above required documents must be sent via e-mail to vacancieskeoc@unops.org.Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.
The body of the email must include the table below with responses in the exact format.
Last name: First name: Highest completed educational qualification: Exact years of experience relevant to the assignment Experience with the United Nations (Yes/No). If yes, specify name of agency, Fund or Programme and exact years of relevant experience: Professional qualification and/or experience
UNOPS reserve the right to reject any application without the above format in the submission email.
Additional Considerations
- 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 reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post.
For more information on UNOPS, including its core values and competencies, please visit the UNOPS website at www.unops.org.
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