Social Safeguards Officer- Retainer at UNOPS November, 2020
“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peace-building humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.” -Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations Secretary-General.
The United Nations Office for Project Services’ (UNOPS) mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peace building, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. UNOPS mandate is to act as a project delivery platform for UN system agencies, funds and programmes, international and regional financial institutions, intergovernmental organizations, donor and recipient governments, and non-profit non-governmental organizations. As a self-financing entity within the UN system, UNOPS must ensure that the projects it delivers meet client expectations in terms of cost, quality and time, while at the same time ensuring that these projects collectively meet a broader array of success criteria.
UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.
Kenya Multi-Country Office (KEMC)
UNOPS KEMC helps partners achieve their project goals in sectors including: governance, education, health, the environment, grant management and rural development.
KEMC has over twenty years of experience working in Africa, including on large scale infrastructure projects. With a flexible and responsive presence throughout the region, UNOPS is able to scale up rapidly, through various mechanisms into high risk areas which have proven to be beneficial to partners.
KEMC has its own Technical and Design Services Unit (TSU) which comprises a core group of technical staff supplemented by experts employed on a retainer basis. The group conducts feasibility studies and assessments and engages in design and monitoring work. The core group’s skills include Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Architecture, GIS and Quantity Surveying. Retainers provide additional capacity in core disciplines as well as GIS, Environmental, Social, ICT, biomedical, economics, urban planning and sector specific expertise (roads, healthcare, heritage etc).
** Functional Responsibilities
3. Purpose and scope of the assignment
UNOPS undertakes a number of infrastructure projects in the Africa region. The purpose of this role would be to provide inputs where these projects have impacts that are social in nature, particularly where donors and governments have safeguards regimes in place or in development.
The consultant will be prepared to travel to any site in or around the countries under KEMC as required and as UNDSS permits.
4. Monitoring and Progress Controls
Analytical and technical tasks:
- Participate in the development of environmental and social safeguards tools, including Environmental and Social Management Frameworks or Plans.
- Roll out the implementation of Environmental and Social (E&S) safeguards tools in consultation with governments, donors and implementing partners and as part of project management;
- Monitor and report on environmental and social screening processes of site-specific activities;
- Oversee, monitor and report on indicators in the E&S safeguards instruments;
- Ensure that appropriate E&S instruments and tools are applied by all implementers of a project
- Trigger and oversee the implementation of environmental correction measures by implementing partners;
- Ensure that appropriate environmental and social mitigation measures are proposed and met;
- Undertake follow-up monitoring to ensure that proposed mitigation measures are implemented according to the E&;S safeguards instruments;
- Conduct supervision and monitor field visits to sites, where applicable
- Assist on developing and delivering a series of spot checks to ensure mitigation measures are properly implemented in line with the guideline;
- Compile reports on E&S impacts, and mitigation measures, as per E&S safeguards instruments;
- Handle additional assignments as directed by Project Managers;
- Advice governments on E&S safeguards
Capacity Building
- Provide technical support to projects as required;
- Carry out training and capacity building on E&S tools and frameworks, especially for new
- staff in the UNOPS Offices, governments and other potential implementing partners
Impact of Results
- All project activities are successfully supervised and monitored against the respective E&S frameworks, including understanding of the risks and impacts and implementation of mitigation measures
- Successful correction measures are undertaken by UNOPS and all partners where mitigation measures have failed
- High quality reporting as defined in the project tools
- Improved staff capacity
- A university Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant experience in Social Science or other relevant discipline may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.
- An advanced University Degree in relevant discipline is an asset.
- Minimum two years of relevant experience in social development and gender analysis is required;
- At least one year of experience with the design or implementation of social safeguards tools is required
- Experience with environmental and social risk analysis and risk mitigation strategies is required
- Research, Report Writing, Evidence based data and information and Analytical skills will be an added advantage
- Candidates with experience working on rural infrastructure projects will be preferred.
Fluency in written and oral English language required.
Integrity and Inclusion: 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.
Leading Self and Others: 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.
Partnering: 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).
Results Orientation: 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.
Agility: 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.
Solution Focused: 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.
Effective Communication: 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.
- 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 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.
*The position is based in a family duty station.**
** Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA 8 (ICS 8) Retainer
Contract duration: ‘One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability’
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-of…
** Background Information – UNOPS
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.
The deadline for submitting the application is 19 November 2020
