Associate Programme Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

 The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) serves as the United Nations focal point for mine action and supports its vision of “a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies.” UNMAS coordinates and collaborates with fourteen UN departments, agencies, programmes and funds to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problems of landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions. UNMAS establishes, manages, and provides strategic direction to mine-action coordination centres in countries and territories as part of peacekeeping operations and humanitarian emergencies or crises. In these situations, UNMAS may plan and carry out mine-action projects, support and coordinate the work of local and international mine-action service providers, and set priorities for mine clearance, mine-risk education and all other aspects of mine action.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action. The Cluster is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of UNMAS Field Programmes.

Context

This assignment is funded by the Benue State Government, Nigeria. Therefore, specific eligibility criteria apply:
– Only Benue state citizens resident in Nigeria are eligible to apply.
Established in 1997 by the General Assembly, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) serves as the United Nations focal point for mine action and supports its vision of “a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies.” UNMAS coordinates and collaborates with fourteen UN departments, agencies, programmes and funds to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problems of landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions.
UNMAS establishes, manages, and provides strategic direction to mine-action coordination centres in countries and territories as part of peacekeeping operations and humanitarian emergencies or crises.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
  1. Support in the development and follow up of resource mobilization opportunities
● Support the monitoring of humanitarian and development trends and needs to identify potential areas of intervention within UN mandates and existing capacity.
● Stay abreast of policies on mine action, UN policies, and cross-cutting priorities, such as gender, diversity, conflict sensitivity, sustainability, and environment, to be included in programme design as relevant.
● Support the management team to translate the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) into implementation/results work plans and associated monitoring mechanisms and draft project documents as needed for the implementation of the programme.
● Support the identification, design, and formulation of new activities to meet programme objectives.
● Provide information and support in the drafting and preparation of programme documents, including concept notes, proposals, and associated budgets.
● Support the draft and/or review of funding agreements and other project documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects.
2. Programme management support –
● Analyze funding agreements and support the development of compliance plans, the monitoring frameworks to guide key departments and the management of teams to meet requirements of funding agreements, in coordination with HQ.
● Support the monitoring mechanisms to measure delivery against targets outlined in funding agreements.
● Track programme results against targets, alert relevant management if delivery is not on track, compile data and draft reports to internal and external stakeholders and support the management team to prepare for internal reviews.
● Coordinate information flow between implementation teams, donors, and headquarters, particularly related to any deviations that would require revisions to the relevant legal agreement; when required, Coordinate budget and activity revisions to funding agreements.
● Prepare, and provide editing support for, high quality summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, project reports, annual reports, situation reports, briefing notes, code cables, and UN reports.
● Prepare written summaries of meetings/visits and ensure relevant team members implement follow-up actions, as appropriate; research and prepare analytical, and sometimes sensitive, documents for the management team.
● Participate in communicating with HQ on supporting compliance to programme documents and funding agreements, and the implementation of policies, processes and methods according to internal standards.
3. Stakeholder coordination, representation, and inter-agency collaboration –
● Support in establishing and building relationships with UN, international organizations, donors, governments, and mine action stakeholders for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of programme implementation.
● Participate in, contribute to and report on the relevant inter-agency, UN mission, donor and inter-governmental coordination meetings in consultation with relevant programme technical experts when required.
● Support the management team with UN common planning and programming processes, including strategic country analysis, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), humanitarian response plans, durable solutions for internal displacement, integrated strategic frameworks, etc.
● Participate in, or contribute to the Mine Action Area of Responsibility/Sub-Cluster under the Protection Cluster, where relevant, including the formulation of the mine action.
components for the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office.
● Support the applications of policies, practices and procedures associated with the overall implementation of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and associated funding and monitoring mechanisms, where relevant, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office.
● Support design, coordination and dissemination of public information products and communication activities as well as gather and draft content for communications products and platforms.
● Support preparations for official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, and prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations and speeches for the CMAP.
● Support to awareness and Explosive Ordnances Risk Education activities (EORE), as required.
4. Knowledge management and document management and innovation
● Maintain records of programme files and other necessary programme documents such as documentation of decisions and actions taken on programme issues.
● Contribute to the implementation of the relevant standards, tools and templates to effectively manage programme development and implementation.
● Contribute to, record and share the ongoing development and implementation of best practice, lessons identified, and innovative approaches to improve overall programme performance
● Contribute to the management and upkeep of risk management and issue management logs and processes.
● Carry out any other related duties as needed.