Senior Programme Manager

General Background

Somalia is amid major new political and security developments that will offer a greater possibility for peace and security than the country has seen in over 20 years. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), established in 2012, and international community have driven a process of rebuilding of functioning government institutions and processes through Somalia’s peacebuilding and state-building priorities under the Somali Compact (2013-2016), based on the Busan “New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States” agreement. The Somalia National Development Plan (2017-2019), builds on this foundation laid by the Compact and sets the priorities for national recovery and development in full collaboration with national and regional governments.  A landmark electoral process in late 2016 and early 2017 resulted in a peaceful transfer of power to a new President and government, in place since February and March 2017 respectively. The government has set out an ambitious agenda for its term (the period to 2021).  At the London Somalia Conference in May 2017 a Security Pact was agreed by Somalia and the international community which will allow for sustainable and long-term security based on mutual accountability.

UNOPS has had a solid presence in Somalia since 1994 implementing a wide range of projects and has contributed to the above development priorities of the country. In 2017, UNOPS was selected by DFID to manage its Somalia Security and Justice Programme (SSJP), a DFID funded programme to support establishment of sustainable development of security and justice systems in Somalia. The programme is programmed to last until July 2020. The programme management includes managing several implementing partners including selection and procurement processes, establishing coherence in the programme, coordination, quality assurance, financial accountability to the donor and effective learning and reporting with a specific emphasis on knowledge management.

Job Specific

The Somalia Security and Justice Programme presents a vehicle that brings together several implementing partners that contribute to the following overarching objectives:

• Re-establishment of basic policing and justice functions in key urban areas, in particular those recovered from Al-Shabaab;
• Improved access to justice for communities in a manner which complements support to police development in Federal Member States;
• Strengthened financial management and accountability within the security sector at both federal and sub-national levels;
• More effective strategic direction in the security and justice sectors, including through support to development of federal and sub-national policing and justice policy and legislation;

• More responsive and accountable approach to the provision of security and justice, including through development of community partnerships.

UNOPS is responsible for the strategic direction of the programme, for implementation, coordination and monitoring and reporting on results. UNOPS ensures that the SSJP aligns and contributes to the strategic direction of the National Police Plan, justice plans and weapons and ammunition management. In line with the programme results UNOPS, in collaboration with the government, supports the national institutions to develop accountability systems that increases democratic oversight. The programme has a large capacity development component for the security and the justice sectors including building community relations partnerships that also underpin accountability. Finally, the SSJP puts heavy emphasis in addition to effective and timely delivery on learning through knowledge management that informs the direction of the programme.   

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Senior Programme Manager will oversee the SSJP for UNOPS.  He/she will be in charge of the strategic direction of the programme in close collaboration with the donor and government counterparts. The manager will be responsible for the implementation of the programme supported by UNOPS management and UNOPS project support teams and a fund manager. The Senior Programme Manager will be supported on the technical side by all Programme implementing partners, the wider UN through the Global Focal Point arrangement and specialized consultants, and advisors.  He/she will spend his/her core time on liaison with Government, donors, the UN and implementing partners and coordinating the political and technical aspects of the Programme which will require extensive (significant) travel to Somalia.  He/she will be the convener of Informal Security and Justice Network with stakeholders, implementing partners, thought leaders, and advisors, and provide technical guidance to Somali public sector entities as and when needed with key functional responsibilities as follows:

Summary of key results:

1. Stakeholder Management
2. Programme Delivery and Performance
3. Personnel Management
4. Government Institutional Strengthening
5. Knowledge Management and Innovation

1.       Stakeholder Management:

• Support the establishment of a governance framework for the SSJP Programme.
• Establish a solid working relationship with implementing partners, UN entities, development partners, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), NGOs and other key stakeholders through the Informal Security and Justice Network and other forums.
• Lead the planning, implementation and organization of strategic capacity building of personnel, beneficiaries and stakeholders within the Programme.
• Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of SSJP activities, progress, exceptions.
• Oversee information flows between the SSJP Board and UNOPS Somalia Director, the UNOPS team dedicated to the SSJP Programme and other key stakeholders.
• Advise DFID on issues that may impact the achievement of the Programme outcomes and how to mitigate those risks.
• Consult and collaborate with internal and external colleagues and partners to ensure linkages, consistency, and harmonization of approaches and compliance with guidelines, framework and standards of accountability, integrity and performance.

2.       Programme Delivery and Performance:

• Develop a streamlined and effective Programme governance framework adhering to UNOPS and DFID corporate standards and guidelines.
• Oversee the Programme implementation plans in collaboration with the team and partners, including setting objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and client-oriented services.
• Supervise the timely and cost-effective implementation of the Programme according to UNOPS goals and partner expectations, approved budget and full cost recovery.
• Support the Fund Manager to ensure the financial sustainability of the Programme and delivery of desired results, ensuring compliance with organizational strategies, rules, regulations and standards of performance.
• Manage Programme resources in accordance with UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity and accountability framework and financial sustainability.
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life cycle.
• Be responsible for overall progress and use of resources and initiate corrective action where necessary.

3.       Personnel Management:

• Plan, recruit, manage and develop project(s) personnel/technical experts with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and encouraging the formation of diverse teams in term of gender and geography.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing the programme team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Ensure UNOPS project personnel are fully empowered to develop any specific training needs required to effectively deliver the programme.

4.     Government Institutional Strengthening:

• Provide high-level technical advisory services to Government institutions particularly the Ministry of Internal Security, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Finance.
• Provide technical mentorship in the configuration of processes that help define organizational structure and development of delivery systems of Somali public entities.

5.       Knowledge Management and innovation:

• Keep abreast of and incorporate latest/best practices, approaches and technology to enhance the programme delivery and results.
• Institutionalise and share best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.
  • Disseminate information to project staff to update as required in keeping with UNOPS rules and regulations.
  • Draft policy papers and/or recommend policy changes to align operations with changing environment.
  • Conducts regular conflict analysis and stakeholder mapping to mitigate risks and facilitate successful implementation.

Impact of Results:

The effective and successful performance of the Senior Programme Manager directly impacts on achievement of programme results and consequently reinforces the visibility and image of the UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice for sustainable development and project services.

• Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict studies, Project Management, Public Administration, Social Science, Development Studies or other relevant discipline is required.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Peace and Conflict studies, Project Management, Public Administration, Social Science, and Development Studies with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience or other relevant discipline may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.

• PRINCE2® Foundation/Practitioner an asset
• Programme/Project Management Professional (MSP® or PMI-PgMP/PMI-PMP) an asset

• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in programme management of security and justice reform, including traditional justice, governance and peace building, specifically with the following experience are required:
• Working in conflict or post-conflict environments;
• Working in stabilization related interventions;
• Outreach, advocacy and effective communications.

• Experience working with national governments and ministries is desirable.

• Experience with conflict analysis and conflict stakeholder mapping desirable.

• Stakeholder management experience is an asset.

• Knowledge and understanding of Somalia context and political economy is an asset.

• Experience with citizen empowerment and inclusion in the Rule of Law sectors is desirable.

• Experience with research and integration research into programme design is an advantage.

• Experience operating with the UN system, preferably in a developing country, is an added value.

• Experience in the field of conflict management is considered an asset.

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA) 
Contract level: IICA 4 /ICS 12
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

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.

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.

Africa Region

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.

Somalia Country Office:

Somalia is amid major new political and security developments that will offer a greater possibility for peace and security than the country has seen in over 20 years. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), established in 2012, and international community have driven a process of rebuilding of functioning government institutions and processes through Somalia’s peacebuilding and state-building priorities under the Somali Compact (2013-2016), based on the Busan “New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States” agreement. The Somalia National Development Plan (2017-2019), builds on this foundation laid by the Compact and sets the priorities for national recovery and development in full collaboration with national and regional governments.  A landmark electoral process in late 2016 and early 2017 resulted in a peaceful transfer of power to a new President and government, in place since February and March 2017 respectively. The government has set out an ambitious agenda for its term (the period to 2021).  At the London Somalia Conference in May 2017, a Security Pact was agreed by Somalia and the international community, which will allow for sustainable, long-term security based on mutual accountability.