Request from United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

Request from United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)

JOB DESCRIPTION

INT-012-07-P168-01-V (B) (Revised 10 July 2009)

Title:Associate Mine Action Management Officer

Duration:1 year (with possible extension for another year)

Date Required:As soon as possible

Duty Station:Headquarters, New York

Overall Supervision:Special Assistant to the Director, UNMAS

Direct supervision by: Special Assistant to the Director. The intention is to provide the Associate Expert with a range of different responsibilities in the areas of coordination, conference management and administration, with emphasis in UNMAS cross-cutting aspects.

Content and methodology of the supervision:

The Associate Expert will be supervised and his/her work assessed against a work plan prepared upon his/her joining UNMAS. This work plan will consist of detailed benchmarks and objectives.

Duties, responsibilities and output expectations:

Under the overall supervision of the Special Assistant to the Director, the Associate Mine Action Management Officer will provide support to the Front Office related to correspondence and coordination activities with internal and external partners, the organization of the Annual National Directors’ Meetingand general administration.

Specific Responsibilities will include:

In collaboration with the Special Assistant to the Director, the Associate Mine Action Management Officerwill provide support to UNMAS in the organization and follow-up of itsannual international conference, theNational Mine Action Directors and UN Advisors Meeting.

Activities:

1. Plan and organize the Annual Director’s Meeting. This task includes drafting invitations and monitoring the updating the participants’ list, soliciting agenda inputs from mine action stakeholders at headquarters and in the field; administrative and logistics support of the event; coordinating inputs with the United Nations Mine Action Team for presentations and working groups; preparing minutes of plenary and working groups, and conducting research and drafting background documents.
2. Organize and follow-up on the outcomes of the Annual Director’s Meeting, analyze questionnaires and extract best practices and lessons learnt.

In collaboration with the Special Assistant to the Director, the Information Management Officer (ProFi Officer), the Finance & Budget Officer, the Resource Mobilization OfficerOfficer and the Planning Officer, the Associate Mine Action Management Officer will assist in the coordination, maintenance and follow-up of the ProFi Project

Activities:

1.Follow up with UNMAS Programme Officers to ensure ProFi modules receive necessary inputs and are built, tested and that relevant data is entered into the system.

2.Assist in the identification of gaps, track progress against benchmarks, identify possible errors and any necessary functionality and reporting requirements.

3.Coordinate with UNODC and various UNMAS internal users in the implementation and daily operation of the ProFi Project.

4.Report on the implementation of ProFi Project on a regular basis.

5.Contribute to other policy-related and reporting tasks as required.

In collaboration with the Special Assistant to the Director and the Planning Officer the Associate Expert will help ensure that the Recommendations Tracking Database and the Programme Management Database is kept updated

Activities

1. Liaise with the Front Office, the Programme Planning and Management Section and Finance to ensure that the Recommendations Tracking Database is updated on a regular basis.
2. Assist in the coordination of responses to regular and ad hoc audits.
3. Update the Programme Management Database to ensure that relevant information is always updated (agencies, DPKO-DFS, IOTs, Implementing Partners).
4. Collect and collate data for the preparation of statistical and narrative reports.

In collaboration with, the Special Assistant to the Director the Associate Expert will contribute to the coordination of inputs and correspondence addressed to UN offices, agencies and external partners

Activities

1. Contributes to the preparation of talking points and correspondence.
2. Collect and collate data for the drafting of notes, concept papers, Standard Operating Procedures and other relevant documents.

Qualifications and experience:

Education: University degree in political science, law, international relations, economics, communications or other social science.

Experience:Proven experience on international affairs or development. Experience in administration would be an asset. Experience in humanitarian emergency or peacekeeping operations and conflict situations preferable.

Other Skills: Excellent computer skills (Word/Excel/Powerpoint/Visio).

Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of a second official UN language, in particular French, is desirable.

Competencies:

Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; shows pride in work and in work achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; strong conceptual and analytical skills and demonstrated problem solving abilities. Teamwork: very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve the Service's goals; and skilled in team building. Planning and Organizing: ability to plan own work;allocate appropriate time and resources for completing work; manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines. Communication: excellent oral and written communications skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports, materials and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style.

Learning Elements:

After the two-year assignment the JPO/ASSOCIATE EXPERT/APO is able to

-Draft and submit reports, correspondence, minutes and other relevant documents in support of inter-agency coordination, coordination among UN and NGOs and national mine action partners, and with donor and mine affected states.

-Communicate effectively and appropriately with representatives of member states, NGOs, UN colleagues.

-Assist in drafting substantive reports to UN standards and contribute to substantive discussions.

-Have a solid understanding of mine action policies and programmes and a clear sense of how mine action is integrated into the work of the UN system.

Background information:

Years of conflict have left millions of scattered and unrecorded landmines in more than 50 countries and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in over 80 countries. Civilians, children as well as adults are more and more often targets of these weapons in times of war and have become by the thousands victims of their deadly legacy in times of peace. Vast areas of land and resources have been removed from productive use. There is growing awareness within the international community that what has come to be known as the “global landmine crisis” has far-reaching consequences and requires a multi-faceted and integrated response.

In October 1997, in recognition of the multi-disciplinary nature of mine action, and of the requirement for enhanced coordination, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was established to serve as UN focal point for mine and ERW-related issues and activities. UNMAS is dedicated to the reduction of the suffering caused by landmines and ERW, and their impact on people and communities. As UN focal point, and in consultation with other partners, UNMAS coordinates the 14 UN entities involved in mine action, and promotes the development of coherent UN policy and strategy in mine action, establishes priorities for assessment missions, facilitates a coherent and constructive dialogue with the donor and international communities on the mine issue, and coordinates the mobilization of resources. It is also responsible for the development, maintenance and promotion of technical and safety standards; for the collection, analysis and dissemination of mine-related information, including information on technology; for advocacy efforts in support of a global ban on anti personnel landmines and norms to address the surge of ERW; and for the management of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action.