Programme Management Advisor, (Decent Work & Labor Mobility) , Multiple positions

Background Information – Myanmar

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organisations in the country, including the international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Background Information – Job-specific

The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund set up in 2009. LIFT aims to strengthen the resilience and sustainable livelihoods of poor households by helping people to reach their full economic potential. This is achieved through increasing incomes, improving the nutrition of women and children, and decreasing vulnerabilities to shocks, stresses and adverse trends.

LIFT has received funding from altogether 16 international donors since it was established. The current donors are the UK, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Ireland. For more details, visit www.lift-fund.org.

Within its refreshed strategy for 2019-2023, LIFT has expanded its programming outside the scope of its traditional rural and agrarian focus. The Decent Work and Labour Mobility Programme has been established as one of four core thematic areas. The programme strategy is based on the achievement of three main outcomes: (1) Strengthened policies and legislation on labour and social protection, migration governance, anti-trafficking and skills development; (2) enhanced knowledge and capacity of stakeholders to support decent work, labour mobility and anti-trafficking; and (3) increased access to information, training and support services for women and men migrants and other vulnerable workers.

2020 and 2021 saw two major crises impact Myanmar: the COVID-19 health crisis which started in March 2020 and the political crisis that unfolded following the military coup in February 2021. These have had wide ranging impacts on the economy and people’s livelihoods. As a result, LIFT and the Decent Work and Labour Mobility Programme have gone through a reset process, to ensure that programming continues to meet the changing needs in Myanmar. This reset includes a focus on localising migration and anti-trafficking responses, while continuing to invest in small businesses and vehicles for vocational training for youth and internal displaced persons.

Functional Responsibilities

Decent Work and Labour Mobility Programme

To expand the opportunities for safe and rewarding migration, LIFT began funding a USD 23 million Migration Programme in 2016. The seven projects supported by LIFT constitute the largest funding window for migration interventions within Myanmar.

Within the LIFT Strategy for 2019-2023, the Migration Programme has been subsumed into the wider Decent Work and Labour Mobility thematic area. This represents a shift in approach to engage more broadly with establishing conditions for decent work within Myanmar’s labour market, while maintaining a focus on internal and international migrants as some of the most vulnerable populations of workers.

Under the framework of this thematic area, the protection of fundamental labour rights will be the cornerstone for building a foundation for decent work in Myanmar. This approach makes explicit that the path to achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth must be rooted in a labour market that provides fair wages and working conditions, allows for freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, and does not permit forced labour, child labour or discrimination in respect to employment.
Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Due to the continued work of the Decent Work and Labour Mobility programme, Programme Management Advisor are required to provide ongoing technical support in one or more of the following three areas: (1) Research; (2) programme design; and (3) project evaluation. The specialists will carry out the following tasks, in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices. Research

• Develop data collection tools and approaches for conducting research assignments.

• Collect data using a range of different research methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative techniques.

• Analyze results to produce research outputs of varying types, such as research reports, manuscripts for academic journals, policy briefs, articles for media outlets and blog posts.

• Present research findings and recommendations for action to key programme stakeholders, including the LIFT Fund Board, implementing partners and external actors.

• Review and provide technical inputs for research conducted by LIFT implementing partners.

• Other research tasks as necessary.

Programme Design

• Develop the data collection tools and strategies for programme scoping missions.

• Review the relevant literature and conduct interviews with stakeholders and potential beneficiaries.

• Identify the most strategic geographic target areas for the programme and map existing interventions and potential implementing partners.

• Develop the programme framework to be included in the call for proposals, including situation analysis, programme objectives, components and interventions.

• Present the key findings and recommendations of the programme framework to the LIFT Fund Management Office.

• Provide technical support to LIFT implementing partners (particularly local CSOs and labour organizations) on programme design and implementation.

• Other programme design tasks as necessary.

Evaluation

• Develop the data collection tools and approaches for mid-term reviews and final evaluations.

• Conduct the project evaluations primarily using qualitative methods, including desk review, key informant interviews with project staff and stakeholders and focus group discussions with beneficiaries.

• Respond to the questions outlined for the evaluation, under the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and gender equality.

• Distill lessons learned and good practices, as well as identify barriers to effective implementation, in order to provide recommendations for improving the project results or the development of future interventions.

• Present the evaluation findings and recommendations to the implementing partner and LIFT Fund Management Office for feedback and finalization of the evaluation report.

• Provide technical support to LIFT implementing partners on the development and implementation of project-based MEAL plans.

• Other evaluation tasks as necessary.

Monitoring and progress controls

After specialists are contracted, he/she will be contacted to conduct a specific task in his/her area(s) of expertise. The deliverables and number of days will be agreed upon through a ‘task note’, which will provide the details of the planned assignment.

The specialist’s work will be directly supervised by the Programme Officer (Decent Work and Labour Mobility), under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Manager. They will be expected to complete all assigned tasks within the allotted time frame and clearly communicate any unanticipated delays.
Deliverables

The requirements for each assignment will be detailed in the specific task notes developed by the Programme Officer (Decent Work and Labour Mobility), including:

• Background and rationale;

• Assignment tasks;

• Indicative work plan;

• Administrative and logistical arrangements;

• Terms of payment;

• Required deliverables.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Master’s Degree in migration, international development, international relations, public policy, sociology, economics, business administration or a related field is required.

• A Bachelor’s degree in the above fields with an additional two years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

• A Doctorate degree in the above fields will be considered an advantage for research assignments.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience as a researcher, programme designer/manager or project evaluator is required. Experience in more than one discipline will be considered an advantage.

• Technical expertise in labour migration, labour rights, forced labour, child labour, human trafficking, gender or skills development is required. Expertise in more than one area will be considered an advantage.

• Proven ability to write analytical and strategic reports in clear and concise English is required.

• Experience working with government officials, international organizations, civil society and labour organizations and other development stakeholders in Myanmar is considered an advantage.

• Experience working in Myanmar and/or South-East Asia is considered an advantage.

• Computer literacy in Microsoft packages is required, and experience with Google workspace is an asset.

Language: Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.**(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)**

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA (Individual Contractor Agreement)
Contract level: IICA-3 (International Individual Contractor Agreement)
Contract duration: Until March 2023 – Retainer not exceeding 100 days per calendar year

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• 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 staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.

Other considerations: contracting approach

This is for multiple position and each position will be contracted for up to 100 days per calendar year, extendable based upon satisfactory services. There will be no guarantee of any number of work days under the contract.

Applicants are requested to:

• Submit a letter of motivation and a CV specifying relevant experience and skills in relation to at least one of the three specialist areas (Research or Programme design; and or Project evaluation).
  Applicants may apply for more than one role if they wish to be considered for multiple assignment types.

• Provide a sample of past work relevant to the specialist area applied for, preferably authored independently.

• Include the names and contact details of three recent professional referees.

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.