Local Access Specialist

Vacancy code VA/2012/B5106/627
Position title Local Access Specialist
Department/office EMO, Jerusalem
Duty station Jerusalem, occupied Palestinian territory
Contract type Local ICA Specialist
Contract level LICA Specialist-6
Duration through 31st December 2012 - with possibility of extension
Application period 12-Jun-2012 to 19-Jun-2012


Background Information - UNOPS

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, 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, United Nations Secretary-General

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS employs around 3,500 personnel annually and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Background Information - Jerusalem

 

The UNOPS Jerusalem office opened in 2006 and now has sub-offices in East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Jericho. The portfolio includes infrastructure, procurement, human resources, capacity building, access coordination and security projects for partners and beneficiaries throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.
Background Information - Job-specific

The lack of unfettered humanitarian access within and in and out of the West Bank and Gaza Strip has led to a significant rise in the time and costs involved in delivering humanitarian assistance and protection to civilians. Against the backdrop of a worsening situation in the oPt, any effort to protect the vulnerable population and bring humanitarian relief is destined to be compromised further still.
In an attempt to ameliorate the delivery of assistance and advance the protection of civilians, the funding for one year for the Access Coordination Unit is proposed to develop a centralised, pro-active and sustainable access strategy for humanitarian personnel and goods.
 
The purpose of Access Coordination Unit; a joint UNDSS, UNOCHA, UNSCO and UNOPS project, based at UNOCHA/ UNDSS premises in Jerusalem, is to provide  the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) with a mechanism for an effective dialogue with senior personnel within the Israeli Ministry of Defense, IDF and COGAT on behalf of all UN agencies and international NGOs on access issues, and at the same time enhance the operational support to UN and INGO staff members when facing access difficulties.  The ACU consists of one Access Coordinator, three Local Access Advisors, two Radio and Communications Specialists operating on a 24/7 and falls under the overall management of the Deputy Head of UNOCHA.
 
The Local Access Specialist will report directly to the Access Coordinator. S/he will have requisite qualifications along with experience in handling humanitarian access issues.
Functional Responsibilities

The Local Access Specialist will be requested to:
 
-Develop and maintain strong professional relations with INGOs (AIDA and CAP members).
-Provide access training to INGOs staff on access related issues.
-Under the auspices of UNOCHA conduct liaison with the host country authorities when INGO and
diplomatic staff and UN, INGO and diplomatic goods face access issues.
-Provide training and advise to UN, INGOs and Diplomatic Missions for access of personnel and goods;
-Monitor and manage in coordinatin with the ICT Assistant an on-line tracking system to streamline the  follow up of permit and visa requests for INGOs staff members and to track and monitor the
rate of approval, delays in obtaining permits, discriminitaion patterns and other access related problems.
-Produce a monthly report on INGOs permit and visa requests status based on data collection and
analysis of access information contained in the tracking system.
-Develop, link, and manage INGO access strategies designed in coordination with the national access strategy and produce alternative solutions to mitigate against identified risks related to access.
-The information hub including the provision of support and advice regarding visa procedures for INGOs.
-Follow up of complicated INGO visa cases and troubleshooting and support at low levels up to
department head levels within the Israeli and Palestinian Ministries of Interior and the Israeli Ministry of  Labor and Social Affairs.
-Liaise with UN and INGOs Agencies and host country athorities within the area of responsibility in
coordinating the ACU tasks.
-Develop profesional relations and enhace liaison mechanisms with relevant Israeli Military Authorities to  support humanitarian staff facing access/security issues in the field;    
-Contribute to the development and enhacement of professional realations with local authorities.
-Prepare and provide presentations and training sessions to local and local military authorities authorities  on access related issues, including contingency planning.
-Provide support to Local Access Advisors and Access Coordinator in their liaison with OCHA, UNSCO,  UNDSS and UNOPS in coordinating ACU tasks.
-Create Monitoring and Evaluation tools to support Local Acccess Advisors and Access Coordinator in  ensuring effective reporting.
-Contribute to ensure preparedness of UN Security Management System and staff response to
foreseeable access related emergencies through an in-country security training programme, capacity  development, and preparedness programme.
-Contribute to assessing the UN ''access'' related situation based on the information gathering & sharing  with Local Access Advisors and Access Coordinator.
-Monitor and log access incidents involving the UN, INGO and Diplomatic staff & goods on a 24/7 basis.
-Monitor incident records for reporting and IT/Data Entry/Web purposes.
-Identify changes in policy at the national level and develop possible access negotiation strategies to  enhance policy advocacy inline with identified humanitarian needs.
-Support Local Access Advisors and Access Coordinator in Civil-Military coordination related tasks.
-Liase with UN legal Specialists as part of the One UN Legal Task Force and other legal  forums/organizations.
-Research, analyse and update on legal access information for developing access negotiation strategies,  specific to national laws concerning visas.
-Any other access and administrative duties as required by the Access Coordinator.
 
Competencies

-Professionalism – Excellent knowledge of security/risk management methods or other security
specialization, political knowledge of the location; ability to effectively deal with stress factors. Good
technical skills to understand and consolidate the varying security specializations.
-Planning and Organization – Proven ability to plan and organize work and establish priorities.
-Communications – Ability to effectively communicate (oral and written), within all levels of the
organization. Good drafting and presentation skills.
-Technology awareness – computer skills, particularly in relation to security management and
 monitoring. Knowledge of VHF/UHF radio systems.
-Teamwork –interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with: U.N.
staff,  security representatives of local and national governments, with sensitivity and respect
for gender, diversity and culture.
-Leadership – demonstrated leadership skills. Ability to make quick decisions in emergencies or when
rapid response is required. Make sound judgment; dedication to the United Nations principles and
demonstrated ability to work in harmony with persons of different national and cultural background.
 
Education/Experience/Language requirements

a-Education 
 
-Master’s Degree in International Law, Political or Social Science, International Relations, Criminology, Police/Security Services or other relevant field. Additional years of relevant work experience, preferably in combination with a relevant bachelor’s degree, may substitute for the requirement for a master’s degree
-Computer literate especially Microsoft, Adobe, Excel, Internet
-Civil-Military coordination experience and qualifications is an asset.

b-Work Experience
 
-A minimum of 5 years of proven experience working in a complex security and emergency situations and exposure to humanitarian access requirements;
-A previous experience of working in and/or knowledge of UN or International Organisation is an asset.
-A previous experience working for Non Gonvermental Organizations is an asset.

 
Other Skills:
-Ability to build constructive relationships;
-Proven administrative skills;
-Demonstrated willingness and competence to travel to the field whenever necessary;
-Holding a valid Israeli Driver’s License is required;
-Knowledge of security management, crisis management are desirable skills;

 
Languages:
Proficiency in English and Hebrew is required. Basic skills in Arabic or other UN official languages is highly desirable

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist level 6
Contract duration: through 31st December 2012 - with possibility of extension


For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individ ual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx

Additional Considerations

- Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
-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 reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post
-The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.