Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change.

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.

The REPAC Coordinator reports to the Director of Infrastructure and Camp Improvement .

Responsibilities

– Oversees the Regional Programme for the Improvement of the Living Conditions of Palestinian Refugees (REPAC) projects in all concerned Fields of operations, ensuring strategic, effective, and coherent overall planning and coordination so that goals and objectives are achieved within UNRWA rules and regulations and donor requirements, in close coordination with field-based and HQs relevant departments.

– Identifies strategic problems and takes appropriate and timely action to meet desired goals; identifies issues and risks associated with the REPAC’s various phases under implementation (scope, time, budget, impact, outcomes, etc.), maintains risks register, develops mitigation measures, and discusses with DICI, in a timely manner, to ensure a smooth implementation. Escalates issues to the project Steering Committee in a timely manner.

– Coordinates the preparation of disbursement payment requests to the German Bank for Reconstruction (KFW), ensuring correctness and quality for these documents including Project expenditure reconciliation and expenditure forecasts, timelines, extension requests and other required documentations of REPAC phases under implementation, as per the signed grant agreements.

– Develops and maintains an effective, efficient, and regular communication with different internal stakeholder groups in all concerned Fields and HQs, as well as external stakeholder groups including KFW and potential other donors. Serves as entry point for KFW and other potential donors’ communication on REPAC.

– Coordinates and reviews with concerned Fields on REPAC’s financial periodic progress reports as well as narrative reports, technical briefs, status reports and other ad-hoc documents for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring coherence and quality thereof.

– Provides substantive support to REPAC monitoring and evaluation process in the Fields in close coordination with /Field Programme Support Office; coordinates the implementation of external evaluations and other monitoring/evaluation exercises related to REPAC projects, ensuring the appropriate logistics and administrative support are provided.

– Coordinates and finalizes needs assessments, concept notes and proposals for KFW in coordination with Fields and relevant departments in HQA (e.g., ICID, Finance Department, Department of Planning, External Relations, and Communications Department) for future REPAC phases.

– Contributes to the development of organizational capacity of staff recruited for REPAC projects; and facilitate access to information, knowledge, and good practices; shares information and lessons learnt between the Fields on the Project Cycle Management processes as needed.

– Coordinates with other UNRWA Departments/Offices (HQ and Field) to ensure full coordination, oversight and accountability for the advancement and implementation of UNRWA relevant policies (Environmental Sustainability Policy, Framework for Accountability to Affected Populations…) within the context of the REPAC Programme.

– Acts as secretariat to the REPAC Regional Steering Committee.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default.

– Relating and Networking
– Persuading and Influencing
– Planning and Organizing
– Delivering Results
– Managing Complexity and Change
– Excellent writing skills including experience in drafting strategic documents, reports, proposals, and presentations
– Strong diplomatic skills in building and managing partnerships with varied stakeholders.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in business, or public administration, international affairs, social sciences, or related field.

Work Experience

At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in managing and coordinating multi-layer projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities, including building and managing partnerships with host government, donors, UN, development banks, NGOs, and private sector is required.

Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country/ies of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship is required.

Experience in drafting high quality programmatic, and financial reports, briefing and concept notes, proposals, papers, and presentations is required.

Experience and excellent knowledge of computer applications, such as MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and those used in project management is required.

Strong analytical, coordination and organizational skills is desirable.

Prior working experience in the Middle East is desirable.

.Internationally accredited certification in project management is preferred (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP, or similar) is desirable.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Type of Contract and duration: 18 months, with the possibility of further extension.

Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in Inspira in order to be considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post.

Join our eco-friendly organization dedicated to environment sustainability and targeting to be plastic free by 2025.

Equivalency:
A first level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.