Vacancy code:
VA/2012/B5506/1324
Position title:
Private Sector Partnerships Officer
Department/office:
APO, Myanmar
Duty station:
Yangon, Myanmar
Contract type:
Local ICA Specialist
Contract level:
LICA Specialist-7
Duration: 1 year
(with possibility of extension)
Application
period: 23-Oct-2012 to 05-Nov-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 more than 6000 personnel 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 - Myanmar
Myanmar
The UNOPS Myanmar office develops, supports and oversees UNOPS portfolio of projects in Myanmar which focus on post-disaster recovery, health programmes and food security.
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS is the Fund Manager for the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) in Myanmar. LIFT is a multi-donor fund for seven years (2010 – 2016) to address food insecurity and income poverty in Myanmar. The Donor Consortium of LIFT comprises Australia, Denmark, the European Community, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The overall objective of LIFT is to contribute resources to a livelihoods and food security programme with the aim of making progress towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 1 (the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger) in Myanmar. Working through a trust fund modality, LIFT’s purpose is to sustainably increase food availability and incomes of 2 million target beneficiaries.
This is to be achieved through delivering the following programme outputs:
1. Increased agricultural production and incomes supported through improved production and postharvest technologies, improved access to inputs and markets.
2. Targeted households supported in nonagricultural livelihood activities and/or trained in livelihood skills for employment.
3. Sustainable natural resource management and environmental rehabilitation supported to protect local livelihoods.
4. Effective social protection measures supported that increase the incomes, enhance the livelihood opportunities or protect the livelihoods assets of chronically poor households.
5. Capacity of civil society strengthened to support and promote food and livelihoods security for the poor.
6. Monitoring and evaluation evidence and commissioned studies used to inform programme and policy development.
And the following management outputs:
7. Funds allocated in line with Fund Board policies and are accounted for in a transparent manner.
8. Fund flow and partner performance monitored and evaluated.
The purpose of the Private Sector Partnerships Officer is to act as a focal point and resource person for strengthening LIFT’s dialogue and work with the private sector in its role of contributing to pro-poor economic growth in Myanmar. The incumbent will have extensive contact with people in a wide variety of private sector organisations.
Functional Responsibilities
The post will be located in the LIFT Fund Manager’s Office, a team of 30 people organised in the following teams: programme, M&E, communications and support (HR, finance, administration). As a member of the programme team, the Private Sector Partnerships Officer will take a leading role in supporting LIFT’s efforts to engage more with the private sector in its role of contributing to food and livelihoods security of poor and vulnerable people in Myanmar.
The post holder will be expected to design and establish dialogue between the private sector companies/associations and other key LIFT stakeholders including: the Fund Manager, the Fund Board, LIFT implementing partners, government and others. The aims of the dialogue include: increasing involvement of private sector companies and associations in the implementation of LIFT-funded activities; and finding creative ways for LIFT to contribute to the formulation of policies, laws and regulations affecting the private sector that are consistent with LIFT’s objectives and priorities.
Functions/ Key Results Expected
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer (Markets and Microfinance), and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Private Sector Partnerships Officer will be responsible for:
1. Preparing sector-specific briefing papers on private sector activities in Myanmar in agriculture, livestock, fishery and rural-based industry.
2. Analyzing strategies and identifying challenges of the following activities implemented by LIFT program partners and other operational partners, and drawing lessons therefrom:
- Vocational skill development,
- Provision of start-up kits (including grants) for setting up Income Generating Activities,
- Providing Savings and Microcredit,
- Marketing support (including through producer organisations, eg associations and cooperatives) in agriculture, livestock, fishery and small income generation activities, and
- Other activities related to LIFT operations, projects and programs.
4. Working with the LIFT programme team to undertake needs and resources assessments of key producers and trade associations/industry representative bodies in terms of their ability and desire to represent the interests of small-scale producers.
5. Given the above analysis, articulating what issues and gaps can be addressed by LIFT in the form of partnerships with the private sector for the benefit of LIFT project beneficiaries, and how and when the partnership actions should be implemented.
6. Exploring value chain development opportunities in partnership with the private sector in support of projects implemented by LIFT’s partners and proposing market and value chain components to production-oriented projects with the overall objective to reinforce the economic position of small-scale producers.
7. Supporting initiatives for LIFT and private sector interests to advocate for changes to policies, laws and regulations that are consistent with LIFT’s objectives and priorities.
8. Assisting in reviewing the work plans and reports submitted by those of the Fund’s implementing partners working with the private sector, and in reviewing the work-planning and reporting systems of the Fund for their effectiveness in the same area.
9. Undertaking frequent field visits to LIFT-funded project sites identified as involved with the private sector, and providing reports on results of visits, particularly the progress of public-private partnerships.
10. Promoting the Fund within the Myanmar private sector community and engaging in partnerships with a wide pool of companies and business people, with a focus on those that will benefit small-scale producers and otherwise help achieve LIFT’s objectives and priorities.
11. Being the focal-point for LIFT in private sector forums and promoting information-sharing and networking amongst private sector actors on selected aspects of food security and livelihoods.
12. Reviewing and commenting on proposals submitted by private sector applicants to identify proposals which best fit with LIFT’s objectives and priorities.
13. Contributing to the development of the Fund Manager's work plans and reports.
14. Other duties as assigned by the Fund Director.
Competencies
The Private Sector Partnerships Officer should have:
- Current engagement with private sector organisations and networks in Myanmar
- Strong communication, advocacy and facilitation skills
- Excellent writing and analytical skills
- Teamwork ability to establish good working relations with stakeholders and colleagues in a sensitive environment
- Proven ability to identify partner and community needs and propose appropriate solutions
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with relevant private sector interests and government officials
- Ability to self-start, plan and organize work and to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies
- Ability to work with minimal supervision in a complex environment
Education/Experience/Language requirements
- Master's degree in economics, business administration or related fields with 5 years of experience in the private sector, preferably in agriculture or a related field. A Bachelor’s degree with 7 years of experience is considered as equivalent.
- A good knowledge of Myanmar private sector organisations and networks
- Demonstrated operational field experience
- Previous experience in project monitoring and evaluation would be an asset
- Demonstrated experience in programme/project management
- Experience working on food security and livelihoods projects would be an asset
- Fluency in both written and spoken Myanmar language and English
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: Local ICA 7
Contract duration: 1 year (with possibility of extension)
"This is a local position and is open to all nationals of the duty station or individuals with valid work permit"
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-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.
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