The Position:
The positions are located in:
- West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO - Dakar)
- Arab States Regional Office (ASRO - Cairo)
The Office of the Security Coordinator (OSC) at UNFPA Headquarters, New York coordinates and leads the organization’s global response to safety and security management to enable the strategic direction of the Executive Director with regard to safety and security of UNFPA personnel, property and assets. OSC provides technical advice, guidance and support in the implementation of security policies and procedures to the Executive Director, senior managers and personnel to fulfill their security related accountabilities. OSC also leads the organizations Business Continuity Management (BCM) preparation, validation and testing of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).
The key functions of the Office of the Security Coordinator are:
- Enable the delivery of activities guided by the 1994 Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) targets and objectives, the UNFPA Strategic Plan in compliance with United Nations and UNFPA safety and security policies and procedures;
- Coordinate strategic corporate safety and security management policies and procedures internally within the organization and with external partners.
- Mainstream safety and security in organizational programmes and activities;
- Lead crisis management, preparedness and business continuity management for UNFPA offices globally in support of managers in their respective geographic areas of responsibility.
- Lead the corporate Business Continuity Management (BCM), oversee the preparation, validation and testing of Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).
- Represent UNFPA at the UN Security Management Policy Forums to ensure the organization's specific interests and needs are incorporated in security policies and procedures.
In addition to OSC staff at Headquarters, the Regional Security Advisers (RSAs) are members of the team, located at each Regional Office to undertake the aforementioned activities in their respective areas of responsibility.
The RSA reports directly to the Chief OSC on security policy, technical and administrative matters, and works closely with the Regional Director, serving as a substantive expert on safety and security. As a senior member of the regional management team, the RSA primarily provides leadership guidance, strategic and technical advice to Regional Director(s), sub Regional Director(s), country offices Representatives, programme managers with the aim to enhance their ability to make informed risk decisions, manage security risks in accordance with the UN Framework of Accountability and UNFPA Security Accountability Policy.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
You would be responsible for:
Key End-Results:
- Effective implementation of Security Risk Management (SRM), Business Continuity Management in UNFPA activities and operations conducted in compliance with applicable policies and procedures;
- Strengthened crisis preparedness and management at regional and country offices;
- Continued and enhanced programme efficiency and delivery through situational analysis, updated contingency response plans and security risk management compliance levels for all offices;
- Safety and security considerations including cost considerations for the implementation of security mitigation measures are mainstreamed in programmatic activities;
- Effective and efficient gender mainstreaming in security and crisis/emergency management;
- Enhanced collaboration with internal and external partners in support of common goals and objectives;
Accountabilities, duties and responsibilities:
Within delegated authority and the given operational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned parts of the following typical duties to provide coordinated and cohesive approach to the development and/or improvement of processes related to Security Risk Management and Business Continuity Management throughout the designated region:
Security Coordination – Enable Delivery of UNFPA Mandate
- Provide advice and assistance to the Regional Director, the Regional Humanitarian Advisor and the CO Representatives to enable them to carry out their safety and security functions throughout the region;
- Advise the Regional Director, Regional Humanitarian Adviser and senior management on steps needed with regard to multi-country or regional security challenges;
- Provide feedback to CO Representatives geo-security environment and key political dynamics that have the potential to impact on programme delivery, on security aspects of sitreps and other relevant programme documents, and on issues with potential impacts on the security of UNFPA personnel and programme delivery;
- Update the UNFPA Chief, OSC on security and political developments in the region;
- Participate in the selection of Security personnel (security specialists, assistants, guard services and related security services and provide guidance on the related training to each category.
- Assist CO Representatives, Heads of Offices and International/Operations Managers who have direct oversight of security personnel and guard services at Country Office level and support them on matters related to recruitment and performance evaluation of security personnel or security service providers;
- Assist the Regional Director and CO Representatives in determining financial and human resources required for ensuring the security of personnel, premises and programme delivery;
- Lead and coordinate business continuity management (BCM) plans validation for the region, provide guidance and support to offices in the periodical reviews, test and implementation of business continuity plans.
- Monitor developments in the Region related to security of UNFPA personnel and programme delivery and update the Regional Director and Chief, OSC accordingly;
- Establish a favorable working environment with UNDSS CSAs/SAs, Field Security Country Officers (FSCOs), UNFPA CO Representatives, Security Focal Points and Operations Managers as well as Security Advisors from other Agency Funds and Programmes (AFPs) and Host Country Authorities as required.
- Conduct security assistance missions in support of offices in the region to assess levels of preparedness, identify gaps and guide Representatives in the implementation of cost effective and pragmatic security mitigation measures.
- Liaise, collaborate, exchange and implement effective risk communication and security information with security professionals in the region, internal and external partners to ensure effective flow of information and improve operational planning, security awareness, compliance and business continuity management/arrangements.
- Collaborate with OSC to ensure the regional context in UNFPA and UNSMS security policies, guidelines and procedures.
Security Risk Management and Analysis
- Assist CO Representatives and Heads of Offices to prepare and review Security Risk Management processes (SRMs) and undertake specific Security Risk Management processes as required; work closely with UNDSS C/SAs and other agency security professionals to ensure security documents are gender and disability inclusive.
- Proactively monitor situations and events in the region, and gather and analyze information with the aim of identifying emerging trends and providing early warning of any potential threats that may affect the security of UNFPA staff, premises, assets and impact programme delivery;
- Provide regular analytical updates to the Regional Director and Senior Managers on the geo-security environment and key political dynamics that have the potential to impact on programme delivery in the near and medium terms.
- Consolidate security reporting from Country Offices and provide an analysis in the regional context, highlighting the potential impact this may have on programme delivery and particularly, in humanitarian scale up emergencies as needed;
- Work closely with key Regional Office Advisors and staff, other UNSMS Security professionals and analysts, and think tank networks within the region and globally with the objective of sustaining and strengthening the internal security risk management and analysis processes.
Security Planning/Preparedness:
- Monitor Global developments, situations and events and specifically in the Region and gather and analyze information with the aim of identifying emerging trends and providing early warning of any potential situation that may affect the security of UNFPA staff, premises and assets throughout the Region and that may also impact programme delivery to ensure relevant developments, scenarios and situations are appropriately reflected in security and other contingency plans;
- Proactively support the mainstreaming of security considerations into programme and emergency preparedness plans as required
- Support UNFPA management in the development and implementation of access strategies, preparedness plans, and programme contingency plans as required.
- Where appropriate, participate in the drafting of CAP and CAP reviews, to be presented to donors, and provide inputs to donor reports.
Crisis Management and preparedness:
- As a subject matter expert, serve as the resource person in security induced crisis in support of the Regional Director, Regional Humanitarian Adviser and senior RO staff of any significant incident pertaining to security;
- Under the guidance of the Chief, OSC and the Regional Director, establish a regional crisis response team (CRT) to enable rapid activation and response to crises.
- Assist the Regional Director, Regional Humanitarian Adviser and CO Representatives with Security Planning, Emergency/Crisis Preparedness – including support to the Business Continuity Management (BCM), Crisis Response, and Emergency Communications processes -- in accordance with the country specific situation and security requirements;
- Ensure appropriate communication with Country Offices that are involved in the crisis and coordinating the security support requirements;
- Ensure that CO Representatives in a sub region affected by the crisis are kept informed of key security issues, as well as other relevant stakeholders under the UNSMS and/or authorities depending the situation and in coordination with the Country Offices;
- Ensure follow up and coordination in cases involving UNFPA personnel arrest and detention at relevant individuals at the RO and OSC.
Implement and monitor compliance of Security Risk Mitigation Measures:
- Monitor that Country Offices comply with and periodically exercise security procedures/protocols and guidelines including: Security Risk Management Measures (SRM-M) and UNFPA’s Global Security Compliance platform.
- Review proposals for country and area Security Risk Management measures (SRM-M), Residential Security Measures (RSMs), Local cost shared security budget (LCCSB), and other relevant security documents and provide advice when warranted.
Training and capacity building:
- Provide briefings and presentations to UNFPA senior managers with security responsibilities on current and new UN security policies and guidelines and tools;
- Identify training needs and provide training for UNFPA staff to include Security Focal Points, staff dependents and implementing partners as required in the region.
- Coordinate with the OSC nomination of security personnel in the region to UNDSS/TDS and other AFPs training courses;
- Ensure training provided is gender and disability inclusive
- Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders on security related preparedness and operations.
General:
- The RSA will, at the request of the Chief, OSC perform other tasks and activities (as required).
- The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:
The RSA will supervise Security Specialists and will also provide guidance, mentoring and coaching in his/her area of responsibilities. He/she will provide technical advice and guidance to all UNFPA security practitioners in the region.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Advanced university degree in Social or Political Science, law or public administration or a discipline related to Risk Management, International Relations, Conflict Analysis and Resolution or equivalent formal training in security and risk management such as military and/or police senior command staff college.
- Security Certification Program (SCP) certified required.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional work experience, with at least five years’ field experience in a position within the UNSMS, proven crisis management;
- Experience in working in crisis /humanitarian response locations enabling programme delivery is an asset;
- Analysis /information capabilities from police / military or humanitarian contexts would be considered an important asset;
- Knowledge of UN Security Management System, policies, practices and procedures is required;
- Strong background in political and security analysis ideally in a regional context is desirable;
Languages:
Fluency in English is required; in addition, fluency in French is required for the position located in West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO). Arabic is desirable for the position located in Arab States Regional Office (ASRO).
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
- Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
- Organizational leadership and direction
- Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for resultsDelivering results based programmes
- Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness
- Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information
- Providing a technical support system
- Strengthening the programming capacity of Country Offices
- Facilitating quality programmatic results
- Managing data
- Managing documents, correspondence and reports
- Managing information and workflow
- Planning, organizing and multitasking
- Ensuring Safety and security of UNFPA personnel and operations
- Safety and Security; Coping with Pressure and Setbacks; Analyzing; Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise; Relating and networking; Deciding and Initiating action; Formulating Strategies and Concepts; Impact and influence; Innovation and Marketing of new approaches; Organizational Awareness; Client Orientation.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
