Employer: UN Women (UNDP)
Location: Kabul Afghanistan
Application Deadline : 23-Jan-16
Type of Contract : FTA Local
Post Level : NO-B
Duration of Initial Contract : One year
Background
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. UN Women is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s human rights in Afghanistan.
Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Security Specialist, the National Security Officer (NSO) is responsible for overseeing the safety and security of all UN Women personnel, eligible dependents, eligible partners and contractors, resources, assets, facilities, programmes, and projects in addition to promoting, enabling and supporting UN Women programme delivery throughout the country of responsibility while ensuring compliance with all United Nations security policies, procedures and regulations for the UN Women Afghanistan Country Office (ACO).
This positions reports operationally to the UN Women Country Representative. At Headquarters level, UN Women Security Office (SO) will, through the Regional Security Specialist, provide policy and technical advice to the UN Women NSO regarding the safety and security of UN WOMEN personnel, eligible dependents, property and operations within the context of UN WOMEN’s mandated role, whilst dovetailing with and respecting UNDSS’s mandate and role, and working within the UN and UN WOMEN security policy and framework.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide security advice to the Country Office
Provide security policy guidance, security management support, and advice to the Country Representative and Country Office (CO) management team to enable effective programme planning, implementation and delivery within the framework of all UN and UN WOMEN security policies and procedures
Mainstream security into all levels of programme design, implementation and delivery through the substantive monitoring of ongoing and future projects and programmes providing innovative and proactive support, direction and solutions where required, with the guidance of the RSS. This includes serving as member of project appraisal committee (PAC)
Review the potential impact of current as well as future potential security factors and trends on UN Women planning, programme design and delivery, as well as the possible impact that programme design might have on the stability and security, ensuring that possible support needs are identified and improvements are implemented
Liaise and coordinate activities of partner organizations and counterparts in the planning, preparation and execution of missions, ensuring the safety and security of UN Women personnel as the highest priority
Protect and minimize the risk to UN Women personnel, project personnel, property and operations in all locations and at the same time enabling UN Women programme delivery throughout
Maintain a security network of international and national personnel
Participate as a member of the security cell established by DSS/UNSMS in country
Conduct Threat and Risk Assessment
Conduct threat and risk assessments of operations in the districts and regions where UN Women projects are implemented; identify and implement appropriate risk mitigation measures.
Conduct periodic appropriate security assessments of UN Women premises and equipment and provide advice on shortfalls in security preparedness with recommended prevention and mitigation measures.
Provide inputs to UNDSS/UNSMS in preparing a comprehensive threat and risk assessment of the country to include all locations where UN Women personnel, dependents and equipment are present.
Provide inputs to the Security Management Team through the Country Representative.
Ensure Security Plan and Contribute to Business Continuity
Ensure that UN Women procedures conform to the UN Security Framework of Accountability.
Provide inputs and assist UNDSS/UNSMS to establish, maintain and update the country specific security plan and contingency plans in accordance with the UN Field Security Handbook (FSH), Security Policy Manual (SPM) and Security Management Operations Manual (SMOM).
Establish, maintain and update the UN WOMEN country specific security plan and contingency plans in accordance with the UN Field Security Handbook (FSH), Security Policy Manual (SPM) and Security Management Operations Manual (SMOM).
Ensure that all UN Women personnel are included in the Security Plan of the respective duty stations, (including all UN Women offices housing personnel covered under the security umbrella) to be prepared by UNDSS/UNSMS.
Educate UN Women wardens and follow up according to their specific needs for both international and national personnel.
Provide security related contributions to the CO Business Continuity Plan, with guidance from the RSS.
Ensure that all UN Women personnel obtain a security clearance and are covered under the security umbrella prior to any travel outside of the designated Duty Station.
Oversee the implementation of Security Compliance Standards
Oversee UN Women premises, personnel and equipment for security compliance.
Brief CO management regularly and sufficiently on security requirements in order to take decisions and provide adequate resources so that personnel are provided with; and are proficient in the use of, safety and security equipment, including communications equipment, vehicle emergency equipment and personal security safeguards required for work in the field.
Ensure that the internal communication systems set up in ACO continue to be integrated into the appropriate UN Security Emergency Communications System.
Maintain access control mechanisms (visitor/vehicle screening) as necessary for UN Women and project offices based on the local security climate.
Provide advice on the security of transportation and logistics.
Provide orientation and training to international and national personnel on security guidelines, communication procedures, travel precautions, emergency procedures and existing restrictions in movement, such as curfews, restricted and dangerous areas.
Coordinate with UNDSS/UNSMS 24-hour response to all security related incidents involving UN Women personnel and eligible dependents.
Ensure appropriate professional liaison with local authorities responsible for security, law and order, counterparts in diplomatic missions and municipal/civic/religious and traditional leaders, in coordination with UNDSS/UNSMS, and on behalf of the Representative
Ensure Knowledge Management and Knowledge Sharing
Report immediately all security -related incidents involving UN WOMEN personnel and eligible dependents to the Country Representative, RSS and UNDSS/UNSMS in country.
Provide UN Women personnel with situation reports and other appropriate security-related information generated by UNDSS/UNSMS in a timely and efficient manner.
Maintain updated UN WOMEN personnel lists, including details of visiting missions and consultants In cooperation with the Human Resources unit
Establish relationships with national law enforcement, military and civil intelligence authorities, counterparts in the Diplomatic Missions and municipal/civic/traditional leaders, in coordination with UNDSS/UNSMS in country.
Lead the exchange of information relative to risk management for UN Women programme implementation.
Coordinate investigations in coordination with UNDSS/UNSMS/HQ in country as necessary
Participate in inter-agency security coordination efforts as needed
Manage Security Funds and Security Personnel
Mainstream security costs in programming. Monitor the contribution of all resources to implementation of security measures.
Formulate and manage the annual work plan and related budget, initiates budget revisions for approval from the RSS.
Monitor that allotted UNW Security Compliance funds are budgeted timely in ATLAS.
Ensure that costs and expenditures remain within budgeted and approved limits through the monitoring of monthly ATLAS budget reports.
Oversee the performance of the security team in the office, including performance appraisals, learning and development, and coaching and mentoring
Lead Office and Residential Security:
Represent UN Women security interests in any common premises that UN WOMEN occupies ensuring that personnel safety and security are primary considerations.
Ensure that UN Women premises and international personnel residences are MOSS compliant.
Other issues:
Provide security SURGE support outside of the designated ‘Duty Station’ in consultation with the RSS, Country Representative and the HQ Security Office, to
Provide remote security support to identified UN Women personnel, offices, programmes and projects as directed by the RSS or Country Representative.
Respond to requests from the DO/DSS/UNSMS, to perform UN system related security task in consultation with the RSS and Country Representative
Perform and other security related tasks assigned by the RSS, Country Representative or HQ Security Office as necessary
Competencies
Core values;
Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
Respect for Diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity
Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative
Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication
Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others
Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making
Functional Competencies:
Ability to function effectively in crisis and under stressful circumstances
Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver a variety of tasks on time
Knowledge of United Nations security management System and risk management
Knowledge of business, operations and programming cycle, preferably related to the UN / UN Women
Knowledge of UN structure is a distinction advantage, especially knowledge of UN women structure; including roles and responsibilities of the Resident Coordinator, DO, SMT, UNDSS and UN Security Management System (UNSMS)
Exercises sound judgment/analysis
Team player
Strong interpersonal skills
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent), preferably in social sciences, management, or a related security field, or formal multi-year education in Security Management, such as military or police, Junior Command and Staff College (minimum 9 months full time) qualification with command experience.
Formal training in security risk management an asset.
Experience:
A minimum of 4 years of relevant security and development related experience (2 years if applicant is in possession of a Master’s Degree in a relevant security field). Formal multi-year education in Security Management, such as military or police senior Command and Staff College (minimum 9 months full time) qualification, with command experience at senior level, is considered equivalent to a Master’s Degree.
Previous experience of working in a conflict/post-conflict or crisis environment is an asset.
Previous experience of working in the United Nations Security Management System desirable.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Working knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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