Partnerships Senior Assistant

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Since 1999, the Central Africa Multi-Country Office (CAMCO), headquartered in Yaounde, Cameroon, has partnered with UN agencies, international organizations, and governments in 15 Central African nations. CAMCO provides fund management, technical assistance, and capacity-building across critical sectors—infrastructure, health, education, governance, procurement, and environmental protection—while working with national and local authorities to secure local ownership and sustainable impact. The diverse portfolio spans rural-community empowerment, road rehabilitation, and peace consolidation in the DRC and CAR through Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes, alongside wide-ranging procurement and human-resource services. Recent initiatives include drinking-water systems in Cameroon, mining-sector capacity-building, health-system support in the DRC, and infrastructure development in Madagascar, funded by a broad array of international partners. Together, these projects advance regional stability, resilient infrastructure, and improved livelihoods throughout Central Africa.

Since 2014, UNOPS has been a key partner in the Central African Republic (CAR), delivering essential services in project management, procurement, and human resources to support national development and peacebuilding efforts. UNOPS strengthens community resilience, enhances transportation infrastructure, and contributes to peace and security, aligning closely with government priorities. Key initiatives include the World Bank/AFD-funded PURIC project, restoring critical infrastructure and improving rural connectivity; INUSCA-supported Community Violence Reduction (CVR) programmes, promoting conflict prevention and social cohesion; and the rehabilitation of the Bangui Paediatric Hospital’s Neonatology Unit, funded by the Italian Cooperation. UNOPS also implements health infrastructure projects supported by the Global Fund, expanding access to essential healthcare. Additionally, UNOPS provides human resource services for MINUSCA, enabling effective peace operations. Through this diverse portfolio, UNOPS is committed to delivering tangible, sustainable results that build a more resilient, peaceful, and prosperous future for the people of CAR.

The Partnerships Senior Assistant operates within the UNOPS Central African Republic office, supporting critical development and peacebuilding initiatives. This role involves close collaboration with the Partnership Specialist and Officer to maintain effective engagement with partners, ensure UNOPS's visibility, and accurately capture project achievements for external communication and reporting. The position requires meticulous administrative support, data management, and adherence to communication strategies in a dynamic environment.

The Partnerships Senior Assistant executes intricate administrative and procedural tasks to support the Partnerships Specialist and Officer. This role involves interpreting existing rules and practices to maintain records, coordinate engagements, and facilitate communication and reporting activities, ensuring reliable and credible service delivery to internal and external stakeholders.

1. Partnership Administration and Coordination

• Execute administrative tasks for the Partnership Specialist and Officer, including scheduling meetings, coordinating travel, and organizing events.

•  Maintain accurate records of minutes, update engagement trackers, and manage the engagement overview dashboard. 

• Provide procedural support for the representation of the country office at internal and external communication forums. 

• Process administrative support for Partner Surveys and the implementation of resulting action plans. 

•  Compile administrative briefs and reports to support the research and analytical functions of the partnerships unit.

2. Communication and Visibility Support

• Coordinate activities to enhance UNOPS's visibility within the country office, utilizing social networks, event participation, and visual branding in alignment with the communication strategy

•  Ensure the proper capture of project achievements in appropriate communication formats for external outreach

•  Document project activities and events, providing administrative media support for communications and reporting.

3. Reporting, Monitoring, and Knowledge Management

• Assist in tracking and monitoring project activities, including beneficiary data and progress, for various reporting purposes (e.g., donor, internal UNOPS, UNSDCF). 

•  Contribute to the preparation of regular monitoring reports. 

•  Compile data for reporting on key performance indicators related to partnerships and communication

•  Guide the documentation of lessons learned and best practices, facilitating knowledge sharing within the team and with stakeholders.

Required

• - Masters degree or equivalent with 0 years of relevant experience 

  - Bachelors degree or equivalent with 1 year of relevant experience 

  - High School Diploma with 5 years of relevant experience

Desired

• Communication Training is desired.

Required

• Minimum 1 year of relevant experience in administrative support, partnerships, or communications with a Bachelor's degree. 
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in administrative support, partnerships, or communications with a High School Diploma.

Desired

• Experience within the UN system or other international organizations. 
• Experience in supporting visibility and external outreach activities.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.