UNOPS

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.

Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions. HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.

Since 2005, UNOPS has supported South Sudan’s development through critical infrastructure projects that improve access to essential services and livelihoods, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Efforts focus on the design, construction, and rehabilitation of roads, airstrips, ports, and bridges to enhance connectivity and promote economic activity. UNOPS also builds schools, health facilities, and government offices to strengthen basic service delivery and institutional capacity. In addition to infrastructure, UNOPS provides procurement and operational support to the Government and development partners, enabling efficient and transparent implementation of key initiatives. All efforts are geared toward improving socio-economic conditions, fostering resilience, and supporting long-term development across South Sudan.

South Sudan remains one of the most fragile countries globally, with rural communities facing profound challenges related to food and nutrition insecurity, low incomes, and poor access to social and economic infrastructure and basic services. These challenges are compounded by repeated climate change shocks that have eroded the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities. Despite its agricultural potential, systemic underinvestment, protracted conflict, and fragile governance have suppressed development. Against this backdrop, the South Sudan Livelihoods and Resilience Project (SSLRP), of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) presents a critical opportunity to improve livelihoods and resilience of rural smallholder households across three states, eight counties. The South Sudan Livelihood Resilience Project (SSLRP) is a major initiative financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Dutch Government, and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). The project is implemented by the Government of South Sudan through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) appointed as the Lead Implementing Agency. The overall goal of the SSLRP is to contribute to improved and resilient livelihoods among targeted rural communities in eight counties across five states (Torit, Magwi, Kajo-Keji, Wau, Jur River, Bor, Awerial, and Terekeka). The Project Development Objective is to empower communities to participate in decision-making processes that recover agricultural livelihoods, build household resilience, and promote stability. Under the project structure, UNOPS is the Lead Implementing Agency with exclusive responsibility for the full implementation of two core technical components: Component 1: Community Driven Development Planning: Focusing on building inclusive Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and developing Community Development Plans (CDPs). Component 2: Community Agriculture Investment Fund (CAIF): Providing grants for micro-projects and constructing productive community infrastructure, including the significant rehabilitation of the Magwi Palotaka Feeder Road. In delivering these components, UNOPS is also responsible for all associated project management, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and knowledge management functions to ensure effective execution, accountability, and learning. Component 3 (Policy, Coordination, and M&E) is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), with whom UNOPS closely coordinates.

The Gender, Nutrition, and Social Inclusion Officer is responsible for the strategic integration, mainstreaming, and monitoring of gender equality, social inclusion (GESI), and nutrition-sensitive approaches across all components of the South Sudan Livelihoods and Resilience Project (SSLRP). The incumbent will ensure that project interventions are designed, implemented, and evaluated in a manner that actively promotes women’s empowerment, inclusive participation of youth, persons with disabilities, IDPs, and returnees, and improves household nutrition security. The officer will provide technical leadership, capacity building, and oversight to guarantee compliance with UNOPS and donor (IFAD) safeguarding policies, the Gender Action Learning System (GALS), and nutrition mainstreaming frameworks, thereby contributing directly to the project's goals of enhanced resilience, food security, and inclusive community-driven development.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Nutrition, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field with 2 years of relevant experience.

OR 

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Nutrition, Social Sciences, Development Studies with 0 years of relevant experience is required.

Required

Minimum of 2 years of experience in gender mainstreaming, nutrition-sensitive programming, and social inclusion within development projects.

Experience in community mobilization, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement.

Experience in data analysis, report writing, and monitoring and evaluation

Desired

Experience working in South Sudan or other fragile contexts.

Experience with IFAD or other international development agencies is desired

Experience working in South Sudan or other conflict-affected contexts is desired

Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.

Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that 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. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• 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.