Programme Management Advisor

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

As part of the Global Portfolio Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), energy (SEforALL) urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.UNOPS Geneva Office is providing support to a wide range of portfolios, including UNEP, UNICEF, UNHCR, and other partners.

As part of the Global Portfolio Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund is hosted by UNOPS.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), UNOPS is committed to saving lives and improving the well being of people by improving access to sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health . SHF strengthens ecosystems that accelerate financing for market-based solutions in both Next Generation Sanitation—including non-sewered technologies and systems, water-efficient sanitation, and decentralized wastewater management—and menstrual health, by improving access to affordable, high-quality products of choice for underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

SHF leverages technical expertise and market development to catalyze financing, identify investment-ready opportunities, and support scalable technology and business interventions, mobilizing both private and domestic resources. By connecting policy, finance, and market development, this approach enables countries to achieve sustainable improvements in sanitation, wastewater, and menstrual health, while strengthening resilient financial systems and service delivery mechanisms.

SHF has a non-executive advisory board composed of leaders and experts in development financing, impact investing, entrepreneurship, markets, innovation, and accountability. The board advises on and approves SHF’s strategic direction, ensuring alignment with its mission. SHF also serves as the secretariat for the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) for Catalytic Finance in Sanitation, Hygiene, and Wastewater

The role will lead strategic engagement with government counterparts and key public institutions to support the effective positioning and implementation of the SHF programme. The Advisor will help build trust, strengthen coordination, and support policy and institutional processes needed to create an enabling environment for programme delivery, reform, and investment.

The role reports to the SHF Global Technical Lead – Sanitation and Menstrual Health Markets

1. Strategic Engagement, Coordination and Representation

• Position SHF with senior decision-makers and support strategic coordination with government, development partners, and other stakeholders to advance reform, collaboration, and investment.
• Provide overall presentation for in-country programming, ensuring alignment with SHF strategy and national priorities, while serving as the primary liaison with government counterparts, development partners, and key stakeholders.

2. Policy and Investment Support

• Develop policy briefs to inform and support the operationalisation of sanitation and menstrual health investment plans at national and sub-national levels.
• Provide technical assistance at national and sub-national levels to strengthen the integration of menstrual health and sanitation priorities into investment plans.

3. Stakeholder Management

• Lead the planning and coordination of stakeholder forums with government, development partners, investors, the private sector, and other relevant actors.
• Advise the SHF leadership team on critical engagement opportunities with government, development partners, financiers, private-sector partners, and other relevant stakeholders, and recommend appropriate modes of engagement.

4. Partnership Building and Resource Mobilisation

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, private sector entities, and civil society organisations, to expand the reach and impact of SHF initiatives.
• Support resource mobilisation efforts by developing compelling proposals, concept notes, and presentations to attract funding from diverse sources, including bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, and private investors.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support the development and implementation of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress, measure impact, and ensure accountability in the implementation of SHF programmes.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor project activities, identify challenges, and provide technical support to implementing partners.
• Prepare timely and accurate progress reports, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, for internal and external stakeholders.

Required

• An advanced university degree, preferably a Master’s degree, in law, political science, public administration, governance, or a related field, is required.

• A Bachelor’s degree in one of these fields, combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

• A minimum of 7 (seven) years of relevant experience is required in programme management, government engagement, partnership development, strategic policy advisory, and institutional processes in sanitation, menstrual health, WASH, or related sectors.

• Demonstrated experience in engaging with government counterparts and development partners in Senegal

Desired

• Excellent and proven report-writing and communication skills.

• Knowledge of the local SME environment and financial actors is desirable.

• 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.