Mine Action Specialist, NPSA-10, DS - Kyiv, National Position

Tags: UNDP English Environment
  • Added Date: Monday, 06 October 2025
  • Deadline Date: Monday, 13 October 2025
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Background

Today Ukraine is facing its most serious challenges since achieving independence in 1991. The ongoing war has already resulted in significant loss of life, unprecedented displacement, internally and towards neighboring countries, and devastating destruction of infrastructure. The UN Ukraine Flash Appeal shows that at least 15.7 million people are in immediate need of emergency assistance and protection. Early projections indicate that if the war should continue in the medium to long term, up to 90% of the Ukrainian population could face poverty and extreme economic vulnerability, and the countryโ€™s socio-economic progress could be set-back by almost 20 years.ย 

In addition, the country faces losses of many peopleโ€™s lives and devastative destruction of infrastructures and economic bases. Currently, more than 50% of the energy infrastructure damaged, causing the massive disruption of energy supply nationwide with millions of people experiencing power outages and challenges in heating. Extensive scale of destruction of infrastructure, rehabilitating or constructing infrastructures and installing equipment with necessary supply of the materials is urgently required to restore or maintain life-line and key basic services, followed by removal or mines and explosives as well as debris.

The widespread presence of landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Ukraine pose a considerable and mounting threat. To address the emergency needs in the country, and meet long-term goals for Ukraine, UNDP is scaling-up Mine Action interventions through its a multi-donor funded Mine Action project which enhances the national capacity of Mine Action authorities and emergency service responders, establishes normative frameworks and links Mine Action with sustainable development outcomes.

In this context, UNDP in Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of the Mine Action Specialist who will be responsible for the co-ordination of Mine Action activities across the five pillars of Mine Action, namely land release, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), victim assistance, stockpile destruction (when able), and advocacy towards compliance with international treaties.ย 

The incumbent will prioritize gender equality and womenโ€™s empowerment within all implementations and promote UNDPs mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Mine Actionย Specialistย is expected to be responsible for ensuring technical backstopping of projects implementation within the framework of Mine Action, and for achieving the projectsโ€™ results (outputs) as defined in the approved project document, and in the annual work plans, through timely implementation, and quality monitoring of the projectsโ€™ activities. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities.

Leadership and Management of the Explosive Ordnance (EO) Technical and Operational Teams:

  • Lead, manage mine action I/Ps and other staff dedicated to the implementation of projects as directed by the MAP Technical Specialist.
  • Contribute to the setting of operational priorities, and advise on the cost effective Mine Action operations.
  • Promulgate continuous learning, ensuring the development of personnel knowledge and skills as part of their professional advancement.

    Lead Mine Action Field Operations

    • Provide technical expertise, and support to national implementors/operators on land release activities, including Non-Technical Survey (NTS), Technical Survey and clearance activities, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), spot-tasks and associated quality management (QM) mechanisms and information management (IM) systems.
    • Provide technical expertise to planning, prioritization, and tasking requirements, including solutions for non-common situations involving a combination of different methods of survey and clearances such as manual, mechanical, and animal detection systems.
    • Provide technical advice on the Explosive Ordnance survey requirements, and the quality management processes for UNDP workstreams related to debris removal and demolition sites on the former frontline and newly liberated areas.
    • Oversee the procurement of specialised vehicles and equipment, including heavy machinery, ensuring that it meets operationsโ€™ requirements, as well as adheres to the unification of brands and types among Mine Action operators.
    • Provide guidance and recommendations on the procurement of goods that may fall under import control.ย  ย 
    • Oversee capacity development support to National Mine Action Centers (NMAC) and other national Mine Action operators accredited to undertake Mine Action activities in Ukraine, including the use of mechanical, manual, and animal detection systems for survey and clearance, and operational capacity across accreditation, tasking, IM and QM requirements.
    • Provide oversight, and delivery where required, of mine action operational projects and support activities under UNDP projects and programmes, including safety training to other humanitarian and development actors.ย 

      Ensure Project Development, Coordination, and Monitoring

      • Monitor Mine Action contract performances, provide advice as required, maintain records of contract delivery results for reference, and contribute to the negotiations of the contract and contract amendment processes. ย ย 
      • Oversee the quality requirements, ensuring that management practices and operational procedures are being applied appropriately, to achieve the stated requirement in a safe, effective, and efficient manners.ย 
      • Contribute to the projectโ€™s annual work plans, relevant project documents, and lead the development and maintenance of associated monitoring mechanisms as needed for the implementation of the project, ensuring activities reflect in-house capacity, budget, agreed areas of project interventions, and the internal tools and knowledge resources.
      • Monitor the achievement of relevant financial targets and provide continuous feedback to the Technical Specialist on the rate of financial deliveries, advising and proposing prompt actions in case of under-delivery.
      • Identify changes in the external environment, and propose necessary solutions/actions.
      • Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality considerations in Mine Action, promotion of a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behavior, and gender-responsive communications based on corporate principles.
      • Plan and execute field missions, and maintain quality assurance of field activities.

        Partnerships, and Inter-agency Collaboration:

        • Support the establishment of relationships with other UN agencies, international and national organizations, donors, government, and Mine Action stakeholders for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of project implementation, with a focus on Ukrainian national organizations in line with sectorโ€™s long-term sustainability and directives provided by the UNDP Mine Action Programme Manager.
        • Explore and build relationships with new, non-traditional partners, such as educational institutions, community-based organizations, private sector etc., to expand UNDP Mine Action Project recognition in Ukraine.
        • Establish new partnerships, and develop synergies that maximize the projectโ€™s and Mine Actionโ€™s impact, as well as identify possible new funding sources.
        • Participate in, contribute to, and report on the relevant inter-agency, UN, donor, and inter- governmental coordination meetings in consultation with the relevant technical specialists, when required.ย 
        • Support the design, coordination, and dissemination of public information products, and communication activities, such as public events to raise awareness.ย 
        • Support in the preparations, and take part in the official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, as well as prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations, and speeches for the Programme Manager and Senior UNDP officials.

          Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area

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