Capacity Building Specialist for Training Activities

This Project is part of a larger intervention supporting the EU accession process of North Macedonia, together with the complementary activities funded by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) which was launched on 1 September 2023,  and by the Secretariat for European Affairs, launched on 1 January 2024. It will also build on the momentum generated by the predecessor, “Nordic Support for Progress in North Macedonia” (the Predecessor Project) implemented by UNOPS, which was co-funded by Sida and Norway, and as confirmed by the Final Evaluation, effectively supported the EU integration process. 

Within this context, while building on the momentum created by the predecessor, the Project will enhance the institutional, technical, and administrative capacity of the Government to conduct EU accession and will contribute to enhanced communication of the EU accession negotiation  process to the public. The overall objective will be achieved through the delivery of two coherent Results.

Specifically, Result 1 will strengthen capacities of national institutions supporting the EU accession through provision of TA and capacity building to the Government Coordination Mechanism for Accession Negotiation. Support will facilitate effective alignment of national legislation with the EU acquis and its implementation, while at the same time facilitating engagement and contributions form relevant stakeholders, and exchange of experiences and cooperation with the EU Member States and countries from the region.

In particular, the Specialist will undertake the following activities/responsibilities:

• Design and conduct comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) to identify knowledge gaps and training requirements across MEA and the negotiation structure. This assessment will serve as the foundation for tailored capacity building initiatives.
• Based on the findings from the TNA, the Specialist will formulate a detailed Capacity Strengthening Plan aimed at: 

  • Enhancing the administrative capabilities of MEA and the negotiation structure

  • Strengthening legislative alignment with EU standards and other quality learning programmes to strengthen the capacity of other line ministries involved in the accession process. 

  • Identifying potential areas of cooperation with the Parliament in planning and delivery of capacity building activities for the administration of the Parliament and/or MPs. 

  • Tracking other capacity building activities across the structure, documenting outcomes, lessons learned, and providing recommendations for continuous improvement. 

  • Identifying needs for  future interventions and ensuring alignment with project objectives.

• Organise and lead interactive workshops and training sessions tailored to empower participants with the requisite skills and knowledge to effectively address the EU requirements and engage in EU integration processes. Potential cooperation with the Parliamentary Institute in planning and delivery of capacity building activities for the administration of the Parliament and/or MPs considered.
• Provide support to the preparation of the concept of the E-learning platform aimed for digitalization of the training programmes/ courses/ modules for the key stakeholders.
• Support the implementation of the Capacity Strengthening Plan within the agreed timescale and provide proper reporting;

• Advanced University Degree preferably in Public Administration, Law, Management, Development Studies, or other or other relevant discipline is required
• University Degree (Bachelor’s degree / first level) with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

• Minimum five years of experience in the developing HRM practices/ tools/ training programmes and/or implementation of the capacity building/ training activities is required
• Experience in EU accession process and/or public administration reform at the national and/or international level is required
• Previous engagement with or within negotiation structures related to European integration issues is strongly desirable

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• 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.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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. For more information on a retainer contract 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.