Head of Secretariat, GPA

Position description

The Head of Secretariat role is responsible for guiding the Global Platform for Action (GPA’s) strategic direction, overseeing programme development and implementation, managing partnerships across a global multi-stakeholder network, and supporting the governance functions of the GPA Board and Advisory Group. The position ensures effective delivery of the GPA’s work plan and promotes collaboration, policy influence, and resource mobilisation to accelerate progress toward SDG7 and sustainable energy solutions for displaced and host communities. The role reports to the UNOPS Geneva Director.

The Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings (GPA) is the leading global multi-stakeholder initiative enabling and accelerating increased access to sustainable energy solutions in forced displacement and fragile settings. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 7, the GPA is guided by the vision that: “every person affected by conflict or natural disaster has access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services by 2030.” The GPA Secretariat facilitates the GPA by working with 200+ partners toward collective outcomes that systematically address barriers to achieving access to sustainable energy for displaced people. The GPA’s key focus areas including 1) creating supportive implementation ecosystems for long-term sustainable energy systems, 2) mobilizing resources, 3) advocating for displacement-inclusive energy policies and programmes. The GPA is guided by a Board and Advisory Group of key energy, climate, humanitarian and development partners guiding its work.  

The main objective of the GPA Secretariat is to coordinate the GPA network to drive action which impacts local social, environmental and economic development through sustainable energy for displaced and hosting communities. 

This position leads on the GPA’s strategy and management toward the collective Platform mission and goals. . The  role reports to the UNOPS Geneva Director.

The purpose of this role is to provide strategic leadership, coordination, and management of the Global Platform for Action (GPA) Secretariat to advance sustainable energy access in displacement and fragile settings.

The Head of the GPA Secretariat will be responsible for the following duties: 

1) Head of GPA Secretariat

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of the GPA Secretariat’s strategy, workplan and budget. 
• Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensure preparation of related documents/reports. 
• Fostering the GPA Support Structure as a key mechanism of engagement for practitioners and policy makers working on energy activities in displacement settings.
• Liaising with members of the GPA Board and Advisory Group as well as with broader community members to lead, monitor and assess the cohesion of sector activities to foster collaboration rather than duplication of ongoing activities by GPA partners.
• Identifying potential areas for further development and incubating new initiatives and methodologies with the goal of enhancing the diversity and effectiveness of energy in displacement settings. 
• Serve as an effective spokesperson for sustainable energy in fragile and displacement settings, and establish collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels outside the organisation. 
• Direct substantive support to; and, where relevant, participate and/or attend; consultative meetings, conferences, workshops, etc. 
• Identify and guide inputs to policy developments and opportunities to include energy in displacement settings to relevant policies, plans and programmes at the international, regional, national and local level. 
• Supervise preparation of various written outputs, e.g. reports, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. 
• Review all relevant documents and reports produced by the GPA prior to publication. 

2) Supporting GPA Board and Advisory Group

• Reports to the Chair of the GPA Board with regard to all substantive matters relating to the work of the GPA.
• Reports on progress to Chair of the GPA Board and wider GPA Advisory Group. 
• Serves as Secretary of the GPA Board and wider GPA Advisory Group.
• Ensures support to the GPA Board and wider Advisory Group in preparing and organising its meetings and implement activities. 
• Discharges any additional duties assigned by the Chair of the GPA Board. 

3) GPA Secretariat Oversight 

• Provides day-to-day management and supervision of the GPA Team.
• Manages the GPA Secretariat budget and authorises payments, leave and mission requests, etc.
• Reports to UNOPS with regard to all administrative issues.
• Act as the Program Executive (PE) within the UNOPS program management quality assurance practice and processes.
• Direct GPA Team in programme / project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment.
• Identify priorities, problems, risks, and issues to be addressed for the GPA Team and propose corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate follow-up actions. 
• Direct and review field missions, including provision of guidance to the team, external consultants, government officials and other parties, etc. 
• Ensure effective utilisation, supervision and development of the GPA Team.
• Guide, evaluate and mentor members of the GPA Team.

Key Results Expected

• Strategic Framework (Strategy, Workplan and Budget) developed and approved by the Chair and Steering Group and updated/revised annually, when applicable.

• Workplan implemented and progress reported to Chair and Steering Group. 

• Program management and budget overview exercised according to financial rules and regulations and expenditure according to budget.

• All staff supervised completed the annual performance appraisal process.

• Timely recruitment of new staff and interns ensured.

• Communication strategy implemented.    

• Core deliverables of activities managed, and associated impacts, are analysed and recorded on a yearly basis as part of GPA Secretariat Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning process.

Qualifications

Application instructions

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