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.

Since 1999, the Central Africa Multi-Country Office (CAMCO), headquartered in Kinshasa, DRC, has partnered with UN agencies, international organizations, and governments in 15 Central African nations. CAMCO provides fund management, technical assistance, and capacity-building across critical sectors—infrastructure, health, education, governance, procurement, and environmental protection—while working with national and local authorities to secure local ownership and sustainable impact. The diverse portfolio spans rural-community empowerment, road rehabilitation, and peace consolidation in the DRC and CAR through Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes, alongside wide-ranging procurement and human-resource services. Recent initiatives include drinking-water systems in Cameroon, mining-sector capacity-building, health-system support in the DRC, and infrastructure development in Madagascar, funded by a broad array of international partners. Together, these projects advance regional stability, resilient infrastructure, and improved livelihoods throughout Central Africa.

Since 1999, UNOPS has been a committed partner in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), delivering fund management, technical support, capacity building, and project management services. In collaboration with the Government, UN agencies, and international partners, UNOPS advances sustainable development across key sectors, including infrastructure, health, education, governance, procurement, and environmental protection. A strong focus on local ownership ensures that projects are implemented in a way that builds national capacity and empowers communities. UNOPS supports peace and security through technical assistance to MONUSCO and contributes to environmental preservation by managing regional initiatives such as CAFI and FONAREDD, working closely with Indigenous communities. In the health sector, efforts include the construction of health centers in Kwango (KOICA) and national health system support through the RSS3 initiative (GAVI). UNOPS also leads agricultural infrastructure development and food security efforts through the PNDA project (World Bank) and supports governance and stabilization through the multi-donor Coherence Fund, alongside humanitarian HR services for UNHCR.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects worldwide. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations. UNOPS Congo Multi-country Office (CDMCO) is based in Kinshasa and covers 15 countries. The Multi-country Office is responsible for managing the strategic and operational risks associated with part of the regional portfolio of commitments, while developing and delivering financially efficient services that contribute to sustainable results for partners and to the achievement of UNOPS managerial results. 

UNOPS has been selected as the main implementing partner on an ongoing peace project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The bilateral programme "Fund for Peacebuilding - FCP ", which has been supported by the German Government through the KfW Development Bank since 2007, is intended to continue to help promote lasting peace, particularly in Kinshasa with PVJ activities and in the eastern DR with FCP. The project rationale is centered around supporting the peace efforts and initiatives in Eastern DRC through social infrastructures to: 1. Facilitate access to social services and economic opportunities for the beneficiaries, and 2. Use the infrastructure as a way to build and/or reinforce peace and social cohesion within communities and regions, which will ultimately provide further economic and social opportunities for the targeted regions. For the Prevention of Juvenile Violence component in Kinshasa, the focus is on preventing youth violence and strengthening social cohesion through improved youth infrastructure, vocational training, support for entrepreneurship, and access to social services and community activities.

The Security Associate provides a broad range of administrative and specialized support services to ensure the effective management of safety and security operations. The incumbent assists in promoting a proactive client-oriented approach in line with UNOPS’ policies and procedures and United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) standards. The role helps to facilitate timely information exchange and supports the resolution of security-related issues to ensure a safe and secure operating environment.

Security Operations Support

• Gather, verify and update security information and data to support the analysis of security situations, including preparedness levels, risk assessments, and the development of security plans and self-assessment programmes for mandatory mitigation measures.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date personnel lists and information related to UNOPS offices, residences, project sites, security focal points, and the warden system to support implementation of the office security plan.
• Disseminate relevant information and updates on the security situation within the country or designated areas of responsibility.
• Compile and tabulate data and survey results to support the monitoring and reporting of compliance with required security mitigation measures at the duty station.
• Document and assist in the reporting of security incidents affecting personnel, offices and assets.
• Represent UNOPS, when required and authorized, at Security Cell meetings to record discussions and share routine information with relevant stakeholders.
• Follow up on routine security-related actions on behalf of the supervisor and provide updates on progress and outcomes.
• Provide administrative support for the organization of security awareness and preparedness training, and assist as a resource person when required.
• Conduct basic security briefings for newly arrived personnel, as assigned.
• Offer guidance and information to personnel on routine security procedures, communication protocols, and designated focal points.
• Administer security clearance processes, including requests for access to UNOPS compounds and facilities.
• In the absence of the Field Security Advisor, Security Senior Associate, or functional supervisor, coordinate closely with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) office to provide information and support related to UNOPS security matters.

Operations

• Provide general administrative and logistical support for the work area, ensuring effective information flow and timely follow-up on correspondence, initiatives, and queries with internal and external stakeholders, including Security Focal Points of UN agencies and UNDSS.
• Organize meetings and briefings; arrange appointments; receive visitors; handle and screen telephone calls; respond to routine queries with discretion; and take minutes or notes at meetings as directed by supervisors.
• Prepare a variety of documents, reports, tables, databases, and charts, applying appropriate technical and formatting skills.
• Facilitate emergency communications by operating specialized data and communication equipment, including satellite phones, VHF, and HF radios.
• Maintain organized and secure files and records, including routine and confidential correspondence, ensuring the safeguarding of sensitive information.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on security topics.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned from the implementation of security projects/ initiatives.
• Conduct research on security-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Required

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in security operations, including incident reporting, security administration support, security communications, warden system, etc., or related areas.
• Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.

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.