Project Officer, EAC (Retainer)

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources. 

UNOPS Global Portfolios bring together a range of expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva and Vienna, and expert teams operating across regions, we lead complex, multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, peacebuilding and climate action.

We work in close collaboration with the UN family, governments and other local and international partners. Our work ranges from supporting mine action in some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected contexts, to expanding access to healthcare and clean water, to helping protect the environment.

From Geneva, UNOPS strives to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade.

UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

UNOPS provides quality services, integrated solutions and management support to UN agencies, initiatives and partners in a strategic, cohesive, cost-effective and results-oriented manner. Geneva is also home to UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional Office.

Sustainable Energy for All has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.

Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind. 

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

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.

This position is located within the Energy Solutions Unit of SEforALL in the Energy Planning Team. The objective of the Energy Planning team is to support global progress on SDG-7 and SDG-13, particularly in developing and emerging economies. The team supports developing countries to develop their comprehensive Energy Transition and Investment Plans that take a whole-of-economy approach, covering key sectors such as power, transport, industry, buildings, and agriculture. The team works closely with governments, development finance institutions, private sector investors, and other stakeholders to accelerate the mobilization of capital for clean energy projects and programs.

Under the supervision of the Senior Officer, Energy Transition Policy & Governance, the Project Officer provides essential technical and operational support to advance SEforALL initiatives within the East African Community (EAC).The primary focus of this role is to coordinate the practical rollout of the Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP) and the Green Manufacturing Policy & Investment Guide. The Project Officer acts as a functional link between regional strategies and national activities, ensuring that project deliverables in Tanzania are executed on time, meet quality standards, and remain aligned with local energy priorities.

As a part-time retainer (approximately 10–12 days per month), the incumbent is responsible for maintaining project momentum through stakeholder liaison, data collection, and providing technical assistance to national ministries and regional partners.

1.  Project Coordination & Technical Support

• Coordinate the daily administrative and technical activities required for the rollout of the ETIP and Green Manufacturing Policy within the EAC.
• Coordinate the collection of technical inputs from local experts to ensure Tanzania’s national priorities are reflected in regional energy frameworks.
• Provide direct operational support to national ministries to help them implement sustainable energy initiatives and follow industrial guides.

2. Data Monitoring & Reporting

• Support in data collection and results validation to ensure all policy outputs and investment guides are grounded in rigorous technical analysis.
• Coordinate the scheduling and monitoring of project workstreams in Tanzania, tracking progress against quality standards and regional requirements.
• Provide support in drafting clear project briefs and progress reports by simplifying complex technical data for senior management and partners.

3. Stakeholder Liaison & Partnership Management

• Coordinate regular communication and meeting schedules between the SEforALL team, government agencies (MDAs), and partners like the World Bank/AfDB.
• Facilitate high-level engagement with government agencies, development finance institutions (DFIs), and private sector actors to catalyze clean energy investments.
• Coordinate SEforALL in regional forums, consultations, and multi-stakeholder dialogues to foster consensus on renewable energy and manufacturing roadmaps.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders to expand SEforALL’s initiatives in Tanzania and across the EAC.

4. Green Manufacturing & Industry Support

• Coordinate outreach and engagement activities related to the Green Manufacturing Policy, specifically focusing on renewable energy and mineral processing.
• Provide assistance in compiling the Investment Guide by gathering data on market opportunities to help attract private sector interest.
• Coordinate the exchange of information between local industry players and global experts to help grow the renewable energy sector in East Africa.

Required

• A First Level University Degree (bachelor’s degree) in energy, business management, policy, economics, engineering, or a related field is required.
• An Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in energy, business management, policy, economics, engineering or a related field is an asset and may compensate for some years of experience.

Desired

• Professional certification in Project Management (e.g., PMP or PRINCE2).

Required:

• A minimum of 2 years of direct experience in energy and critical minerals, renewable energy manufacturing or investment sectors in the East African Community region.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with key energy sector stakeholders, such as government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors.
• Proven track record of working on projects that require an understanding of East African energy markets and regulatory environments.

Desired:

• Experience in the Tanzania energy sector.
• Specific experience in energy policy, planning or related comprehensive discipline.
• Experience coordinating or working in complex multi-stakeholder projects.

• 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. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.