UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) 2026 – Home-Based Job in Sri Lanka. Apply Now
Table of Contents
UNOPS is hiring a Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) for a home-based consultancy supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) across Sri Lanka. This UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist job is a mid-level opportunity under an 18-month LICA 10 retainer contract, running from 1 September 2026 to 29 February 2028.
The UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) will design and deliver six interactive online awareness sessions in Sinhala and Tamil. The sessions will focus on legal awareness, organizational governance, compliance, digital safety, protection strategies, civic space resilience, and relevant legislation affecting civil society organizations in Sri Lanka.
The application deadline for the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist job is 24 August 2026.
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UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Job 2026 – Overview
| Job Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | UNOPS |
| Position | Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) |
| Job Category | Project |
| Duty Station | Home-based |
| Seniority Level | Mid Level |
| Contract Type | ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer |
| Contract Level | LICA 10 |
| ICS Level | ICS 10 |
| Start Date | 1 September 2026 |
| End Date | 29 February 2028 |
| Duration | 18 months |
| Posting Date | 10 August 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 24 August 2026 |
| Languages | English, Sinhala and Tamil |
| Location Focus | Sri Lanka |
About UNOPS
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) provides project management, infrastructure, procurement and other implementation services to support sustainable development and humanitarian objectives.
For this UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist vacancy, the successful consultant will work within the Asia Pacific Regional Office and the South Asia Multi-Country Office, supporting activities connected to Sri Lanka.
The Asia Pacific Regional Office provides strategic oversight for UNOPS operations across numerous countries in the region. The South Asia Multi-Country Office supports operations across Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
About the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Job
The Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) will support civil society organizations across Sri Lanka, particularly grassroots and community-based organizations operating in different regional and socio-political environments.
The specialist will develop and deliver six online awareness sessions, with three sessions conducted in Tamil and three sessions conducted in Sinhala.
The training will address:
- Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA)
- NGO Act
- Online Safety Act
- Legal compliance
- Organizational governance
- Financial accountability
- Digital communication
- Digital safety
- Risk mitigation
- Protection strategies
- Rights-based advocacy
- Civic space resilience
This makes the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist job particularly relevant to professionals with experience in law, human rights, governance, legal awareness, civil society programming and protection.
Key Responsibilities of the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist
The successful candidate will have several important responsibilities.
1. Design Six Online Awareness Sessions
The Capacity Building Specialist will design and deliver six online awareness sessions covering three major areas of legislation:
- Protection of the State from Terrorism Act
- NGO Act
- Online Safety Act
Three sessions will be delivered in Tamil and three in Sinhala.
2. Develop Training Materials
The consultant will develop a comprehensive training curriculum and supporting learning materials.
These materials will include:
- Detailed session plans
- PowerPoint presentations
- Facilitator notes
- Practical exercises
- Case studies
- Group activities
- Scenario-based discussions
- Learning materials
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Organizational compliance checklists
The materials must be prepared in Tamil and Sinhala, with English reference materials where necessary.
3. Strengthen CSO Legal and Organizational Capacity
The Capacity Building Specialist will help civil society organizations better understand their legal and operational responsibilities.
Training will cover areas such as:
- Legal compliance obligations
- Financial accountability
- Digital communication practices
- Organizational governance
- Risk mitigation
- Legal and operational risks
- Organizational do’s and don’ts
- Digital safety
- Responsible online engagement
4. Facilitate Participatory Online Training
The specialist will use adult-learning approaches to make the sessions interactive and practical.
Methods may include:
- Online discussions
- Breakout-room exercises
- Case studies
- Polls
- Scenario-based activities
- Peer learning
- Group discussions
Experience in virtual facilitation will therefore be important for applicants.
5. Conduct Learning Assessments
The Capacity Building Specialist will design and administer pre-session and post-session assessments.
These assessments will be used to measure:
- Participant knowledge
- Learning outcomes
- Understanding of relevant legislation
- Training effectiveness
- Areas requiring further support
The consultant will also compile participant feedback and recommendations following each session.
6. Prepare Reports
After every session, the consultant will prepare a summary report in English.
The reports will cover:
- Activities conducted
- Participant engagement
- Learning outcomes
- Evaluation findings
- Recommendations
- Lessons learned
At the end of the consultancy, the Capacity Building Specialist will prepare a comprehensive final report covering all six sessions.
UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Education Requirements
Applicants for the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist job must have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Relevant disciplines include:
- Law
- Human Rights
- Criminal Justice
- Governance
- Public Policy
- Other relevant disciplines
Desirable Education
An advanced degree in:
- Law
- Human Rights
- Criminal Justice
- Governance
- Public Policy
- A related field
is desirable.
An Attorney at Law qualification from Sri Lanka Law College is also desirable.
UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Experience Requirements
This is a mid-level specialist consultancy and applicants must meet substantial professional experience requirements.
Required Experience
Candidates must have a minimum of seven years of professional experience in one or more relevant areas, including:
- Legal practice
- Access to justice
- Human rights
- Governance
- Protection programming
Applicants must also demonstrate experience in:
- Designing legal awareness programmes
- Delivering training programmes
- Capacity building for civil society organizations
- Sri Lanka’s legal and regulatory environment
- National security legislation
- Civil society regulation
- Digital rights
- Governance
- Participatory adult learning
- Training curriculum development
- Learning materials development
- Evaluation tools
- Training reports
Experience with Google Meet and online learning tools is also required.
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Desirable Experience
The following experience will be an advantage:
- Working with UN agencies
- Working with international organizations
- Working on donor-funded programmes
- Working with grassroots CSOs
- Working with community-based organizations
- Providing legal advice
- Providing policy advice
- Civic space programming
- Digital rights
- Organizational governance
- Regulatory compliance
UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Language Requirements
Language proficiency is an important requirement for this UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist vacancy.
Candidates must be fluent in:
- English – Required
- Sinhala – Required
- Tamil – Required
The ability to work fluently in all three languages is particularly important because the six training sessions will be delivered in both Sinhala and Tamil, while reports will be prepared in English.
Key Skills for the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Job
The vacancy identifies several important skills, including:
- Facilitation
- Human rights
- Legal advice
- Protection
- Risk analysis
- Stakeholder management
Successful candidates should also demonstrate strong communication and collaboration abilities.
UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Competencies
UNOPS expects candidates to demonstrate the following competencies:
Strategic Perspective
The candidate should be able to think strategically, understand long-term implications and develop sustainable approaches.
Respect
The specialist should treat all individuals with respect, uphold ethical standards and support diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
The role requires strong teamwork and the ability to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders.
Partnerships
The Capacity Building Specialist will need to establish and maintain strong relationships with civil society organizations and other stakeholders.
Excellence
Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to quality, efficiency and achieving results.
Adaptability
The successful candidate should be flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances.
Decision-Making
The specialist should be able to evaluate information and make logical, practical decisions.
Communication
Strong communication skills are essential, particularly because the role involves online facilitation, training, reporting and stakeholder engagement.
Why Apply for the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Job?
The UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist job provides an opportunity for an experienced professional to contribute to civil society capacity building in Sri Lanka.
The role offers the opportunity to:
- Work with UNOPS
- Support civil society organizations
- Contribute to legal awareness
- Strengthen organizational capacity
- Support civic space resilience
- Work on an 18-month consultancy
- Deliver online training
- Work with grassroots and community-based organizations
- Apply legal, governance or human rights expertise in an international development setting
Because the position is home-based, it may be particularly attractive to qualified professionals seeking a remote UNOPS consultancy.
UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Contract Duration
The UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist consultancy has a duration of 18 months.
The contract period is:
1 September 2026 – 29 February 2028
The position is classified as an ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer contract at LICA 10.
Applicants should carefully review the terms and conditions of the retainer contract before applying.
Is the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Job Remote?
Yes. The vacancy lists the duty station as Home based.
The Capacity Building Specialist will primarily conduct the required awareness sessions online, including through virtual facilitation platforms such as Google Meet.
Who Should Apply for the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Vacancy?
This vacancy may be suitable for professionals such as:
- Lawyers
- Human rights specialists
- Governance specialists
- Legal advisers
- Civil society capacity-building specialists
- Protection specialists
- Human rights trainers
- Policy specialists
- Legal awareness professionals
- Civic space specialists
However, applicants must meet the specific education, professional experience and language requirements listed by UNOPS.
UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Application Deadline
The application deadline for the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) vacancy is:
24 August 2026
Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date.
Late applications will not be considered.
How to Apply for the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist Job
Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official UNOPS Careers Marketplace.
Official UNOPS application:
https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/Capacity-Building-Specialist-Civil-Society/4112
Applicants should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates their qualifications, professional experience, language proficiency and experience relevant to civil society capacity building.
Important Information for Applicants
UNOPS states that it does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Candidates should also be aware that:
- UNOPS will not request payment at any stage of recruitment.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete assessments.
- Background checks are conducted for potential personnel.
- Candidates requiring reasonable accommodation during assessment can inform UNOPS.
- UNOPS maintains a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, discrimination, abuse of authority and other abusive conduct.
Applicants should rely on the official vacancy announcement for the most accurate and complete application requirements.
Final Thoughts
The UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist (Civil Society) job 2026 is an important opportunity for experienced professionals in law, human rights, governance, protection and civil society programming.
The home-based UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist vacancy offers an 18-month consultancy focused on strengthening the legal awareness, governance, compliance and resilience of civil society organizations across Sri Lanka.
Candidates interested in the UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist job should ensure that they meet the minimum seven years of professional experience, relevant bachelor’s degree, adult-learning experience and English, Sinhala and Tamil language requirements before submitting an application.
If you have the required legal, human rights, governance or civil society experience, this UNOPS Capacity Building Specialist vacancy could be a valuable opportunity to contribute to an international development programme while supporting civil society organizations in Sri Lanka.
Application Deadline: 24 August 2026
