National Peace & Development Advisor (National position)

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

1. Background and Organizational Context

Peace and Development Advisors (hereafter PDA) international and national Peace engage with national stakeholders to build, strengthen, and sustain nationally owned and driven efforts to prevent violent conflict and build just and peaceful societies. The range of countries to which PDAs are deployed vary considerably, with some deployed to countries emerging from conflict, others where violence is escalating, and others to countries where there is no violent conflict but underlying structural causes of conflict are present. PDAs are also deployed in countries where political and developmental challenges exist around issues related to elections and constitutional processes, exclusion and inequality, environment, climate change and natural resource management.

PDAs are deployed through a partnership between the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention.  PDAs support Resident Coordinators (RC) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in their efforts to work with national partners on conflict prevention and sustaining peace. They support early warning and risk management measures, and ensure that UN assessments, frameworks (mainly UN Cooperation Frameworks), strategies and programmes are conflict-sensitive and informed by high quality analysis. They are located in the Resident Coordinators’ office, with a direct reporting line to the RC, and a secondary reporting line to the UNDP Resident Representative and DPPA-DPO regional divisions. 

Country’s context

From 20 May to 24 August 2020, Burundi held general elections in a relatively peaceful environment, that resulted in a smooth transition of the key State institutions leadership, including the Presidency, Parliament, as well as communal and local councils. This is a positive development in terms of the peace and stability compared to the 2015 crisis

On 30 June 2021, at the Government of Burundi (GoB) the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Burundi (OSESG-B), established in 2016 to support the EAC-led inter-Burundian dialogue to help Burundi and the region find a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis triggered by the 2015 elections was close. 

On 4 December, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2020/12) in which it recognized the improved security situation in Burundi and the gains made thus far, however stressing the need to advance national reconciliation, promote the rule of law and an independent and effective judiciary, preserve the democratic space and respect of fundamental freedoms for all Burundians, such as freedom of expression, including for members of the press and civil society actors, as well as peacebuilding, social cohesion and development. Furthermore, the Council welcomed the willingness of the United Nations, alongside the African Union (AU), the East African Community and the international community to continue its engagement with the country, in an effort to support Burundi in achieving durable peace, reconciliation, and sustainable development.

In this context, the Peace and Development Officer’s (PDO) main priority will be to assist the international PDA, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in identifying gaps and opportunities for UN-system wide support towards working alongside national stakeholders to build, strengthen and sustain nationally owned and driven capacities to generate consensus around strategies for building peace, national cohesion and governance, and advancing sustainable development. Specifically, the PDO will assist the international PDA and the Resident Coordinator (RC) in designing strategies to implement initiatives that support the country’s efforts to tackle the above-mentioned challenges. 

The PDO will be located in the Resident Coordinators’ office, with a direct reporting line to the PDA, and work closely with the RC UNDP Resident Representative and DPPA-DPO regional divisions. 

2. Position Purpose

The national Peace and Development Officer works under the direct supervision of the international PDA, and close collaboration and overall guidance of the Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative and DPPA-DPO regional division at HQ, to provide substantive support in three main areas of activity, including:

1. Support all analysis, research, and documentation efforts with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
2. Support in identifying programmatic entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention and peace capitalization, particularly about civil society, women and youth.
3. Provide technical support for (joint) programming and partnership-building on issues related to Sustaining Peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

3. Key Duties and Accountabilities

1. Support analysis and research efforts with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention:

Example of Duties:       

• Carry out socio-political and/or peace capitalization analysis, monitor the political situation in the country, and support the provision of risk-informed analysis to the international PDA, RC, the broader UN Country Team, as well as UN Headquarters (and regional level as relevant) with advice on political and socioeconomic developments and peace capitalization dynamics.
• Contribute to the regular update of the Common Country Assessment (CCA), which informs the design and implementation of the UN Cooperation Framework, part of the CCA, including supporting the peace capitalization analysis and the humanitarian, peace and development nexus, PBF (Peace Building Fund),
• Carry out and coordinate research on identified issues or thematic areas, including through engagement with academia, think tanks, donor community, press and different national and international bodies, committees, and commissions on peace building.

2.) Identify programming entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention and peace capitalization, particularly with regard to civil society, women and youth.

Example of Duties:

• Assist the Resident Coordinator, and the broader UNCT, in identifying areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders and provide technical advice on the design of peace-promoting initiatives in areas such as infrastructures for peace, reconciliation social cohesion, dialogue, conflict prevention and capitalization, and consensus building.
• Identifying entry points for mainstreaming conflict prevention and conflict sensitivity in the work of the UNCT (including within the CCA, Cooperation Framework, Country Programme Documents, etc.); and support capacity-building of UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention, peace capitalization, and/or conflict-sensitive development.
• Support the UNCT in their efforts on Women, Peace and Security and gendered dimensions of peacebuilding and SCR 1325 (and related resolutions) as well as Youth, Peace and Security and SCR 2250.
• Support the RC and the UNCT in their efforts in mobilizing Peace Building Fund resources (national and cross-borders) and in the coordination of the different national mechanisms and committees related the PBF
• Support UN engagement with national and local stakeholders, focusing particularly on engaging with civil society actors at local level and academia, to inform and support efforts to build national and local capacity for negotiation, mediation, and dialogue; strengthen networks of mediators and facilitators (including female mediators) at national and local levels.

3.) Support partnership-building and knowledge sharing on issues related to Sustaining Peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Example of Duties:       

• Support liaison and partnerships between stakeholders, particularly civil society, academia, think tanks, women’s and youth networks and the private sector, as well as when required with government partners and the international community, on sustaining peace initiative and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and national SDG plans.
• Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Headquarters as well at the regional level including relevant focal points at UNDP, DPPA-DPO, DCO and work closely with the regional programme specialists based in the region.

• In close collaboration with the Joint Programme Secretariat, support knowledge management, and monitoring and evaluation function, including collecting, processing, and analyzing data in the framework of the PDO’s workplan.

4. Requirements:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, conflict resolution, peace studies, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences. In lieu of an Advanced degree, a Bachelor university degree with additional two years of relevant experience shall be considered.

Education

• Minimum of 2 years (4 years in case of a BA) of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization.
• Extensive experience in analysis, research and sound drafting skills.
• Experience in project/programme development and/or management is an asset
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming is asset.
• In-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in (country/region), including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives; and awareness and familiarity of key actors and stakeholders across the political, economic, and development spheres alongside knowledge of government, civil society, and other non-state actors would be advantage
• Experience in conflict analysis, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization is an asset
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).

Language requirements (Required / Desired)
Fluent written and spoken French and English is required.

Core

Achieve Results:
LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously
LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility
LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination             
LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner
LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Development
Integration within the UN          
Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations

Business Management
Results-based Management     
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at impro􀁙ed performance and demonstrable results

Partnerships Management        
Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with

Communication            
Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience

5. Keywords

Commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter and the Organization’s core values: Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity.

Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor his/her own work plan with minimum supervision. Ability to work under pressure or in crisis situations. Availability to travel within the area of responsibility.

Creativity: Ability to actively seek to improve services, offer new and different options to solve problems, and promote and persuade others to consider new ideas.

Teamwork: Proven interpersonal skills and the ability to listen and work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment.

Communication: Proven and sustained communication (verbal and written) skills.

DISCLAMER

Female candidacies are strongly encouraged.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We strongly encourage female candidacies.

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