Associate Political Affairs Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The core functions of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) include the prosecution of those charged by the police and other investigative agencies with criminal offences while upholding, protecting, and promoting human and constitutional rights.

Context

The Associate Political Affairs Officer will be based in the DPPA Liaison Team (DPPA/LT) to UNON in Nairobi, Kenya, which forms part of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Department of Peace Operations (DPO). He/she will report to the Eastern Africa Division (UN Secretariat, New York) through the Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean Team. The core functions of Eastern Africa Division / Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean Team, covering Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda as well as Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, are in the areas of conflict prevention, peace-making and post-conflict peace-building. In October 2009, DPA established the Liaison Team in Nairobi, located in the Office of the Director-General of UNON. The main objective of the Liaison Team was to increase the UN's capacity to respond in a timely manner to situations of potential violent conflict in the East African/Great Lakes sub-region. Core functions include monitoring and reporting on political developments, supporting the UNON Director-General in carrying out his/her political mandate, supporting UN high-level missions, and making recommendations on measures to tackle major peace and security challenges. The Team is composed of one P4, one P3, and one G5, with support also provided by one UNV. In its current Terms of Reference (ToRs), the Team is mandated to support both DPPA and the Director-General. “General supervision” of the Team is given to the Director of DPPA-DPO/Eastern Africa Division, and “overall guidance” to the UNON Director-General. The team is part of the East Africa and Indian Ocean team and works under the direct supervision of the Team Leader for East Africa and the Indian Ocean. Since its creation, the team has served as a surge capacity for preventive efforts in the sub-region, including working with RCs and UNCTs, undertaking special assignments, supporting high-level visits from Headquarters, and implementing specific activities. Current priorities for the team include supporting the implementation of the Frameworks for Cooperation with the East African Community and the Indian Ocean Commission.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the DPPA/LT to UNON, and under the overall supervision of the Team Leader for the Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean Team, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Contribute to the on-going analysis of political developments in the Indian Ocean region with a focus on preventive democracy and institution building, elections and post-election transitions, as well as violent extremism and other cross-cutting issues; and assist in the drafting of substantive documents and reports (analytical notes, talking points, etc). • Contribute to thematic/comparative reports on regional dynamics on topics including environmental issues, land rights, youth, and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. • Closely monitor news in countries of responsibility and draft comprehensive news clippings and other media analysis reports to be shared with management. • Maintain close working relations with UN Country Teams, and other relevant UN partners active in the region. • As required, undertake missions in the region to support UN delegations, UN Country Teams, and DPPA projects and/or workshops. • Play a proactive role in reaching out to think tanks, academia, and civil society groups in the region to enhance the quality and breadth of political analysis. • Provide administrative and substantive support to various workshops, events, XB projects, and other activities implemented by DPPA in the region; Service substantive meetings as required, including note-taking, logistic arrangements etc; Provide support to RC offices and UNCTs in the region as well as internal United Nations coordination mechanisms. • Undertake other relevant tasks and assignments as requested.