Research & Conflict Prevention Specialist

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a key development agency of the United Nations and active in Iraq since 1976, supports the Government and people of Iraq in advancing sustainable development, strengthening institutions, and promoting stability and resilience.
Aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNDP Iraq works to address social, economic, environmental, and governance challenges through integrated development programmes. UNDP supports efforts to strengthen inclusive and accountable governance, enhance public service delivery, promote economic recovery and livelihoods, build institutional capacity at national and local levels, and enhance social cohesion within and between communities and government.
Through partnerships with government institutions, civil society, and international stakeholders, UNDP aims to contribute to a resilient and inclusive Iraq where institutions are transparent and responsive, and where development benefits all segments of society, particularly vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Iraq has had decades of conflict, insecurity and political instability which have created deep-seated grievances, low levels of social cohesion including tensions between communities and institutions. In addition, there is the ongoing return and reintegration of persons from both IDP camps and Al Hol in northeast Syria who often do not have equal access to all basic services such as social welfare, education, water, sanitation, healthcare etc. while simultaneously facing further exclusion from social settings. Climate related disasters and local resource disputes have also led to persistent conflicts for housing, land and livelihoods. All of these factors create a threat to long-term, sustainable peace and social cohesion, especially in areas that are fragile and affected by conflict.
To address these threats to long-term peace and social cohesion, UNDP in Iraq, through the Social Cohesion pillar, supports both national and community-based peace building and conflict prevention approaches that enhance trust, inclusion and resilience in local communities through networked infrastructures for peace.
The Research & Conflict Prevention Specialist will report directly to the designated supervisor within the Social Cohesion Pillar. As a Research & Conflict Prevention Specialist you will work closely with community groups, local peace structures and other stakeholders; contribute to the collection, management and analysis of early warning data; and, collaborate with government counterparts and institutions responsible for conflict prevention and response.

Key areas of work and examples of UNDP Iraq actions:
Inclusion: UNDP has established Youth Peace Groups and Women Peace Groups in governorates with high levels of returns following the ISIS-linked conflict to build the capacity of and promote the inclusion in direct decision making of these often-marginalized demographics. UNDP has established a group of women faith-based peacebuilders to develop a platform from which women in faith can lead inter-faith dialogue. UNDP supports tribal and religious leader dialogues with the Government to ensure open and constructive channels of communication at the national level.

Conflict Prevention: UNDP works with the Office of the National Security Advisor to support the National Combatting Violence Extremism Committee to enhance data collection and analysis, review related legislative frameworks, promote human rights-based approaches to PVE and localize the national PVE Strategy through governorate-level committees, Plans of Action and support to local CSO-led PVE initiatives. UNDP is supporting the establishment of community-based early warning and early response systems to enable local peace actors to collaborate in identifying, prioritizing and directing preventative actions towards emerging conflict risks.
Knowledge: UNDP supported the establishment of the Iraq Peace Studies Network—a collective of 7 public Iraqi Universities researching and teaching peace and conflict studies in Iraq—and their leadership of several research projects. UNDP is conducting a Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index in Iraq to provide longitudinal, comprehensive data related to social cohesion to support evidence-based programming and policy making.
Reconciliation & Reintegration: UNDP supports the safe and sustainable return of persons from Al Hol camp in Syria to Iraq, and those returning from IDP camps inside Iraq,

The Research & Conflict Prevention Specialist will carry out the following key responsibilities:

1) Analysis, Policy Advice and Development:
• Provide regular situational analysis on socio-economic and political developments in Iraq and its implications;
• Prepare background papers, reports, briefing notes and talking points on developments and Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding related topics in Iraq, as requested;
• Support the Social Cohesion team in providing advisory support to national and sub-regional institutions for the development and implementation of gender-sensitive peacebuilding policies;
• Support the development of capacity building tools on CPPB for national and civil society stakeholders;
• Research and analyses information relating to community-based tensions and recommend tailored actions to prevent or lower tensions, as well as to improve the system of identifying tensions.

2) Programme Development and Implementation:
• Provide programmatic support for the conceptualization, development and implementation of conflict prevention and peacebuilding programmes, including drafting Concept Notes and Offers in thematic and contextual areas of relevance to Iraq and UNDP;
• Work with the Social Cohesion team to prepare presentations and briefing notes for senior management, donors and government officials on CPPB.
• Support the development of annual work plans, ToRs and Call for Proposal (CfPs) relating to Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding.

3) Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and Representation:
• Support the coordination of the inter-agency UN Working Group on National Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence, including leading in preparing presentations, agendas, meeting setup and the documentation of minutes and action points;
• Support strategic partnerships with national institutions, inter-governmental organizations, development partners, civil society and think-tanks;
• Organize, and where necessary lead, field missions for team members and donors, including ensuring all stakeholders are fully briefed;
• Engage in networking and alliance building with civil society and academia to support knowledge sharing and innovation.

4) Knowledge Management and Reporting:
• Support the field based monitoring of activities and the preparation of field monitoring/observation reports.
• Support the timely preparation of results-driven progress reports, trend analysis reports, briefing papers and communications documents.
• Support the maintenance of project records and documentation including summaries and databases;
• Develop success stories of UNDP’s impact, including supporting story development and publication.