Associate Programme Officer (Women Peace and Security (WPS))

This position is in the Programme Office in Cote D’Ivoire (POCIV) with duty station in Abidjan, under the Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the UNODC Regional Representative for West and Central Africa (ROSEN) and under the direct supervision of the Law Enforcement and Counter Terrorism officer, head of Unit, and in close cooperation with PSP III project coordinator. For more information on UNODC, please visit the website www.unodc.org.

The incumbent will assist in providing input on WPS and gender analysis within UNODC activities, particularly in support of the Border Management, Law Enforcement and Emerging Crimes unit, as well as the research unit for West and Central Africa, based in Dakar, Senegal. This includes supporting the incorporation of gender considerations into ongoing programmes and analytical work. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following specific duties: • Support survey and research activities, including contributing to the design of data collection tools, compiling responses, and assisting in basic analysis and identification of key issues. • Assist the ROSEN research unit in gathering and reviewing data on gender dynamics, particularly in border areas, including links to security, terrorism, violent extremism, and trafficking. • Support the monitoring and analysis of social, economic, and political developments at national and regional levels, with a focus on gender-related trends and challenges affecting women and girls. • Contribute to programme assessments, reviews, and evaluations by supporting data collection, stakeholder consultations, and documentation of findings. • Assist in engaging with local stakeholders, including civil society and women’s organizations, and support capacity-building activities in gender-sensitive data collection and analysis. • Support the organization and delivery of workshops, seminars, and training sessions, including preparation of materials and presentations as required. • Contribute to the integration of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) considerations into programme activities through research and analytical support. • Assist in drafting reports and summaries on gender dynamics in border areas to inform internal and external stakeholders. • Support coordination and communication with UN/UNODC colleagues, partners, and relevant organizations to promote gender and WPS perspectives. • Contribute to the preparation of written outputs, including background notes and donor reporting materials for Denmark and other partners. • Perform other work-related duties as required.

Professionalism: Demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts related to Women, Peace and Security (WPS), gender equality, and the mandate of UNODC. Ability to apply analytical and research skills to collect, review, and interpret information in support of programme activities, as well as identify issues and contribute to problem-solving with appropriate guidance. The ability to produce clear and accurate written outputs, communicate effectively, and maintain attention to detail while meeting deadlines is essential. Demonstrate integrity, reliability, and a client-oriented approach in all assigned tasks. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Teamwork: Work collaboratively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders in a multicultural environment. This includes contributing to coordination efforts, sharing information effectively, and supporting joint outputs. The candidate should show openness to feedback, willingness to learn from others, and a proactive approach in contributing to a positive and respectful team environment. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 

Master’s degree or equivalent in International Relations, Gender Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, international law, criminal law or related field is required.  A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Not available.

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible work experience in project/programme management, administration or related area is required. Work experience in security, criminal justice, or closely related issues is required. Experience in data collection and analysis is required. Experience in report writing is required. Work experience in technical assistance activities, including capacity building, is desirable. Experience in justice and security sector reform and governance is desirable. Work experience with counterparts in Africa, particularly West and Central Africa, and/or experience with the Gender Context is desirable. 

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English

and

French are required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

French

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

This temporary position is currently available for a period of six months. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may be administered as a temporary assignment. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Note to current staff members in the General Service and related categories in the UN common system: Locally recruited staff members in the General Service and related categories applying for this post must meet the minimum requirements, including academic qualifications and years of relevant work experience. Relevant work experience in the General Service and related categories in the UN common system at the G-6, G-7, FS-4 to FS-7, S-5 to S-7, and TC-6 to TC-8 levels or in the NPO category may be considered as relevant work experience. When completing the application, ensure that ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" Link.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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