Political Affairs Officer

This position is located in the Gender Unit in the Office of the Under Secretary-General for Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) of the United Nations, New York. The incumbent reports directly to the Senior Gender Adviser, who is the Chief of the Gender Unit. The DPPA-DPO serves as an integrated "center of excellence" for United Nations Peace Operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in context of mandates in countries where peace operations its purview are deployed. This includes facilitating and implementing political agreements, providing integrated strategic, political, operational and management advice, direction and support to peace operations, developing political, security and integrated strategies, leading integrated analysis and planning of peace operations and field missions backstopping.

Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Reviews and monitors activities in the country or region assigned; assesses trends which might affect the implementation of the gender equality and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) such as the political situation and the political impact of intra-regional issues solutions/possible action by United Nations. • Supports and guides the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security and the United Nations related tools for gender equality. • Supports the integration and implementation of departmental guidance on Women, Peace and Security in all aspects of peace and security processes and provides backstopping to field missions on the operationalization of the policies and guidance in all mission components. • Contributes to the design and implementation of a department-wide action plan to translate existing mandates, commitments, and policies on the promotion of gender equality. • Supports/and or advises the various department divisions, components, offices and sections on the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies and programmes promoting gender responsive approaches and combating conflict-related sexual violence and gender based violence, including working closely with the conflict-sexual violence team. • Establishes working relationships with the different offices of the Departments (DPPADPO) and other UN entities such as UN Women. Supports the USG's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) task force and DPO Gender Focal Points Working Group at the United Nations Headquarters. • Using data-driven information and digitalization, drafts, edits and provides substantive results-based inputs for periodic briefings and speeches on Women, Peace and Security issues at the strategic and operational levels. • Provides inputs on planning processes, including mission concepts and operational planning; results-based budgeting frameworks for field missions and Headquarters; staffing tables and other operational tools. • Supports the development and roll-out of gender related training modules and scenariobased training materials for all levels of peacekeepers: civilian, police and military. • Conducts substantive research and analysis of gender and WPS issues in operations, utilizing analytical monitoring and evaluation processes, including indicators and benchmark,to ensure measurement of progress in the integration of gender equality and Women, Peace and Security perspectives in programmes and policies as well as responses to sexual and gender-based violence in conflict settings. • Collaborates with key stakeholders, including Member States, UN entities, civil society and other organizations that have complimentary mandates for the promotion of women's and girls' rights and coordinates with them through participation in relevant interdepartmental and interagency mechanisms and forums for coordination, as well as with relevant regional organizations, national institutions and NGOs. • Represents the Department on gender related issues at workshops, conferences and events, as needed. • Performs other related duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM – Knowledge of international relations, international human rights law, women's rights or other related areas, particularly, in conflict or post-conflict settings. Knowledge in the areas of gender and peacekeeping or gender conflict/post-conflict environments. Shows ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to advance the implementation of gender equality and WPS mandates across the Department and in specific areas and/or countries. Shows ability to relate to various issues and perspectives to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes and how these impact the implementation of the gender equality and WPS mandates in affected countries and areas. Ability to prepare well written analytical reports. 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. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. PLANNING & 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

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, in gender affairs, women's rights, law, sociology, economics, other social science or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying two additional years of relevant work experience on gender may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies.

Not available.

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in policy development or advisory or programme management experience related to promotion of Women, Peace and Security, data and digitalized information management, gender equality and operational gender integration, particularly in an international organization is required. Experience in integrating gender perspectives into mainstream policies or programmes in conflict post-conflict settings is required. Experience implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda is desirable.

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

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026 and may be subject to extension depending on funding availability. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • 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.

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.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.