National Security Sector Reform Officer (SC9)

Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Somalia has been a key peacebuilding and state-building objective. Generally, efforts in Somalia to rebuild the security sector have met with only limited success for many reasons, including fighting an ongoing insurgent war while trying to reform, a lack of capacity within the institutions, a lack of coordination by donors and partners, and a lack of coherent Government security policy. In February 2017 a newly elected President formed a new Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), in what is now an almost fully developed federation of states within Somalia.  The Federal Member States (FMS) are increasingly gaining governance and development experience and are asserting themselves across the spectrum on governance, security and development, as they define their respective relationships with the FGS. On 16 April 2017, the FGS and FMS signed a National Security Architecture (NSArch) Agreement, thereby signifying important progress in defining SSR at FGS and FMS levels.  This was followed on 11 May 2017 by International Partners agreeing a Security Pact that requires all parties to embark on a fresh approach to supporting the security sector in Somalia through a Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS) within an overall framework of the National Development Plan (NDP). There is general recognition that support to the security sector needs to be more than just about the armed forces, and that SSR needs to address the causes of extremism and build capacity within the FGS and FMS to manage security.

As such, it is now essential for UNDP to better contribute to SSR with its partners in UNSOM in order to deliver a more sector wide approach that addresses support to the CAS and the recommendations made by the recently concluded UNSOM Strategic Assessment Report, which indicates that the FGS makes security one of the important priority areas to address. There is therefore an opportunity to join UNSOM’s efforts to bring the UN’s various elements of work together to deliver a harmonized, comprehensive, cohesive and integrated approach to SSR that is people centric, focuses on increasing democratic oversight and which particularly emphasises the importance of national ownership in SSR processes.

The work of the UN Integrated SSR in support of the CAS focused primarily on the CAS’s Strand 2 cross-cutting themes, including the centrality of civilian oversight, with ROLSIG’s Defence, Police and Joint Justice & Correction Sections leading UN efforts within 2A, 2B and 2C respectively.   This will be done through the UN Integrated SSR Project Document.   The SSR project of UNDP falls within the overall governance structure of the Rule of law and Security programme portfolio where justice, police and other interlinked areas of the security area based and therefore would be important for the close coordination and complementarities to be established between the project interventions. To ensure effectiveness of the SSR project, a national security sector reform officer shall be recruited. The National officer will report directly to the SSR Advisor and coordinate regularly with the Rule of Law project and portfolio manager of UNDP and the Strategic Security Adviser Rule of Law & Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG) United Nations Assistance Mission In Somalia (UNSOM). 

Summary of key functions:

• Assists with Integrated SSR capacity support to national SSR efforts.
• Supports the organization of meetings, seminars and other events.
• Organizes and/or undertakes research on various aspects of SSR work.
• Assists with the management and administration of SSR projects.
•  Assists with Integrated SSR capacity support national SSR efforts
• Assists with the day-to-day coordination of activities within the Integrated SSR Team.
• Assists with the day-to-day coordination of activities with other mission components (e.g. political, military, civilian, communication/public affairs, legal, policy/planning, mission analysis, etc) and UN entities.
• Assists with the day-to-day coordination of activities with FGS and FMS stakeholders including traveling to and liaising directly on behalf of the Integrated SSR team. Provides strategic and technical advice on security sector-wide issues in the context of Somalia.
• Provides quick and informal summary translations of key Somali policy documents.
• Maintains a database of security sector wide strategic and policy documents.
• Supports the organization of meetings, seminars and other events.
• Maintains good working relationships with FGS and FMS security institutions.
• Acts as a Focal Point for Somali interlocutors for meetings, seminars and other events.
• Assists to mobilise and coordinate donor and partner assistance to SSR initiatives.
• Assists with the administration for and, seminars and other events including providing oral translation if required.
• Organizes and/or undertakes research on various aspects of SSR work.
• Keeps abreast of Somali media reporting of SSR related events and advise regularly on developments.
• Completes research on specific topics as and when required.
• Assists with the management and administration of SSR projects.
• Develops a good understanding of UNDP project administrative processes and systems.
• Assists the drafting and preparation of projects documentation.
• Assists with the management of and reporting on projects and related activities.

Impact of Results and Deliverables

The key results will have an impact on the overall success of the specific areas of support to national SSR efforts within the UN Integrated SSR approach. In particular, the key results will have a direct impact on the effectiveness on the design, implementation and outcome of key project activities within the UN Integrated SSR Project Document.

Expected performance deliverables include:

• Good relationships with SSR interlocutors demonstrated through regular contact through CITS and in person.
• Good understanding of the SSR environment in Somalia demonstrated through the discussions, advice and written work.
• Written work in English and Somali is accurate, legible and espouses the core mission values.
• Meets deadlines for reports submissions and meetings
• Daily summaries from media reports on SSR related matters.
• The monthly SSR Project Document Report.
• The monthly UNDP Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform newsletter.
• Good understanding of the administrative processes to facilitate events demonstrated by the setting up and conduct of successful meetings, seminars and other events.
• Good understanding of UNDP project management demonstrated by accurate and timely submission of project documentation and reports.

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time.

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Orientation and Development Effectiveness:

• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals.

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation.
• Analyses country situation to identify opportunities for project development.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.
• Is motivated and demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development and learn.

Client Orientation

Anticipates client needs;

• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• IT competencies in Word, Excel, Power Point, and internet

Education:          

• A first level university degree in political science, social science, management, international relations, international economics, security studies, law, development or a related field.
• An advanced university degree will be an added advantage with 5 years of experience. A first-level university degree in combination with 7 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:        

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in the area of SSR is desirable.
• Experience in the coordination, development and implementation of assistance programmes and projects in post-conflict contexts is desirable.
• Experience in the facilitation of recognized capacity building training courses is desirable. 
• Experience in  inter-agency coordination of development or humanitarian assistance, and working with the United Nations, is desirable.

Language Requirements:              

• Strong written and spoken English skills and Somali language is required.

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.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.