PCVE Technical Specialist

The Somalia Joint Rule of Law (JROL) programme represents a joint approach by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the UN Country Team to strengthen collaboration, focus and coherence in the implementation of the Somalia Rule of Law Programme Priorities.

Working closely with the implementing UN agencies on Rule of Law, it supports the Somali people in creating an enabling environment for stability, peace and rule of law. This includes strengthening of rule of law institutions (justice and police) to increase competency, efficiency and accountability.

The Joint Programme was launched in May 2015, with a budget of Somalia MPTF USD 39,751,700. Contributions have been secured from the Government of the Netherlands, SIDA/Sweden, the UK/DFID, and the European Union, as well as corporate investment by UNDP/BPPS and UNDP Somalia. The current Programme is coming to an end and new phase of the programme is emerging with several new areas of work such as Security Sector Governance, Human Rights & establishment of Human Rights Commission and Prevention of Violent Extremism.

Further with the signatories to the London Security Pact there is a strong commitment by all parties to embark on a fresh approach to supporting the security sector in Somalia through a Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS). As part of the CAS, and the formation of the CAS functional Strands, recommends to integrate preventing violent extremism into relevant activities and overall development agenda for Somalia.

Background:

There is an overall mandate of the UN pursuant to United Nations Secretary General’s Action Plan on Prevention of Violent Extremism for United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions to integrate PCVE into their mandate. Similarly, General Assembly Resolution calls for the UN family, including the UN Country teams, to give due priority to preventing and countering of violent extremism and terrorism as a crosscutting element throughout their mandates. In the Plan, the Secretary-General calls for a comprehensive approach encompassing not only essential security-based counter-terrorism measures but also systematic preventive steps to address the underlying conditions that drive individuals to radicalize and join violent extremist groups.

To ensure the most effective approach, the Plan does not define “Violent Extremism”, instead it calls for a bottom up approach to identify the main root causes, push and pull factors and drivers for violent extremism and adjust the preventative measures accordingly.

In the complex society and history of Somalia, root causes for violent extremism can differ per region, therefore an effective PCVE framework of the Somali Government, assisted by the international community should also differ and target and prioritize based on the needs assessment.

Assistance would lie in enabling the Somali coordination, advising on specific thematic issues, sharing good practices and enabling information exchange with other partners.

Strand 4 in the Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS) embodies these two elements pursuant to the new mandate.

•             One component of Strand 4 is to provide stand-alone assistance, political and strategic guidance to the Federal Government of Somalia on the implementation of their comprehensive PCVE – CT framework.

•             The second component is for delivery of targeted PCVE interventions, such as adoption of national legislations and policies.

•             Lastly, where appropriate and relevant PCVE elements will be integrated into the work of the other strands.

It is expected that the targeted PCVE interventions will be assisted by the UN Mission in Somalia UNSOM and UNCT or relevant partners in the international community to deliver PCVE specific programming. UNDP’s Rule of Law programme is uniquely positioned to work closely with UNSOM PCVE Team lead, as the programme works with multiple partners across all Federal Member States and undertakes programming with Ministries of Justices which are mandated to develop legislations and policies, works with the judiciary to include PCVE related training, works with community youth volunteers, university and academia and builds police and community relations, to mention a few activities. Further, the programme works with the Parliament project of UNDP to build technical skills of the Security, Gender & Justice committees and with youth programmes.

In the next few months, it is expected that the Strand 4 of CAS will focus initially on the following activities:

• Coordinating with the Somali counter parts, the international community and the PCVE Platform to map PCVE relevant and specific work of stakeholders;
• Serve as a knowledge and expertise hub for Somali counter parts and the international community through information sharing and research, facilitating joint projects, exploring PCVE opportunities adequate to Somalia based on international and national best practices
• Strengthening coordination and relationship between partners, specifically in what successful communities are developing and achieving.

Because of this urgent requirement, UNDP Rule of Law programme is committed to recruit a PCVE Technical Specialist to work in the Integrated PCVE unit and the integrated team in a Project Initiation Plan (PIP) for 12 months. The PCVE Technical Specialist will have primary reporting line to the Rule of Law Project Manager and secondary reporting to the UNSOM PCVE Integrated Team Lead.

     Summary of key functions:     

• Ensure capacity building and coordination;
• Providing effective technical services;
• Ensure effective and efficient results-based project management;
• Ensure knowledge building. 

Ensure capacity building and coordination for national stakeholders

• Coordination support shall be provided to the Somali counter parts, the international community and the PCVE Platform with UNSOM Advisor to the CAS Strand 4 meetings;
• Conduct regular capacity assessments based on the discussions of the Strand 4 of CAS and emerging requirements of PCVE discussions;
• Develop and implement capacity development training programmes and materials to address requirements of the PCVE focal points of FGS and FMS;
• Monitor performance of trainees;
• Support formulation of legal awareness materials;
• Develop capacity of UNDP national staff and address the cross cutting nature of this work.

Providing technical services to institution building focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Provide technical advice, management inputs and coordination to strengthen PCVE work of UNDP
• Develop the draft project document of a full-fledged PCVE joint project with UNSOM and other agencies.
• Develop indicators, targets for measuring results.
• Facilitate the development of mechanisms and procedures to ensure that the Federal Member States and Federal Government of Somalia are well coordinated.
• Develop strategies for mechanisms to improve monitoring of activities.
• Provide systematic support in this context for the development of Somalia’s National Action Plan on the prevention of violent extremism;
• Support UNDP and UNSOM with analysis, regular updates, and the design of policy options pertinent to development PCVE Action Plan;
• Support UNDP and UNSOM to facilitate, coordination and bring in coherence among the donor community working on PCVE;
• Provide concrete assistance (analysis; research; resource mobilization; technical support, and facilitation as appropriate) for UNDP initiatives in support of greater convergence and dialogue among the PCVE national platform.
• Support UNDP to liaise with all relevant national partners with regard to the above, including entities supporting the academic, civic, and faith-based actors engaged in providing alternatives to radicalization and violent extremism.

Ensures effective and efficient results-based project management focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that joint project document is developed.
• Manage the delivery of inputs and outputs of the PIP;
• Facilitating day-to-day management of the PCVE PIP activities, covering the PIP and its Transition to the development of Project Document.
• Prepare annual work plan, development of M&E plan and procurement plans;
• Working with government officials and the UNDP area-offices, serve as a liaison between government officials and the Project Management;
• Undertake regular monitoring visits to project sites and produce monitoring reports;
• Ensure project documents are in compliance with UNDP policies and procedures and undertake reporting on Project progress and constraints;
• Ensure the preparing and maintaining of spreadsheets of project activities;
• Facilitate meetings and missions;
• Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
• Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
• Ensure that aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes.
• Preparation of donor reports.
• Ensure sector-wide coordination and strategic planning efforts and partnership;
• Organise Project Steering committee meetings on a regular basis.

Ensures knowledge building: 

• Identify sources of information related to capacity development and lessons learned directly linked to the rule of law and security and other UNDP project/portfolio areas.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice
• Organize trainings for the key PCVE partners
• Facilitate knowledge building and management of the Rule of Law projects and portfolio teams and national counterparts;
• Analyze results/lessons learned, and provide strategies for improved delivery of project interventions;
• Ensure project lessons learned and best practices are captured and documented to inform wider policies and programmes.

Successful implementation of the PCVE Project Initiation Plan (PIP) under Rule of Law & Security Portfolio should result in the formulation of a sectoral joint project with UNSOM and other UN Agencies and government institutions. The PCVE Technical Specialist shall also ensure the PIP is implemented within the timeframe. The Specialist shall support Portfolio Manager Rule of Law for resource mobilization.

Core Competencies    

Innovation

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

• Ability to persuade others to follow: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional Competencies

Violence Reduction

• Knowledge of violence reduction concepts and techniques and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situation             

Peacebuilding and Reconciliation

• Ability to support peace processes to facilitate recovery and development    

Conflict Analysis and Risk Assessemnt

• Knowledge of conflict analysis and risk assessment concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations       

Knowledge Management

• Ability to manage global conversations and knowledge campaigns           

Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals          

Partnerships

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships    

Resource Mobilisation

• Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources          

Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results 

Education:          

• Advanced degree (Master’s level or higher) in Law, Security management or military studies, Criminology,  Political or Social Sciences, International relations, Programme management or other related area.
• A first-level university degree (or military or police academy degree at officer level) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of seven years of relevant work experience with Advance University Degree at the national or international level in the area of experience in the field of prevention of violent extremism, crisis management and resilience, security management and programme management, conflict prevention / resolution or criminal justice is required.
• OR Minimum of 9 years relevant work experience with First Level University Degree at the national or international level in the area of prevention of violent extremism, crisis management and resilience, security management and programme management, conflict prevention / resolution or criminal justice is required.
• Extensive and proven experience in the design, integration and implementation of new innovative concepts, crisis or emergency management and resilience related is required.
• Extensive experience in the design, implementation and delivery of international training programmes for a range of stakeholders in the area of resilience and security and criminal justice actors;
• Experience in developing of capacity building projects is desirable.
• Experience in managing and implementing field cooperation activities and programmes, and or dealing with countries in conflict crisis, preferably with international organizations is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in English.
• Working knowledge of other UN language desirable

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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