National Peace and Development

Violent conflict has surged in recent years, and in 2016, more countries experienced violent conflict than at any time in nearly 30 years. While the complex relationship between conflict, security and development is increasingly understood, international assistance and investment in conflict prevention have remained relatively low. At the same time, approaches to preventing conflict have been refined considerably, as policy and practice on peacebuilding have evolved – and the UN, its Member States and other partners are increasingly looking to prevention as a critical strategy for sustaining peace and nurturing development. Conflict prevention is increasingly recognized as a rational and cost-effective strategy for countries at risk of violence and for the international community.

The joint UNDP-DPPA programme on building national capacities for conflict prevention has made a ground-breaking contribution in bridging the gap between political engagement and development assistance in pursuit of preventing conflict and sustaining peace. In its new phase (2019-2023), the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme will further strengthen the analytical capacities of national stakeholders and the UN system in support of Member States’ efforts to advance policy and programmatic coherence on conflict prevention and support strategies for sustaining peace.

The deployment of Peace and Development Advisors and has been the primary instrument of the Joint Programme to provide capacity for Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams to support national partners in dialogue and national or local mediation processes, the establishment and operationalization of national infrastructures and mechanisms for peace; and other initiatives aimed at sustaining peace. There are currently 49 PDA positions across the globe. 

In an effort to ensure that PDAs are better equipped and empowered to deliver on their mandates, the Joint Programme has established in a number of contexts small ‘Peace and Development teams’ where a national Peace and Development Officer provides reinforced capacity to the PDA’s engagement in support of the RCOs and UNCTs in the area of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. The post of Peace and Development Officer will increase the capacity of the Office of the Resident Coordinator to identify programmatic entry points to build national capacities for conflict prevention in Venezuela.

The Peace and Development Officer works under the direct supervision and guidance of the PDA, to provide substantive support in three main areas of activity, including:

1. Develop research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus to support UNCT interventions in Venezuela;  
2. Identify programmatic entry-points and support the building of broad and inclusive cross-sector coalitions to strengthen national and local capacities conflict prevention and peacebuilding, with focus on women’s, youth and journalists’ networks;
3. Provide technical support to UN AFPs in Venezuela to develop national capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding;

Under the supervision of the PDA, the main duties and responsibilities of the PDO will include:

Develop research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus to support UN interventions in Venezuela;   

• Gather and process primary data and information with a focus on understanding emerging trends and priorities regarding the humanitarian-development-peace nexus at the subnational level.
• Carry out and coordinate research on issues and thematic areas relevant to the UN’s role and activities, with specific focus on the application of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach in Venezuela.
• Support the PDA in mainstreaming the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach to guide UN’s interventions and activities in Venezuela, contributing to the development of conflict-sensitive approaches;

Identify programmatic entry-points to strengthen national capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, with focus on women’s, youth and journalists’ networks

• Undertake mappings and analysis with civil society actors’ (including youth, women, and marginalized groups) capacities for conflict prevention/ peacebuilding at local and national level;
• Assist the PDA in identifying areas of programmatic engagement for the UN in the area of conflict prevention and peace building generating synergies with other UN activities; with specific focus on women, youth, media;
• Under the guidance of the PDA, support the exploration of strategic partnerships and the design of projects and programmes involving national and international counterparts to promote and strengthen national capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
• Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector and the international community) and the implementation of targeted UN activities, projects and programmes aimed at strengthening national capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.   
• Support the PDA in their engagement with national and local stakeholders to help link local initiatives to national-level institutions, structures and processes, to strengthen national capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Provide technical support to UN Agencies in Venezuela to develop national capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding

• Advise on mainstreaming conflict-sensitive approaches; including implement activities such as the provision of training UNCT staff and key national partners on conflict prevention and/or conflict-sensitive development;
• Support the PDA in providing advise and support to UN Agencies in Venezuela in conflict-sensitive programming; implement activities aimed at increasing conflict prevention and peacebuilding capacities in UN staff, specially those deployed at the UN Coordination Centres in Maracaibo, San Antonio, Ciudad Guayana.
• In close collaboration with the PDA and the Joint Programme Secretariat, support monitoring and evaluation function, including collecting, processing and analyzing data in the framework of PD team workplan;
• Support knowledge management and sharing of good practices on conflict prevention and peacebuilding; ensure that stories and lessons learned are shared with the Joint Programme Secretariat; and respond to specific requests for information; and
• Perform an array of duties that support UN coordination and effective Peace and Development Team programme implementation.

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional

Social Cohesion

Knowledge of methods and experience of supporting communities to achieve greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility.

Peacebuilding and Reconciliation

Ability to support peace processes to facilitate recovery and development.

Conflict-Sensitive Programming

Ability to use methods and tools to monitor conflict triggers and determine impact of various dynamics in conflict-prone situations.

Conflict Analysis and Risk Assessment

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

Gender

Knowledge of gender issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis of projects from a gender perspective.

Civil Society Engagement

Knowledge to create and implement civil society initiatives and apply across peace and development work.

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of general experience in conflict analysis, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization;
• Minimum of 5 years specific experience in project/programme design, development, management
• Minimum of 5 years specific experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming;
• Extensive experience in analysis, research and sound drafting skills;
• In-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in Venezuela, including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives; and awareness and familiarity of key actors and stakeholders across the political, economic, and development spheres alongside knowledge of government, civil society, and other non-state actors.
• Specific knowledge of quantitative and qualitative tools and methodologies for conflict-analysis.
• Specific experience in knowledge management and/or communications strategies would be valued

Language Requirements:

Fluent written and spoken Spanish and English is required.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

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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