Background

The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program for Ethiopia was initiated as a crucial step towards implementing the peace agreement signed between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on 2nd November 2022 in South Africa. This agreement ended the long-standing conflict that had arisen between the TPLF and the central government in Ethiopia, resulting in widespread violence and displacement.

The objective of the DDR program is to facilitate the disarmament of former combatants from Tigray, Amhara and Afar, their demobilization and eventual reintegration into civilian life. The program is geared towards restoring peace, promoting reconciliation and creating a conducive environment for sustainable development. Eventual areas of coverage will go beyond Northern Ethiopia and cover other regions of Ethiopia. 

The Government of Ethiopia has mandated and created the “National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC)” which is responsible for design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of the DDR programme in the country. The overall DDR beneficiaries identified are 371,971. The Government has planned implementation of the programme. In Phase 1, a total of 75,000 combatants will be demobilized in 2024 and the balance will be demobilized in 2025.

UNDP is supporting the NRC in close coordination with various national and international partners, including the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other actors. It is expected that the DDR program will provide an opportunity for the combatants in North Ethiopia to turn their focus towards peaceful and productive activities, thereby contributing to the overall stability and development of the North Ethiopia region.

The DDR program has close linkages with the National Dialogue, Transitional Justice, and Peace Support programme. The DDR programme is anchored in the Governance Unit.

Scope of Work, Expected Roles, and Responsibilities of the Incumbent

Position Purpose 

To lead the coordination of reintegration planning, implementation, and monitoring in the regions of Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz. The Specialist will ensure that reintegration responses are aligned with national frameworks and adapted to regional realities, reflecting the varying approaches and institutional capacities of Regional Authorities, who are responsible for the direct implementation of reintegration. The Specialist will proactively convene and coordinate relevant actors—including UN agencies (particularly UNFPA, UN Women, UNICEF, and WHO), local administrations, civil society, and development partners—to enable joint planning, streamline referral systems, and promote inclusive, integrated and accountable reintegration interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities

 Policy and Technical Coordination focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide technical and policy support to Regional Authorities and woreda-level bodies to guide the development, implementation, and adaptation of reintegration strategies.
• Support the contextualization of national reintegration frameworks to reflect regional specificities, ensuring alignment with policy directives and operational capacity.
• Assist in the development of gender- and age-sensitive regional action plans, guided by conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles.

Manage the Inter-Agency and Stakeholder Coordination focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Convene and coordinate multi-stakeholder platforms with UN agencies, regional and woreda authorities, civil society, and development actors to support integrated service delivery and shared accountability.
• Act as the coordination focal point among supporting agencies, UN entities, and development partners operating in the region, promoting timely information exchange, aligned planning, and collaborative support to Regional Authorities.
• Ensure coherence between reintegration efforts and related interventions across sectors, including livelihoods, protection, health, and social cohesion.

Coordinate and manage the Reintegration Service Coordination focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Identify gaps, map services, and coordinate the planning and delivery of region-specific reintegration services—including economic reintegration, MHPSS, medical care, and protection—through established institutional mechanisms.
• Coordinate with regional and woreda stakeholders to operationalize referral systems and ensure delivery follows a needs-based approach, rather than status-based entitlements.
• Use the DREAM platform to track return trends and inform coordinated service allocation.

Capacity Strengthening and Institutional Support: support focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Coordinate capacity assessments and lead efforts to strengthen regional institutions involved in reintegration.
• Facilitate training sessions and peer learning to improve collaboration among partners and increase regional leadership.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Knowledge Management focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Coordinate joint monitoring visits, progress reviews, and after-action assessments with reintegration actors.
• Consolidate inputs from partners, generate regional reports, and contribute to national reporting obligations under the NDRP.
• Contribute to the preparation of substantive inputs and updates for national DDR Task Force and Dialogue Forum meetings, ensuring that regional reintegration developments and challenges are effectively captured and conveyed through the appropriate reporting channels in support of the DDR Director’s engagement at the national level.
• Document lessons learned, good practices, and emerging challenges to inform adaptive programming.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

4. Institutional Arrangement

Under the direct supervision of the DDR Director, the Reintegration Coordination Specialist, in close collaboration with the DDR Project Team in the CO and regional Office, is expected to closely collaborate with the programme, operations, and project teams to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have a lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate the complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

• Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking – Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation – Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
• Business Management: Project Management – Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Business Management: Communication
  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience 
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels
• Partnership Management: Relationship Management – Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social/political science, International Development, Conflict-resolution, and Peace-building or related Social Sciences field is required OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years  (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience on Livelihood generation programmes, social development, DDR, community-based reintegration, or poverty reduction is required.  
• Experience in DDR, Livelihood, Economic Rehabilitation, community mobilization and engagement to address issues of community development. 
• Experience in post conflict and crisis environment is a strong advantage. 
• Knowledge of socio-economic, culture, and community development issues in Ethiopia and the horn of Africa.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders and multiple donor environments in International organizations is highly desirable. 
• Proven experience in project coordination and result-based reporting
• Past experience working with UNDP / UN and international development agencies is an asset. 

Language:

Fluency in English and national language of the duty station is required.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

a)  Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors.

b)  A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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