Globally the complex relationship between conflict, security and development is increasingly understood, and 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 recognised 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 national an international Peace and Development Advisors (PDA) has been the primary instrument of the Joint Programme to provide capacity for United Nations Resident Coordinators (UNRC) 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 56 international 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.

In this context, a Peace and Development team is being established for Guyana and Suriname. The team is composed by an international Peace and Development Advisor that covers both countries, based in Georgetown, Guyana, with regular trips to Suriname. The Peace and Development Officer position will be based in Paramaribo to assist in the efforts led by the PDA in support of the UN Country Team in Suriname.

Suriname recently held national elections and conducted a peaceful transfer of power to the opposition party. On 13 July 2020 the newly elected members of the National Parliament of Suriname elected Chandrikapersad Santokhi as President of the Country starting a new chapter in the country’s history. This new period will allow for a close and strategic engagement with the United Nations Team on the ground on a number of the issue of prevention. At the same time, the country has been facing challenges in the management of the COVID-19 Pandemic with a rising number of cases daily.

Against this political backdrop the UN agencies are trying to restructure their projects and programs to better assist with the Covid-19 response and recovery and to advance the UN’s call to help the country “Build Back Better.”

To better assist the country with its response to the Pandemic and meet its development goals, the UN Country Team is developing a SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PLAN. Furthermore, the UN Team on the ground is expected to deliver over the next 12 months in close collaboration with the new Government strategic documents including a Common Country Analysis (CCA) and a new Development Programming Framework. These documents will need to ensure programs and projects are developed and implemented in a conflict-sensitive manner. To allow that CCA and new Programming Framework are grounded in strong analysis, a Conflict and Development Analysis will need to be conducted this year and feed into the mentioned planning processes. The National Peace and Development Officer will be instrumental to achieving these goals.

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

1. Assist on research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention;  
2. Identify entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks; and
3. Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships and M&E.

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

1. Assisting on research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention.  

• Gather and process data and information relevant to the UN’s role and activities in Suriname and the sub-region as relevant, with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding, social cohesion, conflict prevention and sustainable development;
• Support the PDA in undertaking political, political economy and/or conflict analysis, monitoring the situation in the country, and reporting of issues related to peace and security, including through analysis of local sources;
• Carry out and coordinate research on issues and thematic areas, related to peace, stability and effective governance in Suriname, especially economic stabilization issues.

2. Identifying entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks.

• Assist the PDA in identifying areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders related to social cohesion, dialogue, conflict prevention and consensus building; and contribute to the development of conflict-sensitive approaches;
• Under the guidance of the PDA, support the exploration of entry points with key national counterparts including the Government and civil society;
• Advise on mainstreaming conflict-sensitive approaches; including provision of training UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention and/or conflict-sensitive development;
• Undertake mappings and analysis with civil society actors’ (including youth, women, and marginalized groups) capacities for conflict prevention/ peacebuilding at local and national level, using the exercise to inform the support provided by the PDA and UNCT throughout the duration of the assignment;
• Support the PDA in their engagement with national and local stakeholders, focusing particularly on engaging with civil society actors at local level and academia, to help link local initiatives to national-level institutions, structures and processes, as well as reinforcing dialogue between government and civil society and/or people-to-people dialogues

         3.  Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships and M&E.

• Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector and the international community, including the UN system).
• 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 peace and development 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. These may include: assisting in organizing meetings and consultations, organizing and implementing consultation processes with national and international partners.

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences. In lieu of an Advanced degree, a Bachelor university degree with additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization;
• Extensive experience in analysis, research and sound drafting skills;
• Experience in project/programme development, management
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming;
• In-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in (country/region), 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.

Language Requirements:

• Fluent written and spoken English and Dutch are required.

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