National Peace & Development Advisor

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Violent conflict has surged in Yemen since 2014 rendering it the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world with the conflict not only leading to humanitarian emergencies but also deep political divisions and excessive militarization. While the complex relationship between Yemen’s internal and sub-regional conflicts, 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 fostering sustainable 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 UNDP-DPPA programme recognizes the need for strengthening these capacities in countries like Yemen where an actual and multi-layered conflict has exposed a necessity for the UN programmes to adopt a more coherent, conflict-sensitive and forward-looking approaches.   

The deployment of a Peace and Development Adviser will be the primary instrument of the Joint Programme to provide capacity for the Resident Coordinator Office and UN Country Team 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.

The national Peace and Development Adviser will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the PDA, 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 across Yemen;   
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;
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 across Yemen;   

• Gather and process data and information relevant to the UN’s role and activities in Yemen and the sub-region as relevant, with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding, social cohesion, conflict resolution and prevention and sustainable development;
• Support the PDA in undertaking political, political economy, conflict analysis, monitoring the situation across Yemen, and reporting of issues related to peace and security, including through analysis of local sources;
• Carry out and coordinate research on particular issues and thematic areas, in particular the dynamics in the north and south of Yemen - identifying opportunities for engagement, the economy, the UN-led political process and institutional and constitutional 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, the tribes and civil society;
• Advise on mainstreaming conflict-sensitive approaches; including provision of training to 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.

The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that:

• Human rights and gender equality are prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions.
• Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP.”
• Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production.
• Differentiated needs of women and men are considered.
• Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created.
• Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings, etc.

Core Competencies:

Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow.
Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Technical/Functional Competenceis:

Social Cohesion
Knowledge of methods and experience of supporting communities to achieve greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Peacebuilding and Reconciliation
Ability to support peace processes to facilitate recovery and development.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Conflict-Sensitive Programming
Ability to use methods and tools to monitor conflict triggers and determine impact of various dynamics in conflict-prone situations.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Conflict Analysis and Risk Assessment
Knowledge of conflict analysis and risk assessment concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Gender
Knowledge of gender issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis of projects from a gender perspective.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Civil Society Engagement
Knowledge to create and implement civil society initiatives and apply across peace and development work.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management
Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.
Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise


 

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 two years of experience will 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 Arabic is required.

Important applicant information

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

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