Peace & Development Specialist
Niamey
- Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
- Location: Niamey
- Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
-
Occupational Groups:
- Capacity Development
- Peace and Development
- Closing Date: Closed
Background
Peace and Development Specialists (hereafter PDA) work with national stakeholders to build, strengthen, and sustain nationally owned and driven efforts to prevent violent conflict and build just and peaceful societies. The range of countries to which PDAs are deployed vary considerably, with some deployed to countries emerging from conflict, others where violence is escalating, and others to countries where there is no violent conflict but underlying structural causes of conflict are present. PDAs are also deployed in countries where political and developmental challenges exist around issues related to elections and constitutional processes, exclusion and inequality, environment, climate change and natural resource management.
PDAs are deployed through a partnership between the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention. PDAs support Resident Coordinators (RC) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in their efforts to work with national partners on conflict prevention and sustaining peace. They support early warning and risk management measures, and ensure that UN assessments, frameworks (mainly UN Cooperation Frameworks), strategies and programmes are conflict-sensitive and informed by high quality analysis. They are located in the Resident Coordinators’ office, with a direct reporting line to the RC, and a secondary reporting line to the UNDP Resident Representative and DPPA-DPO regional divisions.
In 2021, PDAs will have been deployed into more than 50 countries through the Joint Programme. While most PDAs are deployed at country-level, there are a number of PDAs who cover multiple countries. In some contexts, PDAs are part of a small Peace and Development Advisory team composed of a PDA and a substantive national or international officer/analyst. PDAs also receive additional support from a Joint Programme secretariat based at UN Headquarters in New York, from UNDP and DPPA technical advisors/specialists globally, and from a cadre of regional programme specialists supporting their regions from Amman, Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Dakar, Istanbul and Panama.
Given the broad range of skills and experience required by PDAs, the Joint Programme encourages applications from individuals with a combination of expertise spanning sustainable development, political affairs, peacebuilding, sustaining peace, conflict prevention/resolution, community engagement, justice, reconciliation, dialogue, mediation, and humanitarian-development-peace nexus among other relevant areas. While UN experience is a major asset, it is not a requirement for this position. Moreover, the skills of diplomacy, dialogue and facilitation, analysis, advocacy, networking, capacity development and coordination are critical elements of a PDA’s work.
Niger’s context
Located in the middle of the Sahel and bordering unstable Mali, Libya and Boko Haram-affected areas of Nigeria, Niger is under political, security, social and environmental stress. President Mahamadou Issoufou, whose election in 2011 marked the return to constitutional order following a coup against his predecessor Mamadou Tandja, was re-elected for a second five-year term in March 2016. Former Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum, who won the presidential run-off election held on 21 February 2021, was sworn in on 2 April, setting an important milestone for the country, as this leads to the first peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents.
The security situation in Niger remains fragile and volatile particularly at the borders with Burkina Faso, Mali and Libya (presence of non-states armed groups, criminal groups and extremist movements), as well as at the border with Nigeria where terrorist attacks by Boko Haram persist. While, interventions by Niger’s Defense Forces and the Multinational Joint Force continue to improve security in the Diffa region, the increased security threat posed by Boko Haram remains a major concern. This situation has led to displacement of populations in the south-east. The growing number of IDPs, refugees and migrants has increased the vulnerability of the host populations, the need for humanitarian assistance and developmental challenges. This has also highlighted the need to strengthen understanding and knowledge of root and/or underlying causes of conflict.
Faced with multiple needs, Niger already maintains a delicate ethnic balance since the 2009 peace agreement between northern Tuareg and the rest of the country, dominated by the Jerma, Haoussa and Kanouri. The landlocked country is also under stress from climate change resulting in increased intercommunity conflicts. Religious and traditional leaders, women and youth associations play a key role in maintaining the much-needed social cohesion, despite limited capacities.
The COVID-19 outbreak comes on top of this already extremely fragile context. Despite prevention measures in place and a robust response plan implemented by the Government with the support of its partners, COVID-19 has had a major impact on health and socio-economic areas, with the Government reviewing down its projected GDP growth for 2020 from 6.3 per cent to 1 per cent. With 50 per cent of the population below the age of 20, the provision of decent jobs and basic services to the youth remains a considerable challenge.
Security and COVID-19 constraints continue to pose a challenge. Although the lack of consensus among political stakeholders did not stall the electoral process, the framework for political dialogue among the political class should be supported and social cohesion addressed beyond the electoral period. Following the successful conclusion of the first round of elections, the opposition parties have nominated members to the CENI.
It is in this context that the UN in Niger is looking for a PDA to undertake initiatives that bolster Niger’s national, institutional, and civil society capacities for conflict analysis and conflict-sensitive programming. This will also intend to address the emerging development and humanitarian issues underlying the potential crisis in the country as well as to consolidate peace. Special emphasis will be given to inclusion of women and youth in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
Duties and Responsibilities
While the nature of the PDA role varies according to country and regional context, there are three broad functions of the position: Summary of key functions:
PDAs have a primary reporting line to the Resident Coordinator, and secondary reporting lines to the DPPA-DPO regional division and the UNDP Resident Representative. Under their guidance and agreed workplan, in close collaboration with the country team, and assuring leadership of the Peace and Development Unit, the PDA will:
|
2. Identify opportunities to build national capacities for conflict prevention including areas of strategic, programmatic and policy engagement with national stakeholders, and support the RC and the UNCT action in areas of conflict prevention, peacebuilding, human rights, humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) among others.
|
3. Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key national stakeholders, regional and international actors and development partners on issues related to Sustaining Peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
|
Competencies
Core |
|
Innovation Ability to make new and useful ideas work | Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them |
Leadership Ability to persuade others to follow | Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers |
People Management Ability to improve performance and satisfaction | Level 4: Models independent thinking and action |
Communication Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform | Level 5: 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 | Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions |
Technical/Functional | Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx and hiring managers are encouraged to familiarize themselves for more information |
Social Cohesion Knowledge of methods and experience of supporting communities to achieve greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility | Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise |
Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Ability to support peace processes to facilitate recovery and development | Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for 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 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise |
Conflict and Political Economy Analysis Knowledge of the interaction of political, social and economic processes in a society; including distribution of power and wealth between groups and individuals, and the processes that create, sustain and transform these relationships over time, and how these dynamics both affect, and are affected by, UN's development support | Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise |
Knowledge Management Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge | Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise |
Relationship Management Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships | Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for 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 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise |
Required Skills and Experience
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 7 years of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, strategy development, risk informed/conflict sensitive development and/or conflict prevention and sustaining peace in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization;
- Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior officials, such as in the United Nations, government and external partners;
- Experience in programming and project management, such as programme design and results monitoring, in areas related to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and/or development;
- Experience in national and community level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming; with experience in gendered dimensions of peacebuilding being an asset;
- Experience working within a UN Agency/Fund/Programme or Department is an advantage;
- Proven experience in working on the Sahel subregion would be an asset.
Laguague:
Fluent written and spoken English and French is required.
Disclaimer
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.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: