INFORMATION ANALYST, POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Integrated Analysis Team (IAT), Office of the Chief of Staff, at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in Mogadishu. Mogadishu is classified as a “E” duty station and a non-family duty station. The IAT is responsible for the management (collection, coordination, analysis and dissemination) of information as a basis for policy development, enhanced planning and decision-making by Senior Mission Leadership. The Information Analyst reports to the Chief IAT.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, and under the supervision of the Chief IAT, the Information Analyst will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:
• Identify potential research and analysis topics relevant to UNSOM mandate implementation.
• Collate, evaluate and analyze information related to developments/events relevant to mandate implementation, using a variety of sources, including UN Mission civilian/military/police components, UN Country Team, national military/civilian authorities, international community, NGOs, media and other key stakeholders.
• Produce accurate and timely integrated analyses, assessments and other analytical products to support decision-making, policy development and planning by Senior Mission Leadership.
• Assist the Chief IAT in overseeing the timely production of high quality IAT product and in ensuring information security as well as proper dissemination.
• Provide briefings to the Mission Leadership Team, senior UN staff and visiting delegations and represent the IAT in meetings as required.
• Support the Chief IAT in the supervision and management of a diverse, integrated IAT team (recruitment, staff development, training, evaluation etc.).
• Oversee a system of for classifying and storing confidential information, in consultation with informational management/technology experts.

Competencies

Professionalism: Strong analytical skills and experience in information collection and management; excellent drafting and editing skills with the proven ability to produce cogent reports and edit the work of others; ability to produce forward-looking, pre-emptive analytical products and relevant leadership advice; proven ability to integrate different perspectives into analytical products; ability to coordinate with many different actors, to develop and foster collaboration and contact networks and to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and maintain effective working relations with people of different national, professional and cultural backgrounds; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required;Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments.

Judgement and Decision-Making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions; prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, social science, international relations, law, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience and relevant academic/professional qualifications, such as accreditation from military or government command and staff colleges, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in intelligence or information analysis, political affairs, international relations, security (military or police) or related field is required.

Excellent analytical, drafting and briefing skills are required.

A minimum of two years in a UN operation is desirable.

Experience as a political or information analyst in a conflict or post-conflict area is desirable.

Experience in the Horn of Africa region is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered for this job opening. Roster applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are qualified, interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the position, if selected. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Extension of the appointment is subject to mandate extension and/or the availability of the funds.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.