Peace and Development Programme Specialist – Knowledge Management

Since its establishment in 2004, the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention has been engaged in supporting national stakeholders and bridging the gap between political engagement and development assistance in pursuit of sustainable peace. In its current phase (Programme Document 2019-2023), the Joint Programme seeks to support the Member States to deepen their capacities and strengthen their systems and processes for conflict prevention and is accordingly designed to contribute to two mutually supportive outcomes:

Outcome 1:      Targeted initiatives and national capacities are more effectively contributing to conflict prevention and sustaining peace.

Outcome 2:      UN Country Teams are increasingly conflict-sensitive, have developed conflict-sensitive country strategies, and are leading partnerships on sustaining peace.

The Joint Programme currently deploys more than 120 international and national experts known as Peace and Development Advisors (hereafter PDAs). Based in 70 countries, PDAs are at the forefront of UN efforts to empower national stakeholders and strengthen mechanisms and capacities for inclusive dialogue, social cohesion, reconciliation, and national peace architectures. PDAs are deployed to countries where tensions or violence is escalating, and to countries where there is no violent conflict but underlying structural causes of conflict are present.

In this context, and in line with the recommendations of the 2022 mid-term review of the Joint Programme, specific expertise is sought to bolster the knowledge management, communication and policy engagement of the Joint Programme. The Joint Programme is leading diverse initiatives to strengthen knowledge management and organizational learning in conflict prevention and sustaining peace, to inform and strengthen good practices, better communicate results and impact with external and internal audiences, and to facilitate structured exchanges amongst a growing community of peace and development practitioners.

The Peace and Development Knowledge Management Specialist will report to the Programme Specialist. The Specialist will work closely with the M&E and Programme Specialist. S/he will work under the overall guidance of the Joint Programme Management in New York.

The key functions of the Specialist will fall under the following three categories:

1. Establish, strengthen and support the implementation of strategies, mechanisms and platforms for knowledge management and organizational learning;

2. Lead efforts to capture, document, and disseminate promising and innovative conflict prevention practices; 

3. Lead communication and advocacy efforts to strengthen visibility, outreach, and resource mobilization.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist will:

Establish, strengthen and support the implementation of strategies, mechanisms and platforms for knowledge management and organizational learning

Duties:

• Revise and implement the Joint Programme knowledge management strategy to best capture, share, and promote good practices and results from the PDA cadre (and other conflict prevention practitioners as relevant);
• Support the development and maintenance of effective online knowledge platforms (e.g., website, intranet, and others) to provide access to a categorized repository of knowledge, disseminate lessons and innovative practices;
• Identify, develop and implement other knowledge management systems, tools, networks, and strategies that optimize knowledge exchanges and improve efficiency in producing, storing and sharing information and facilitating learning;
• Lead the design and organization of peer-to-peer learning and exchange opportunities aiming at sharing and building knowledge in the area of conflict prevention i.e. PDA induction programme, regional and global PDA retreats, thematic deep-dive meetings, etc.;
• Support efforts to process the knowledge and learning captured from the work of the PDAs at the country level into Headquarter policy processes;
• Identify and advise on opportunities to translate the knowledge captured into organizational learning and business processes targeted at attaining the strategic goals of the Joint Programme.

Lead efforts to capture, document and disseminate promising and innovative conflict prevention practices  

Duties:

• Facilitate and/or generate good practices, lessons learned, case studies, stories, after-action reviews, and knowledge products to fit the knowledge needs of the PDA cadre, as well as the policy and practice needs of the UN System and external partners more broadly;
• Lead on the development of the Joint Programme Annual Report and other regular reporting requirements in close collaboration with the M&E and Programme Specialist and the wider team;
• Providing research, drafting and editing support, including data analysis, fact-checking, talking points, background notes, blurbs, speeches, PowerPoint presentations, press and media releases, and other materials on demand, or in response to internal and external requests;
• Identify and coordinate opportunities for PDAs to provide inputs and participate in learning and research initiatives and networks outside of the Joint Programme;
• Keep up-to-date on the latest developments in relevant thematic areas related to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, identify knowledge resources, data insights, and expertise to be shared with the PDA cadre and more broadly, as relevant;
• Ensure all knowledge management and communication efforts are inclusive, and that gender and Women Peace and Security, as well as Youth, Peace and Security, are captured in knowledge and communication products.

Lead communication and advocacy efforts to strengthen visibility, outreach, and resource mobilization

Duties:

• Strengthen and implement communication and visibility tools and strategies;
• Develop and coordinate communication and outreach materials, including online blogs, stories, etc.
• Support PDAs in the development of country-specific communications and advocacy efforts on conflict Prevention and peacebuilding, when requested;
• Identify opportunities to enhance the Joint Programme’s visibility and outreach on other multimedia and social media platforms;
• Support the positioning of the Joint Programme through identifying advocacy and awareness-raising opportunities;
• Support efforts to identify and maintain partnering opportunities in the area of work with relevant UN entities, leading policy institutions, academia, private sector, civil society, to strengthen the knowledge, learning, policy efforts of the Joint Programme
• Collaborate closely with the corporate knowledge and communication teams of UNDP and DPPA.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: N/A

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree) or equivalent in political science, conflict studies, development studies, sociology, international relations, international economics, communications, journalism, law, or other related social sciences. In lieu of an advanced degree, a bachelor’s university degree with additional two (2) years of related experience will be given due consideration.

 Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• Minimum of five (5) years combined with a master’s degree, or seven (7) years combined with a bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in the areas of knowledge management, communication, research, analysis, or policy is required;
• Experience in developing knowledge and guidance products, and facilitating knowledge management and organizational learning processes is an asset;
• Experience in communication and advocacy, outreach is desirable;
• Demonstrated knowledge of conflict prevention, peacebuilding and/or sustaining peace is highly desirable;
• Experience in developing or maintaining online knowledge tools is desirable;
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with a strong command of English and an ability to convey complex ideas in a clear, direct, and lively style are strongly desirable.

Language requirements (Required / Desired)

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Other

• Qualified female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have 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 complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Development

• Knowledge Generation - Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need

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.

Digital & Innovation

• Co-creation - Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together.  Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into to them as a source for creativity. Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing.

Business Management

• Digital Awareness and Literacy - Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

People strategy and planning

• Organizational design and development - Knowledge of the organisational design and development theory (i.e. enabling organization’s performance through the design of structures, frameworks, systems, policies and metrics, as well as building and developing its culture, capability, values, behaviours, and relationships); understanding of macro trends that impact the design of organizations (e.g. sustainability, geopolitical, demographic, technology); knowledge of organisational design and development diagnostic tools; ability to ‘scenario plan’ for longer term organization design and development; ability to manage the development of capability/competency frameworks and maps.

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institution - Conflict prevention, peacebuilding, sustaining peace