UNDP Jobs

The project Support to Elections during the Transition Period (SETP) aims to support the Government of Yemen (GoY), and the Supreme Commission on Elections and Referenda (SCER), in particular, in reinforcing the electoral cycle by conducting fair, open and inclusive elections within the terms of the agreed Transition Initiative (signed in Riyadh on 23 November, 2011 by the ruling and the opposition parties). The project adopted a two-phase approach: phase one focused on the early Presidential elections which took place on 21 February, 2012; and phase two, which will focus on electoral legal reforms, supporting the update to the voter registry, as well as technical support to the expected referendum on a new/revised Constitution, as well as post-referendum elections. Support to the capacity building of the SCER will be reinforced during both phases.

The political agreement in Yemen is expected not only to put an end to the acute political crisis in Yemen, but also to open a new unprecedented possibility for cardinal change and target-oriented reforms aimed at enhancing the principles of democratic governance, the rule of law, political, economic and cultural development. These changes, however, cannot come overnight. The transition period began with the announcement of early elections and the formation of a new Government, which will take important steps, such as the adoption of a new constitution and legislation, formation and smooth functioning of a government of national unity, decentralization and enhancing local governance, socio-economic reforms and considerable empowerment of women and youth. The UN will support the political transition of Yemen through the UN Stabilization Framework and focus on key areas of the transition including the early Presidential Elections which took place in February 2012 and as outlined in the Transition Initiative.

The drastically increased intensity of the electoral events and their significance and importance in the transition requires that a separate Election Support Unit (ESU) be formed to conduct all the necessary preparatory and coordination work in order to meet the tremendous challenge of the transition period in an appropriate and targeted manner. In the 24-month period outlined under Phase II of the transitional process, the role of electoral operations, including voter registration, implementation assurances of electoral legal reforms and a prospective referendum and post-referendum elections will be crucial to the success of the transitional period in Yemen. 

The Election Operations Specialist will work in tandem with SCER, UNDP and other partners to design, implement, and monitor all of the facets of an operational plan for future electoral operations to be administered by the SCER.

The Election Operations Specialist will design, coordinate, and implement the strategies, and mechanisms necessary to implement future electoral processes and create and assist with the implementation of a targeted election operations and electoral administration education training program for the SCER to enhance their existing capabilities and organizational skills in this area. The Election Operations Specialist will work in coordination with the SCER as well as partner international organizations in addition to peer institutions such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sports and Youth, Ministry of Interior and other security and non-security forces that engage in and support election operations in the context of Yemen. It is foreseen that the Election Operations Specialist will be required to contribute to the ESU’s electoral assistance activities with the overall responsibility of planning and implementing election operations support to the SCER and other relevant stakeholders before, during and after the early Presidential Elections.

Internal functions of the Election Operations Specialist will be selecting, designing, creating and implementing plans/strategies for enhancing the cross-divisional engagement of the various sectors of SCER, in addition to any other governmental and non-governmental counterparts to support successful election operations and administration. A specific focus on enhancing the intra-communication and organizational capacity of the SCER will be highlighted (both at the HQ and regional levels), in addition to the oversight of the SCERs ability to manage its procurement requirements and inventory management. Support to a functional operations room and results management systems will also be key to the success of future election operations. 

• Best practice methodologies for all aspects of electoral operations, including voter registration, candidate registration, voting operations, electoral results management;
• Providing assistance in drafting a voter registration update plan;
• Providing assistance in drafting the SCER Operational Plan;
• Assistance in the drafting of procedures for conduct of digital voter registration;
• Organize the creation and implementation of training activities and consultant coordination related to election operations and election administration, including those related to electoral legal reform implementation, voter registration, procurement and inventory management, etc.
• Providing best practice advice on conducting continuous voter registration;
• Support in drafting and consolidating reports and presentations as per the requirements of the ESU/CO;
• Support in drafting and production of project workplans and budgets that correspond to the needs of a multi-faceted electoral support project;
• Advise the UNDP Country Office (CO), the CTA and other project staff on implementation of the SCER operational plan, and any requirements for adjustments to project delivery on the basis of emerging SCER operational needs;
• Replace the CTA when absent;
• Represent UNDP in meetings with Donors, SCER, and other technical relevant meetings;
• Any other tasks as assigned by the UNDP Country Director/CTA.

• Understand the context of the Yemeni electoral environment;
• Electoral operations experience from an election administration and observer perspective;
• Organizational Awareness;
• Developing and Empowering People;
• Integrity, team work, gender balance oriented attitude;
• Innovative and ability to work with minimal supervision in an often difficult and challenging environment;
• Experience in the development of training programs, election operational planning, including budgets, and support to all facets of electoral administration;
• Ability to draft project reports, budgets, power point presentations and strategic work plans in English;
• Ability to work well with others and with a team spirit;
• Willingness to work in a result oriented environment;
• Knowledge sharing/continuous learning;
• Excellent computer literacy in word, excel, powerpoint programmes;
• Resourcefulness and ability to work under time pressure.

• Master’s level education in international relations, social science, business administration or equivalent experience.

• Seven years experience in administering or analyzing electoral processes; Experience in providing advisory support to senior government officials on electoral administration matters, including voter registration and election operations;
• Experience working in the Middle East;
• Experience in previous post-conflict elections is an asset.

• English fluency;
• Functional knowledge of Arabic, both written and oral.