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The wave of public protests against the incumbent regime in Yemen during 2011 culminated in the signing of an agreement on transfer of power brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and facilitated by the United Nations. In accordance with the transition agreement, a Government of National Unity was sworn in on 10 December 2011 and the presidential election took place on 21 February 2012. The transition agreement puts the entire responsibility for implementation of the transition agreement on the Government. The agreement calls on the United Nations Secretary General, in cooperation with other agencies, to provide on-going assistance for the implementation of the agreement and to coordinate the assistance from the international community to implement the initiative and its mechanism.

The transition agreement identified a number of priority tasks and related benchmarks varying from the national dialogue and constitutional reform to socio-economic reforms, transitional justice, reform of the electoral system and parliamentary elections. Whereas the government as a whole will play an indispensable role in the transition process, with different government agencies contributing to various stages of the transition, the following core institutions (CI) stand out 1) the Presidency’s Office (PO); 2) Prime Minister’s Office (PMO),3) the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC), 4) the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and 5) the recently established National Committee for National Dialogue, as well as Ministry of Human Rights and Ministry of Industry and Trade. These institutions are particularly important for designing and maintaining a strategic focus on the transition by all national and international actors as well as for coordination of the delivery of basic services and immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Therefore, UNDP in cooperation with other development partners and the Government of Yemen (GoY) set up an Emergency Capacity Development Facility (ECDF) to provide to the national leadership for the transition with immediate and catalytic support from a multi-partners perspective. The projects aims—in the short term—at reinforcing the leadership capacities of the Core Institutions (CI) to successfully orient, lead and coordinate the achievement of key benchmarks stated in the GCC agenda as well in as the Government’s Transitional Plan.

The project is composed of four interrelated modules: Organizational Leadership Enhancement; Aid Coordination and Partnership; Socio-economic reforms; and National Dialogue assistance.

During May and June 2012, the Ministerial Committee for the National Dialogue requested UNDP for technical assistance with regard to Youth consultations to select nominees for the Preparatory Committee of the National Dialogue. Following the successful and good collaboration with the Ministerial Committee a Youth Assembly was organized and nominees were identified. The need for a more solid and systematic technical assistance during the preparation phase of the National Dialogue, as well as during the National Dialogue was assessed during that period. , Therefore UNDP Yemen looks to hire a National Dialogue Advisor.  to lead the technical assistance on National Dialogue [preparation and implementation] to strengthen the dialogue capacity of relevant constituencies in the Yemeni Dialogue process [e.g. including youth, civil society groups, etc.], all under the political leadership of and in close collaboration with the UN Secretary General Special Advisor. project’s efforts to assist building a strong leadership especially at the President and Prime Minister’s offices, as well as the Ministry of Human Rights (coordinating youth involvement in the national dialogue) using the National Dialogue Committee as its platform.

Summary of key functions:

Working under the supervision of the ECDF Team Leader and in close cooperation with the Offices of the President and Prime Minister, Ministry of Human Rights, National Dialogue Committee and other national entities (including youth and civil society organizations and private sector), the National Dialogue Advisor will Advise Yemeni leaders (President and Prime Minster Offices, as well as Minister of Human Rights and Chairperson of the National Dialogue Committee) on best practices and elsewhere experiences; planning processes for inclusive national dialogue participatory processes; best way of engagement and commitment building; inclusiveness, consensus building, efficient and effective way of involving youth, women and minority groups; roles and responsibilities of facilitating organs; tactics for a wider public participation through Information Communication Technology (ICT); documentation of the final products and the way forward.

Advise on the Formation of the Inclusive National Dialogue:

• Advise CI and NDC on options and elsewhere experiences on inclusive national dialogue methodologies/approaches;
• Share international standards with CI & NDC on participatory processes and techniques for cost-effective ways on involving youth, women and minority groups at all levels;
• Advise on planning and organization of the national dialogue, set up modules for consultations;
• Advise on documentation and reporting methodologies;
• Analyze progress and advice on follow-up, increasing ownership, trouble shooting and implementation;
• Analyze needed messages and messaging of CI;
• Advise on the utilization of ICT on one hand to raise awareness and engagement, and on the other to keep the public well informed;
• Share experiences of elsewhere on consensus building and techniques on how to maintain high level of commitments by all parties during and after the national dialogues;
• Organize training session for CI on national dialogue methodologies, follow-up and experience of other countries;
• Advise the project on the appropriate way of setting-up a knowledge sharing platform on transition government;
  
• Advise on setting-up of a monitoring and follow-up mechanism during the dialogues and on the implementation of its recommendations;
• Liaise with other dialogue capacity enhancement initiatives, e.g. women’s groups [UNFPA and UNWomen], youngsters [UNICEF] etc.

Capacity development in CI and civil society [including youth and CSO groups] on National dialogue:

• Based on the analysis of the strategic gaps in the CI, design a capacity building programme to enhance strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation with regard to National Dialogue Processes;
• Suggest short-term and long-term external capacity development support in dialogue and its follow-up, monitoring and evaluation and develop the TOR for such support;
• Design and deliver focused capacity development as necessary through formal training, coaching and on-the-job training as appropriate, i.e. a ToT a significant pool of national facilitators/mediators for the National Dialogue;
• Share experiences of elsewhere on consensus building and techniques on how to maintain high level of commitments by all parties during and after the national dialogues;
• Organize training session for CI and civil society on national dialogue methodologies, follow-up and experience of other countries;
• Analyze the opportunities for knowledge sharing on strategic planning in post-crisis situations in the framework of South-South cooperation and design relevant mechanisms and events.

Project implementation:

• Finalize and consolidate a Results Resources Framework (RRF) and detailed annual work plans for the national dialogue module;
• Support UNDP efforts of resources mobilization, including planning and costing project inputs; briefing donors, and preparing donor progress reports as required by UNDP reporting rules and as requested by specific donors;
• Draft regular activity reports, as well as other documents as requested by the CTA.
  

• Strategic vision: high level understanding of national dialogue and reconciliation processes;
• Leadership: proven intellectual leadership and demonstrated expert knowledge of leadership issues in post-conflict and transitional societies;
• Communication: clear and convincing communicator of ideas in writing and in person, and ability to defend and explain difficult and complex issues with respect to key decisions and positions;
• Integrity: Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Proven record of good trainer;
• Proven record of good facilitator with groups that are highly divided;
• Knowledgably on culture context in Yemen;
• Ability to work in a team, also across the UN agencies;
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations.
  

Education:

• Master degree in political science, conflict prevention, law, public administration, institutional/organizational development or related field. Trained facilitator / mediator.

Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of proven relevant work experience in dialogue, national dialogue, participative policy development and/or consultation processes all in complex political situations;
• Knowledge and experience from working with countries in transition. Previous work experience in the region is an asset;
• Proven familiarity with gender analysis and concept, as well as working with youth groups and civil society groups.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential, Arabic desirable.