Background

Candidates who previously applied need not apply again.

Tanzania has held four credible general elections since the reintroduction of multi-party politics in 1992. Citizens and the government are eager to maintain this track record and to further strengthen democratic practice in Tanzania. Looking to the 2015 general election, government has undertaken early and comprehensive preparations for the electoral processes. Since receipt of official requests for UN assistance to the election cycle leading to the 2015 general election from the National Election Commission and Zanzibar Electoral Commission, a UN Needs Assessment Mission recommended the development of a project in support of the national efforts.

In addition, in 2014 the United Republic of Tanzania will likely conduct a first national referendum on a new constitution. The national EMBs and other stakeholders in preparing for these critical events have requested the support of UNDP to provide technical support to the preparation and execution of the referendum.

To these ends, the Democratic Empowerment Project (DEP) is a four year (2013-2016) UNDP, UN One Fund and other donor-funded project with the overall aim of contributing to Tanzania’s UNDAP’s Outcome 7: i.e. “key institutions of democracy, (i.e. EMBs, etc.) effectively implement their election and political functions”.   UN Women and UNESCO are implementing partners in a One UN Country Team context.

Project Objectives:

The DEP seeks to promote democracy and contribute to the realization of the following four objectives:

• Capacity of key democratic institutions (EMBs, CRC, RPP, etc.) enhanced to support and promote legal and institutional reform in the context of the on-going constitutional reform process and beyond;
• Capacity of the EMBs to conduct credible elections enhanced through strategic, technical and operational support and improved EMB engagement with stakeholders (i.e. political parties, CSOs, and the media) to foster a democratic environment;
• Inclusive participation in elections and politics enhanced through the empowerment of women, youth and PWDs; and
• National peace infrastructure enhanced to mitigate and prevent election-related conflicts.

Project Management:

The project will be executed directly by UNDP and implemented under the overall guiding principle of national ownership and leadership in the electoral process. The international assistance provided should be considered as an extension of, and a complement to, national resources and is intended to support national management and coordination structures.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Organization and management

• Plan, design and management of specialized activities which reflect a delivery of results perspective;
• Capacity development for institutional reforms and development;
• Analytical national knowledge products;
• Advocacy, networking Coordination among and between DEP Team members, political parties, and other stakeholders.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide policy advisory, programme development and technical support to the UNDP Democratic Empowerment Project (DEP) in the development and implementation of peacebuilding and conflict prevention programmes related to the forthcoming electoral cycle (possible constitutional referendum in 2014 and general elections in 2015) in Tanzania, including Zanzibar.

Under the direct supervision of the DEP Project Manager and working closely with the Chief Technical Advisor and the two national Dialogue Analysts (for Mainland and Zanzibar) of DEP, provide high-level technical advisory services to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) and Tanzanian security services in areas such as:

• Planning, training and implementation of electoral security strategies with NEC/ZEC and Tanzanian security services;
• Facilitating and supporting enhanced strategies for reconciliation & dialogue, voter education, community organizing, engaging men and boys in prevention of gender based violence, armed violence prevention, community security and social cohesion activities as related to electoral cycle activities;
• Design and development of country-specific electoral conflict prevention and peacebuilding programming;
• Providing high level advisory services to UNDP RR/CO and UN agencies/RC on mainstreaming conflict prevention in UN processes and programmes including the design and roll out of conflict mapping and peace and conflict analyses;
• Provide advisory services to government, national civil society organizations on conflict prevention, peace –building, strengthening the national infrastructures for peace;
• Identify the needs and roles of local non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations and formulate strategies and projects for UNDP to strengthen community and local NGO involvement, as well as the roles of women, in conflict prevention and peace building initiatives at national and local levels.

Development of strategic partnerships:

Supports the Chief Technical Advisor and the DEP project team in the development of strategic partnerships and entry points with relevant stakeholders for peace building and conflict prevention programmes

• Assist in helping build strategic alliances and partnerships for peace and development related strategies and initiatives with governments, donors, multilateral organizations, regional NGOs and other UN Agencies;
• Contribute to the establishment of partnerships, drafting of agreements and monitoring of implementation of the partnership, conducts regular consultation with national authorities;
• Develops strategies for engaging with the private sectors in conflict prevention and peace building. Support the development of a long-term package of knowledge and policy advisory services to NEC/ZEC and other national authorities in the area of electoral/political violence, electoral security sector planning/training/management, dialogues, engaging men and boys in prevention of gender based violence, community security and social cohesion;
• Strengthen partnerships and information sharing with relevant donors and other actors supporting DEP’s electoral environment security and related peace-building efforts, including through substantive management over appropriate programming components, written reports, updates to the UNDP/DEP web-site and periodic information sharing via email updates to the donor/partner networks.

Capacity strengthening of national institutions:

Facilitates collaboration/coordination and knowledge management and capacity development of the NEC/ZEC and Tanzanian security services and the related enhancement of electoral security, conflict prevention and peace building

• Assist the DEP CTA, project management and staff with the design and implementation of targeted initiatives to strengthen national capacities for peace building and conflict prevention and to build consensus through dialogues. Provide ongoing technical backstopping;
• Lead in analyzing, consolidating and disseminating lessons learned and good practices directly linked to regional and in-country programming on conflict prevention including responding to requests for information on best practice and offering referrals to experts and centres of expertise;
• Utilize social media methodologies and knowledge management networks to disseminate information;
• Support the CTA and DEP project management in preparing quarterly reports on programme delivery of DEP as part of management and reporting processes;
• Monitor and regularly brief the NEC/ZEC/CTA and project stakeholders on progress towards implementation of conflict prevention components of the DEP work plan and budget expenditure.

Impact of Results

The key results of the post will contribute to the United Nation’s efforts towards consolidating democratic structures and systems of good governance in Tanzania by strengthening political, civil society and electoral systems that enhance effective participation, representation and greater political tolerance.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Promotes a learning environment; facilitates the development of individual and team competencies.

Functional Competencies:

Results-Orientation

• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations.

Partnering and Networking

• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UNDP.

Innovation and Judgment

• Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems and how they relate;
• Contributes creative, practical ideas and approaches to deal with challenging situation;
• Strives for quality client-centered services (internal/external) when making decisions and taking action.

Communication

• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills.

Job Knowledge & Expertise

• Demonstrates substantive knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Uses ICT and web-based management systems effectively as a tool and resource;
• Is motivated & demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development & learn;
• Nuanced knowledge of conflict analysis tools and methodologies;
• Track record of building good working relationships with government counterparts;
• Demonstrable understanding of the gender aspects of peace and conflict through programming or research;
• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming gender and human rights in projects;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate and deliver in a complex and multicultural environment;
• Good knowledge and understanding of the UN, its values, priority goals and systems and procedures will be a definitive asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, development, political sciences, development economics, etc.).

Experience:

• At least 7 years of progressive experience in international development including experience with elections, electoral security, prevention/mitigation of political and social conflict related to electoral cycle event;
• Thorough knowledge and demonstrated extensive experience in conflict prevention policy development, programming and advocacy related to the electoral cycle;
• Demonstrated substantive experience in security sector governance and collaboration among/between security services and electoral management bodies, reconciliation & dialogue, voter/civic education, engaging men and boys in prevention of gender based violence, community security and social cohesion;
• Demonstrated experience in conducting conflict, political economy and governance analysis and in designing and managing multi-stakeholder participatory conflict analysis processes and methodologies;
• Work experience in East Africa will be a definite asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluent written and spoken English essential;
• Knowledge of Kiswahili an asset.

Female candidates are strongly encourage to apply.