UNDP Jobs - 51940- Policy Specialist, Rule of Law, Justice and Securi

Policy Specialist, Rule of Law, Justice and Security

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

23-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year renewable

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Policy Specialist, Rule of Law, Justice and Security based in HQ is responsible for conducting research and analysis to support of the team’s efforts to provide policy and programme advisory, advocacy, relationship building, and knowledge to the thematic area of Rule of Law, Justice and Security within the Bureau and UNDP as a whole. S/he acts in response to requests from country offices and in collaboration with the integration and coordination team to provide policy as well as programme support in contexts of crisis and conflict. S/he collaborates with teams across BPPS, CRU, UNDP’s Regional Hubs, Country Offices, Global Policy Centers, and the UN system to ensure the execution of quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services within regions, across regions, and at the country level, as well as to ensure alignment with the Strategic Plan. S/he collaborates with teams across UNDP’s Regional Hubs, Country Offices and Global Policy Centers, to support the provision of quality policy services and advance UNDP’s credibility in the thematic area. S/he is responsible for performing and contributing to the following:

Policy Research and Development;
Policy Advice/ Programme and Project Delivery Support;
Policy Positioning and Representation;
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization;
Knowledge Management.

Policy Research and Development

Contribute to development of guidance in the specific thematic area, and related tools for the implementation of global policy standards, including coordinating testing and rolling out of tools and methodologies;
Conduct analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons in support of policy and strategy development;
Take part in the process of analyzing, improving and adapting policies for different contexts on key emerging policy agendas based on policy initiatives designed;
Conduct data analysis and research to identify potential new research areas for commissioning including through the Global Policy Centers and focusing on demands and gaps at the country level;
Provide context input to support the quality assurance of policy services and foster policy innovation in the specific thematic area to enhance programme delivery.

Policy Advice/ Programme and Project Delivery Support

Provides programme support to UNDP COs and to UN entities on Rule of Law, Justice & Security in crisis and post-conflict contexts, with the support of BPPS teams in the Regional Hubs, and in close coordination with other UN entities under the Global Focal Point arrangement.

Supports preparation of initial drafts of technical advice that responds to country office needs, including through the provision of capacity building and backstopping;
Prepare material as requested by supervisor to support the application of integrated multi-disciplinary approaches, including through Development Solutions Teams (DSTs), to meet policy and programming needs in line with corporate guidance and standards;
Provide support to roll out and application of relevant risk management tools across country typologies; and
Support the Team Leader in liaising with the CRU to ensure a rapid and well-coordinated response to crisis and conflict situations and provide related contributions to UNDP SURGE for country offices.

Policy Positioning and Representation

Conduct research and analysis and draft materials to support mobilizing, fostering and strengthening strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies, including support to system-wide initiatives (e.g. the Global Focal Point);
Draft and aid the development of briefings and speeches, as applicable;
Prepare materials to aid in advocating the importance of the thematic area in various fora, including academia and civil society, with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms; and
Support team’s engagement in UN interagency coordination in relevant policy areas by providing research insight in specific thematic area.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

Undertake research to support Team Leader and Advisors in partnership building and resource mobilization, developing first drafts of papers and marketing materials, and participating in relevant external meetings, in line with the Bureau’s partnership and resource mobilization strategy;
Perform analysis and research to support the implementation of partnership strategies with with UN (e.g. DPKO, DPA, OHCHR, UNODC, UN Women) and external regional partner institutions including Governments, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs (e.g. G7+, OECD, World Bank, Member States and donor countries) at the global, regional and local level; and
Participate in relevant external meetings, including resource mobilization, partnership and advocacy activities with UN partners, permanent missions, and external stakeholders.

Knowledge Management

Keep an up-to-date library of knowledge related to the thematic area , whether at the global, cross-regional or region-specific level to and proactively share documents with team members and respond to their specific requests for information; and
Contribute to the development and review of knowledge products in close coordination with HQ and Regional Hub teams by analyzing and sharing lessons learnt and programme evaluation results.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional:
Primary:

Rule of Law, Justice and Security;
Knowledge of Rule of law, Justice and Security concepts and principles and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations;
Research;
Knowledge of various programme information for research to provide recommendation and guidance to management;
Partnerships;
Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships;
Knowledge Management;
Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge;
UN System Coordination;
Ability to engage in inter-agency processes and ensure UNDP positioning.

Secondary:

Project and Programme Management;
Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals;
Report and Brief Writing;
Ability to prepare quality reports and briefs.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law, governance, political science or other social sciences or related disciplines.

Experience:

5 years of professional work experience providing policy advice and programme support in the general area of Rule of Law, Justice and Security in different development contexts. Experience working in developing country settings is required and experience in crisis contexts is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both written and oral;
Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.