UN WOMEN Jobs - 52038- Policy Adviser, Governance, Peace and Security

Policy Adviser, Governance, Peace and Security

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Bujumbura, BURUNDI

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

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

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Security Council Resolution 2137 (2014) ends the mandate of the UN Office in Burundi (BNUB) on 31 December 2014 and requests the UN Mission to transfer appropriate responsibilities to the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). BNUB will carry out its mandate until the end of the year, which includes promoting and facilitating dialogue between national actors and supporting broad-based participation in political life, towards ensuring a free and open environment for the run up to the 2015 elections; strengthening the independence of judicial and parliamentary institutions; supporting efforts to fight impunity, particularly through the establishment of independent and impartial transitional justice mechanisms; promoting and protecting human rights; and supporting the efforts of the Government and the international community to focus on the socio-economic development of women and youth and the socio-economic reintegration of conflict-affected populations. Resolution 2137 (2014) further calls on BNUB and international partners to work with the Government of Burundi for the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms, including a truth and reconciliation commission and support to peace building priorities.

Women are recognized peace-builders in Burundi, both at the national level where they successfully advocated during the Arusha Accords, and at the local level where they have been essential to reconciliation efforts. Burundian women possess effective skills in mobilizing support, improving social relations, good governance as well conflict prevention; management and resolution. Despite the important contribution women can have in good governance; peace and security in Burundi, many obstacles hinder the full realization of this important role.

In light of the upcoming 2015 elections; tensions have been escalating at an alarming rate across the country. In addition, the upcoming departure of BNUB further increases the urgent need for strategic support and guidance in peace and security issues. There is a prevalent consensus that Burundian women can and should play an integral role in achieving good governance, peace and security thereby ensuring a peaceful, transparent and inclusive future for Burundi. In this perspective, UN Women is seeking to deploy a Governance, Peace and Security Adviser who will provide targeted and strategic support to UN Women to develop and implement a program on women’s role in good governance, peace and security and to take on additional tasks in the area of women, peace and security and the building of strong institutions for governance during this transition, implement the UN’s Joint Transitional Plan, as well as engage in gender responsive early warning conflict analysis to identify current and future political and security risks. The role requires experience and in-depth understanding of gender equality, political participation, democratization and peace and security issues.

Under the supervision of the UN Women Country Office representative, the Governance, Peace and Security Adviser is expected to engage proactively with government, UN entities and civil society to ensure gender issues are addressed in efforts related to political participation processes, governance, conflict prevention, management and resolution efforts, peace-making, peacekeeping and peace building.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

Strategic advice:

Analyze existing strategies, programs and action plans done by UN Women country office and all relevant stakeholders and identify gaps;
Identify trends, opportunities and key issues and provide guidance accordingly;
Prepare analytical reports, briefing notes, background papers and others as required by UN Women including gender responsive early warning conflict analysis;
Provide strategic advice to UN Women on building strong institutions for governance, peace and security;
Follow the electoral process and political situation, identify key issues and strategically adapt UN Women’s work accordingly;
Support and provide strategic advice to UN Women in the implementation of all activities/projects on women’s role in good governance, peace and security in Burundi;
Provide strategic advice and proposed courses of action to UN Women, BNUB and the UNCT as required by UN Women, in line with the Secretary-General’s seven Point Action Plan on Gender Responsive Peace building and other relevant frameworks.

Program leadership:

Develop a comprehensive program on women’s role in good governance, peace and security in Burundi with a detailed action plan for UN Women;
Oversee and provide technical support to UN Women staff in the implementation of the program and all related activities;
Develop the capacities of UN Women staff as well as national and international organizations;
Ensure that UN Women’s objectives and results are met;
Represent the program and liaise with key stakeholders;
Develop and mobilize resources for UN Women Burundi program on governance, peace and security.

Coordination and advocacy:

Develop a comprehensive advocacy plan and implement it to advance women, governance, peace and security issues targeting; UN system, international actors, national authorities and all other relevant stakeholders;
Support UN Women in fulfilling its coordination and leadership role in women, governance, peace and security issues;
Support the building of strategic alliances and partnerships to implement the program document;
Support the building of strategic alliances and partnerships to develop and implement the UN’s Joint Transitional Plan in the areas of governance, women, peace and security;
Work closely with the UNCT to provide programming guidance on women, governance, peace and security issues including conflict prevention, mediation, transitional justice, justice and security sector reform, peacekeeping, conflict-related sexual violence, national action planning on SCR 1325, gender responsive early warning conflict analysis, among others.

The expected final outputs should be in French and include the following:

Comprehensive analysis and monitoring trend and opportunities report;
Comprehensive advocacy plan comprehensive advocacy plan to advance women, governance, peace and security issues;
End of mission report outlining main tasks undertaken, results/impacts, challenges, lessons learned and recommendations.

Competencies

Core values and Guiding principles:

Integrity:

Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values:

Demonstrate and promote ethics and integrity by creating organizational precedents.

Organizational Awareness:

Build support for the organization and ensure political acumen.

Development and Innovation:

Support staff competence development, and contribute to an environment of creativity and innovation.

Work in teams:

Build and promote effective teams. Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communication and Information Sharing:

Create and promote an environment for open and effective communication

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management:

Leverage conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Share knowledge across the organization and build a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

Ensure fair and transparent decision making processes and manage risk.

Functional Competencies:

Substantive experience and record of accomplishment in the area of women, peace and security;
Demonstrated People Management Skills;
Familiarity with the Great Lakes region an advantage;
Good knowledge of the UN system;
Proven ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
Ability to lead strategic planning, programme development and implementation, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to develop and maintain strong partnerships.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Development studies, Gender, Peace & Women studies or related field.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years progressively responsible experience in the area of women, peace and security, or related area, preferably with 3 years field experience;
Experience in gender-related programming in peacebuilding or peacekeeping context highly desirable;
Experience working in Burundi or Great Lakes region preferred.

Language:

Fluency in written and oral English and French is essential.