UNDP Jobs - 53358- Re-Advertisement - Electoral Security Coordination

Re-Advertisement - Electoral Security Coordination Specialist - UNDP/ELECT Project

Location :

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year with possibility of extension

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

UNDP supports stabilization, state building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens.

Over the years UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels.

UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Years of conflict have damaged Afghanistan’s economic, political, physical, social and institutional structures. Reconstruction demands a secure environment in which there is credible leadership and enforced rule of law. Strong, legitimate and effective public administration structures, responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens - including the poor – are a precursor to any sustainable development. To this end, UNDP supports Afghan electoral institutions so that they can become more effective vehicles for development.

The UNDP Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow (ELECT) project- phase I (2006 – 2011) provided technical and operational assistance to Afghan electoral bodies throughout the 2009 Presidential and provincial council elections and 2010 parliamentary elections.

ELECT II, which commenced January 2012, was conceived as a targeted and focused project providing a support and advisory role, with a particular focus on institutional strengthening and capacity development during the inter-election period. In line with the process of transition or Afghanistan, as articulated in the Kabul Conference in July 2010, the number of international staff was significantly reduced from previous years.

As the result of a project Mid-term Review and a UN Needs Assessment Mission, the ELECT II project has been extended beyond its original end date of December 2013 until December 2015, and the project objectives have been revised to now include direct electoral assistance for the conduct of the 2014 Presidential and Provincial Council Elections and the 2015 Parliamentary elections.

The overall objective of ELECT II is to support the national electoral institutions to plan and conduct credible elections, most immediately the 2014 Presidential and Provincial Council elections and the 2015 Parliamentary elections, and to better ensure the integrity of the process. Continuing long-term assistance through support to capacity building of national electoral authorities beyond 2010 is in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2096 (2013). This assistance is closely coordinated with UNAMA, UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD).

This is being accomplished through seven focused outputs:

Output 1: Sustainability of the IEC is enhanced via both its institutional and staff capacity development;
Output 2: A sustainable, long-term approach to voter registration in Afghanistan, which also promotes maximum participation of eligible citizens in the 2014 and 2015 elections, is developed and implemented;
Output 3: The IEC’s engagement and informational outreach with key stakeholders, including the electorate, is enhanced;
Output 4: The IEC’s operational management functions, and the project support services, are strengthened;
Output 5: The conduct of key electoral operations for the 2014 and 2015 elections by the IEC is improved;
Output 6: The electoral dispute resolution mechanism is enhanced;
Output 7: The media regulatory mechanism for the electoral process is enhanced.

The Electoral Security Coordination Specialist will be part of a team of advisors under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Technical Adviser Pillar ll.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Technical Adviser Pillar 2, the Electoral Security Coordination Specialist’s primary task will be to advise the IEC Security Coordinator in his daily tasks to coordinate security aspects of the IEC electoral field operation. Additionally s/he will be required to liaise and coordinate with MoI, MoD, NDS, ISAF and other international partners in the provision of security and logistic support services.

The Electoral Security Coordination Specialist promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach.

The Electoral Security Coordination Specialist works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme staff of the project and CO and IEC relevant Units staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery and performs the following functions:

Mentor and develop the IEC Security Coordinator (Field Operation):

Assist the IEC Security Coordinator and his team to prepare documentation and reports pertaining to this function, including but not limited to, IEC Security Concept of Operations; IEC Security Plan; Weekly Security Reports;Topic Security Reports as needed;
Provide reports and information to ensure IEC Security Coordinator’s preparation for meetings and workshops;
Provide advice and assistance during meetings chaired by the IEC Security Coordinator;
Ensure Security Incident Reports are provided by the Provincial Security Officers as incidents occur;
Provide immediate advice on serious security incidents to IEC and UNDP ELECT management.

Provide support and advice to the IEC Provincial Security Officers:

Training support and briefings as required;
Advice on implementation of IEC Security Plan;
Advice and monitoring on submission of Security Incident Reports;
Advice on security needs for IEC employees.

Liaise with internal and external actors, including MoI, MoD, NDS, ISAF, UNDSS and other security entities, to ensure comparison and integrity of security reports and incidents:

Attend external electoral security meetings as required;
Assist with development of electoral security incident database;
Ensure quality control of incident reports to confirm all information captured and recorded;
Ensure continuous liaison with the IEC Provincial Security Officers and UNDP ELECT Regional Security Specialists for exchange of information;
Confirm information with other security actors;
Ensure appropriate distribution of security information to stakeholders.

In close consultation with Field Operations and Logistics Departments, and in conjunction with the IEC Security Coordinator, ensure that security requirements aremet according to the needs of the National Movement Plan and the existing security situation:

Ensure ANSF escorts are coordinated for each road movement;
Assist with coordination of air movements with ANSF and ISAF;
Track all road and air movements to ensure safe arrival;
Report to stakeholders, through Field Operations Department, when deliveries and retrievals have arrived safely;
Record and follow up on security incidents;
Ensure quality control over security reports and products;
Guide and direct activities to ensure all output is conducted in support of the IEC Security Coordination and the Field Operations Department.

Impact of Results:

The ELECT Security Coordination Specialist assists the IEC Security Coordinator to protect and minimize the risks to IEC staff, property and the electoral process including support to the security of movement and safekeeping of all electoral materiel. In doing so, h/she must maintain contact with the Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF to ensure effective coordination is occurring so that the electoral timeline can be met with minimal loss of staff and materiel.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Promoting Organizational Change and Development:

Provides counseling and coaching to colleagues who are dealing with change Assists in the development of policies, communications, and change strategies;
Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation.

Design and Implementation of Management Systems:

Makes recommendations regarding design or operation of systems or programmes within organizational units;
Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation.

Client Orientation:

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services;
Uses discretion and flexibility in interpreting rules in order to meet client needs and achieve organizational goals more effectively;
Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management:

Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability and results-based management.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s or Bachelor degree preferably with a focus on political science, international relations or analysis.

Experience:

With master’s degree 5 years and with bachelor’s degree 7 years of experience of international exposure in a security advisory function;
Previous experience of working in a conflict/post-conflict or crisis environment is preferable;
In-depth knowledge of security risk analysis, mitigation measures and security assessments;
Knowledge of Afghanistan security environment, operations and programme cycle;
Knowledge of UN security processes is desirable.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;
Knowledge of Dari or Pashto languages is an asset.

Note:

Interested and qualified international candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at UNDP Afghanistan Vacancy Announcementand please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at UNDP Personal History Form (P.11 Form);
Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.
Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted;
For more detailed information about UNDP Afghanistan please visit our website at www.undp.org.af
Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 6 weeks of the offer of appointment;
Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.