UNDP Jobs - 54179- Programme Specialist (Task Team on Conflict Preven

Programme Specialist (Task Team on Conflict Prevention)

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Apr-2015

Application Deadline :

11-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year (Project Post)

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 Task Team on Conflict Prevention is the successor mechanism to the Framework Team and has been established as a UN-system wide task team under the UN Working Group on Transitions (WGT), to coordinate and support early country-level responses in conflict prevention.

The task team will abide by the guiding principles of the UN/WGT, and will have three key main functions:

To serve as a forum to share, support, and reflect on country and regional conflict dynamics and analysis, and to engage in conflict early warning and horizon scanning, including sharing the analysis with the Human Rights Up Front team in the Executive Office of the Secretary General and the mechanisms it supports, such as the Regional Quarterly Review and the Senior Action Group;
To lead and coordinate the development of specific guidance, tools and other knowledge products that seek to address identified capacity gaps and needs among UN staff in the area of conflict analysis and conflict-sensitive programming, especially at the country level;
To support the joint implementation of existing system wide guidance and policies as well as to coordinate inter-agency HQ level technical and/or programmatic support to selected countries based on findings of the above horizon scanning or conflict analyses, and on-demand for support for the UN Country Team.

UNDP is the lead agency for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. As such, UNDP has technical expertise and capacities on conflict prevention. Therefore, UNDP will play a critical role by providing support to the Task Team by providing secretariat support as well as strengthening and enhancing conflict prevention knowledge and skills of UN staff and partners.

With conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity among the key priorities of the Task Team, the Programme Specialist based in HQ, is responsible for providing support to UN agencies on the application of conflict sensitive approaches. This support will be provided in complement to UNDP’s support on conflict analysis through the Conflict Analysis for Development (CDA) tool to UN agencies and UN inter-agency planning processes, and will include support to the roll-out of the UN Conflict Sensitivity Course with a priority at field-office level. In addition s/he will work in collaboration with other teams across BPPS, CRU, Regional Hubs, Country Offices, and Global Policy Centers and the UN system to support the provision of quality policy services and advance UNDP’s credibility in the thematic area of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The Programme Specialist will report directly to the Team Leader of the Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Team, Bureau of Policy and Programme Support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Knowledge networks and the Community of Practice support

Organizes and/or participates in Task Team on conflict prevention meetings, teleconferences, etc. providing substantive support, coordination, drafts minutes and undertakes other reporting, as needed;
Maintains regular contacts with Task Team agencies entity;
Contribution to the gradual building and consolidation of knowledge networks and the Community of Practice on conflict prevention (CoP) through outreach, advocacy to new partners and feeding of substantive inputs to the CoP of Peace and Development Advisors and other conflict prevention practitioners;
Provide substantive support and coordination to the implementation of inter-agency initiatives in the field of conflict prevention being developed under the auspices of the Task Team, including the integration of conflict sensitivity into UN policy and programming documents; and
Contribution to the organization of conferences/seminars that aim to share experiences and build knowledge in the area of conflict prevention, including drafting of substantive concept notes and support to the logistical planning of the events.

Policy Advice/ Programme and Project Delivery Support:

Provision of technical expertise to UN country offices and, where appropriate, UN Country Teams in the development and implementation of conflict prevention strategies and programmes;
Support to UN country offices with the design and implementation of targeted initiatives to strengthen national capacities for conflict prevention and to build consensus through dialogue;
Substantive and technical support in the design and implementation of country-based participatory conflict analysis processes, and their translation into programming; and
Contribution to the development of joint programmes with key UN partners in support of conflict prevention initiatives in country;
Support the policy teams in the Regional Hubs in preparing initial drafts of technical advice that responds to country office needs, including through the provision of capacity building and backstopping; and
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.

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 to support the Task Team processes, which may include integrated mission planning, global and regional experiences and knowledge development;
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;
Support to inter-agency work and processes pertaining to conflict prevention and peace building within the UN system;
Development and maintenance of close contacts with key think tanks, bilateral donors, and non-governmental organizations active in conflict prevention and peace building, to identify opportunities for partnership building and resource mobilization;

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

Undertake research to support the 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 UN and external partner institutions, including governments, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs; and
Participate in relevant external meetings, including resource mobilization, partnership and advocacy activities with UN partners, permanent missions, and external stakeholders.

Knowledge management:

Systematic collation of “best practices,” including through comparative analysis of programme development and implementation strategies, from conflict prevention initiatives;
Development of selected knowledge products and practical tools on selected items of UNDP’s conflict prevention agenda, as well as in the context of inter-agency initiatives; and
Support to capacity development of UN staff (at HQ and in the field), and UN partners in conflict prevention.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Building Strategic Partnerships

Identifying and building partnerships:

Good knowledge and understanding of the UN system and the different mandates of the various UN departments and agencies;
Proven record of hands-on experience in working in a complex environment with excellent technical capacity on development issues, analytical skills and good interpersonal relationships. 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;

Job Knowledge / Technical Expertise

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter:

Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and facility with the principles and practices of conflict prevention/transformation and peacebuilding, as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Keeps abreast of new developments in the areas of conflict prevention/transformation and peacebuilding and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Able to undertake research in relevant thematic areas, conduct conflict analyses, and impart principles of conflict sensitive development to partner departments and agencies within the UN system;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Developing tools and mechanisms:

Leads processes to design new tools and training material on conflict-related subjects such as conflict-sensitivity;
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.

Client Orientation:

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client:

Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services.

Core Competencies:

Ethics & Values

Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity:

Is familiar with and acts in accordance with the standard of conduct for international civil servants, ethics and UN/UNDP values.

Organizational Awareness

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment:

Understands the structure and hierarchy of UN/UNDP, process flows throughout the organization, products and services, their measures of effectiveness, and perceptions of clients.

Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring

Self-development, initiative-taking:

Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action.

Working in Teams

Acting as a team player and facilitating team work:

Works collaboratively with team members sharing information openly and displaying cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Communicating Information and Ideas

Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively:

Uses tact and sensitivity when delivering sensitive information or resolving delicate issues.

Self Management & Emotional Intelligence

Creating synergies through self-control:

Fosters a positive outlook and maintains focus during period of stress and heavy work load, inspiring and guiding others towards goal achievement.

Conflict Management/Negotiating & Resolving Disagreements

Managing conflict Remains calm, composed and patient, regardless of his/her own state of mind in the face of conflict:

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.

Actively seeks learning opportunities, adopting best practices created by others

Appropriate and Transparent Decision-making: Informed and transparent decision making;
Makes decisions within his/her own span of control, recognizes issues requiring more advanced judgment and refers them to the appropriate level.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in Social or Political Sciences, International Relations, Conflict Resolution, Peace building or related field.

Experience:

At least 5 years of professional experience in development or related field, at the national or international level, preferably; including experience in the area of conflict prevention and/or peace building;
Hands-on experience in design of development programmes an asset;
Good knowledge of the UN system is a requirement;
Experience from different parts of the UN system and/or from inter-agency settings an advantage;
Experience in the use of computers and office software.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required;
Working knowledge of other UN official language (preferably French) is an asset.