UNDP Jobs - 55077- Social Cohesion & Development Specialist

Social Cohesion & Development Specialist

Location :

Honiara, SOLOMON ISLANDS

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Renewable subject to performance and availability of funding.

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 UNDP Sub-office in Honiara, Solomon Islands was established in 1999 as a project implementation unit to oversee the implementation of post-crisis rehabilitation programmes. In the intervening years, the portfolio of programmes implemented by the Sub-office has grown. The overall aim of the Country Programme is to respond to current and emerging development challenges of Solomon Islands in close partnership with the Government through continued emphasis on capacity development, strategic focus and use of resources in high-impact areas, robust engagement and coordination with other key stakeholders and development partners; and strong partnerships at national, provincial and local levels.

The programme is aligned with the country’s priorities as reflected in national development planning documents, and has four strategic outcome areas:

(1) Equitable economic growth and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);
(2) Good governance and human rights;
(3) Crisis prevention and recovery; and
(4) Environment and sustainable natural resources management.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Social Cohesion and Development Specialist is expected to develop a long term Project Document on strengthening the capacities of key players of Peacebuilding and implementing of Peacebuilding initiatives. The Advisor is also expected to provide strategic advice on issues affecting peace, conflict management and development in Solomon Islands.

The Social Cohesion and Development Specialist will also work in close collaboration with UNHQ, UNDP Crisis Prevention and Recovery unit and operations teams in the CO and other UN Agencies, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to ensure successful, conflict-sensitive UNDP programme implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and mobilize resources for a Long Term project document on Conflict Management and Peacebuilding in the Solomon Islands:

Create strategic relationship with relevant donor partners for an effective resource mobilization for the implementation of the multi-year Project Document on Peacebuilding and conflict initiatives;
Based on current initiatives by the MNURP and UNDP, identify opportunities and entry points for strategic conflict prevention initiatives/preventive action and make concrete proposals to senior management of UNDP;
Design and formulate a long term strategic conflict prevention project with emphasis on Capacity Building as well as reflecting the opportunities of entry points identified; and
Support the DRR in mobilizing resources for conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives.

Provide strategic advice, political analysis and technical assistance to the DRR, MCO, UNDP Pacific Centre, UNCT, UNHQ, MNURP and other SIG Ministries on peacebuilding and conflict management initiatives:

Provide strategic advice, political analysis and technical assistance in the areas of conflict prevention, peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity to ensure effective and sound implementation of the National Peacebuilding Policy with synergies to implementing the New Deal to SIG ministries and other relevant national stakeholders;
Provide strategic advice to MNURP and other SIG ministries on mainstreaming conflict prevention into development plans and programmes;
Provide advice and political analysis to relevant UN partners and other stakeholders in identifying relevant risks and opportunities for peacebuilding and conflict management programming;
Provide the DRR, RC/RR MCO, and UNHQ with regular political analysis of and advice on the situation on the ground, including written reports and updates on conflict dynamics, entry points and peace building opportunities and facilitate regular communications between national offices and headquarters; and
Lead on the integration of critical conflict prevention elements within the Government and its key stakeholders at all levels.

Manage and support social cohesion, conflict management and peacebuilding initiatives with the aim of mitigating future “triggers” and addressing root causes of conflict:

Design, convene and facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue and/or other conflict resolution processes; undertake/support confidence-building measures; and other inter-group processes, as required;
Initiate, manage and/or provide advice to the MNURP on dedicated programmatic activities in the area of peace-building and conflict management;
Provide national counterparts with comparative experiences and best practices on effective conflict management capacities;
Support the capacities of networks of mediators and facilitators at national and local levels;
Strengthen MNURP relations with key stakeholders at both national and community levels, including advice support in critical negotiations and agreements;
Initiate and manage peace advocacy and awareness initiatives that leads to behavioral change and peaceful co-existence; and
To an extent possible, engage women and youths as key drivers of Peace and promote the participation of women, youth and other marginalized groups.

Lead in strengthening the capacities of national and local institutions in the conflict prevention and management initiatives:

Assist in the development of capacity building and training programmes for MNURP and other key national and local stakeholders including on concepts, methodologies in dialogue and social cohesion, particularly those applicable at the community level;
Lead in developing the capacity of MNURP and its key partners in confidence-building exercises, skill building on dialogue, negotiation, mediation and reconciliation processes, as well as training in restorative justice, conflict management, conflict transformation, conflict analysis and conflict sensitive development for national and local leaderships; and
Identify and build the capacity of community-level organizations, and link their work to the programme and polices of the MNURP.

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, regional and international actors and development partners:

Strengthen UN/UNDP relations with senior government counterparts and key stakeholders in order to build entry points and partnerships for conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives;
Create and maintain existing networks with local key players in the field of reconciliation, dialogue, social cohesion, conflict management, both at governmental and non-governmental level for Peacebuilding related strategies and initiatives; and
Assist in building a network of partners and stakeholders to strengthen the incorporation of a conflict-sensitive lens across all development programmes; and
Design and support the implementation of strategic conflict assessment exercises in conjunction with other key actors (Donors, UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, traditional authorities, etc.).

Support the integration of peacebuilding and conflict management into UN programmes:

Contribute to UNDP and other UN agencies policies in conflict prevention and peacebuilding and help improve synergies among joint UN programmes addressing peacebuilding issues;
Initiate, design and facilitate capacity building initiatives of UNDP and other UN agencies in conflict-sensitive development programming and peacebuilding awareness; and
Provide technical assistance and advice on the integration of conflict sensitivity elements into UNDP supported programmes, strategies and other planning processes.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Substantive and technical expertise in one or more of the following areas:

Conflict analysis and assessment;
Facilitating multi-stakeholder national/local dialogues for tension reduction;
Building national capacities to manage/prevent/reduce conflict;
Conflict sensitive programming;
Sound knowledge of and exposure to a wide range of post-conflict, peace-building, good governance, human rights and development-related issues;
Good knowledge of the country and region of assignment, including the political, economic and social dimensions, and their relation to the main engines of conflict;
Ability to advocate and provide timely policy advice;
Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems;
Ability to work under extreme pressure in a highly stressful environment.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Strong analytical capacity, including the ability to analyze and articulate conflict management, peace-building, recovery and development dimensions and related issues that require a coordinated UN response;
Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to peace-building, recovery and development issues and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system;
Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.

Behavioral Competences:

Nurtures team spirit and supports staff in developing their potentials;
Builds strong relationships with partners, focusing on impact and results;
Demonstrates creativity, openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Possesses positive and constructive attitudes to work;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.

Management and Leadership:

Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style;
Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines;
Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications;
Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations;
Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multi-cultural team in difficult circumstances;
Leads strategic planning, resource-based management and reporting;
Pursues innovative approaches and translates them into viable program interventions;
Formulates and manages budgets, contributions, transactions, and conducts financial analysis;
Mobilizes resources and advises on cost recovery;
Monitors and evaluates development projects and programs.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree in social sciences, preferably with specialization in peace and conflict studies and/or peace-building; or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in conflict analysis, conflict and crisis prevention and management, peace-building, recovery and development, electoral and related areas;
Proven experience in development programming, including good understanding of UNDP programming modalities, and rules and regulations;
Previous work experience UNDP in particular is preferred;
Well-developed skills and demonstrated experience in facilitation, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder dialogue processes, mediation, negotiation, dispute resolution, preferably in crisis situations;
Knowledge of relevant methodologies on conflict analyses, conflict impact assessments, and M&E of social cohesion and development activities;
Specific experience with designing and delivery of training in conflict resolution, conflict management and or similar trainings
Extensive field experience or at least a field experience in the Solomon Islands would be an advantage;
Demonstrable ability to engage with sensitivity, strategic foresight, and political acumen in situations involving multiple especially political – actors and stakeholders;
Ability to convey difficult issues and positions, and sensitivity to local cultures.

Language:

Fluent in English.