UNDP Jobs - 63382- Technical Specialist (Conflict Prevention and Dial

Technical Specialist (Conflict Prevention and Dialogue)

Location :

Guatemala, GUATEMALA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

15-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

10-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year, with possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English Spanish

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

In Latin America and the Caribbean, historical institutional weaknesses and lack of conflict sensitive approaching within decision making processes have failed to prevent and transform conflicts, which in turn has diminished the resilience of the political systems.

For some authors, internal governance problems generated by social conflicts represent the main threat faced by states in the LAC region.

Since April 2015, Guatemala is undergoing an important transformation that has awaken the dreams and expectations of Guatemalans and that could pave the way for the long awaited reforms outlined in the 1996 Peace Accords that were never implemented.

Following the unveiling of serious corruption cases by the UN-backed International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office involving civil servants and authorities at the highest levels of government, Congress and national courts, the Guatemalan people took the street and relentlessly but peacefully called for the resignation of the President and Vice-President, for the trial of all civil servants involved in the corruption cases, and for reforms to critical laws to allow for a profound overhaul of the political system.

The unprecedented popular protests have created a sense of urgency among national and international partners regarding the need to address inequality, corruption and impunity at all levels of government. Failure to do so could only exacerbate pre-existing social tensions fueled by poverty, racism and discrimination. Indeed, nineteen years after the signing of the Peace Accords putting an end to 36 years of violent internal armed conflict that took the lives of 200,000 persons, large segments of the Guatemalan population, mostly the Indigenous people, but also women and youth, continue to experience repetitive violations of their political, economic, social and cultural rights.

In addition to street protests, citizens have organized themselves in social platforms where a governance and development agenda is being developed. These platforms offer an opportunity for the United Nations and the International Community to support needed reforms.

The upcoming Government, to be sworn in in January 2016, will be confronted with serious challenges including severe financial constraints and an empowered citizenry ready to closely monitor every step it takes as part of its fight against corruption and impunity.

This situation represents a unique opportunity to further and consolidate the peace building efforts that stemmed from the 1996 Peace Accords, but also to promote an active dialogue on conflict sensitive governance alongside with a sustainable development agenda.
Managing inequality and racism will be important for the nation as it moves into a new era in which a more dynamic citizen participation is expected.

The position requires high level of technical and contextual knowledge of peace building mechanisms, transitional processes, conflict risk management and its linkages with development trends in the LAC Region as well as expertise in socio-political analysis, and conflict analysis; an understanding of the impacts of conflicts on human development, and experience in conflict prevention and peace building programming.

The Technical Specialist will provide support to the UNCT in shaping the UN’s engagement on areas related to peacebuilding and dialogue, while support the broader range of UNCT programme to mainstream conflict sensitivity. The Technical Specialist will represent the Country Team in the broader community of stakeholders supporting Conflict Prevention, including the UN system and bilateral partners.

In line with the standard operating procedures of the Joint UNDP/DPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention, the Technical Specialist will regularly communicate with both UNDP and DPA at Regional and HQ level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Provide strategic and analytical support to the RC/RR in his/her relations with high-level government officials, academia, civil society, and with the wider political and civic leadership;
Identify areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders, and support to RC/RR in the preparation of the UN response to government requests, related to social cohesion, dialogue, democratic reform, conflict prevention, peacebuilding or other relevant field;
Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key national stakeholders, regional and international actors and development partners;
Strengthen capacity of UNDP and UNCT to undertake conflict analysis, mainstream conflict sensitivity in regular programming.

Under the direct supervision of the Resident Coordinator, and in collaboration with the Country Team and relevant DPA and UNDP counterparts at UN Headquarters, the Technical Specialist will:

Provide continuous analysis to the RC and UNCT on political developments and reforms, and conflict dynamics, with a view to identifying appropriate ‘entry points’ for peace consolidation, conflict prevention and recommending appropriate strategic responses for the UN system. Through the RC, ensure that such analysis is shared with DPA and UNDP counterparts at Regional level and at HQ, so as to inform coordination and coherent UN engagement and country-support;
Support the design and implementation of on-ground, country-specific conflict prevention initiatives and strategies in the field;
Assist in the development and strengthening of national institutions and processes for conflict management;
Establish and maintain national and regional networks and strategic partnerships for peace consolidation related strategies and initiatives, and identify and engage Government, civil society and key international actors in the peace and development agenda supported by the UN;
Organize, develop, and implement, in close cooperation with the UN agencies involved in this thematic, community and national-level initiatives to strengthen confidence in local development capacities, including through the promotion of local dialogue capacities for conflict resolution at local and/or national levels;
Support the UN Resident Coordinator in mobilizing resources for peace consolidation and conflict prevention initiatives and undertake all aspects of resource mobilization including donor liaison, proposal preparation, and bi-lateral and inter-agency coordination;
Identify areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders, and develop appropriate strategic responses for the RC/RR and UNCT on issues related to peace and development, conflict prevention and reconciliation with a view to enabling the best support from wider UN system on these areas and ensure that these issues are systematically addressed in the follow-up to the Common Country Assessment (CCA) and the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF);
Lead relevant programme development and management exercises including: formulation and production of project documents, log frames, monitoring & evaluation, for current and future iterations;
Maintain regular communication with relevant departments and agencies at HQ and country-level so as to support the RC/RR and elicit collaboration across sectors on strategic and programmatic matters;
Conduct training for UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention and/or conflict-sensitive development;
Support specific, targeted initiatives, as requested by national counterparts and under the direction of the RC, such as electoral violence prevention, political party dialogue, and the development of conflict-sensitive reporting by the media, conflict-sensitive governance initiatives, etc;
Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Headquarters including relevant focal points at UNDP and UN/DPA, including through the submission of regular bi-monthly reports and additional briefings, as required.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Good understanding of the UN system and knowledge of UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and practices.

Core Competencies:

Organizational Awareness;
Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring;
Working in Teams;
Communicating Information and Ideas;
Self-management and Emotional intelligence;
Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning;
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making.

Functional Competencies:

Possesses specialist knowledge in the area of conflict prevention, social cohesion, dialogue and governance reform or related areas, as well as in-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Sound political acumen and extensive experience of providing policy advice;
Knowledge of frameworks and dialogue processes for effective and transparent engagement of civil society, women's and youth groups, indigenous peoples and other excluded groups in national development and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations;
Sound skills and demonstrated experience in facilitation, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder processes and negotiation;
Sound analytical skills. Experience and specialist knowledge in building national capacities in good governance and building national reconciliation;
Proven facilitation, training, networking, coordination, team-building, consensus-building and organizational skills;
In-depth knowledge of human development situation in (region/country) and recent history/events/transitions;
Ability to contribute to strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to advise and oversee formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects and programmes.

Management and Leadership:

Strong team-building, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills. Resourcefulness, initiative, and maturity of judgment;
Excellent communication and inter-personal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with internal and external parties in a multi-cultural environment;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations.

Behavioural Competencies:

Team player, self-motivated and initiative taking, dedicated, creative, resourceful, flexible, energetic and sound judgment;
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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, policy, and strategy development, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization;
Extensive experience in research and project development;
A proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior levels of government, United Nations, and donors;
Experience working within a UN agency and experience in the (specific region/ country) would be a major asset;
Sound knowledge of and extensive experience in (country/region), including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives, is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluent written and spoken Spanish and English.

Kindly submit your P11 form duly filled and signed when applying (available at http://jobs.undp.org/).