UNDP Jobs - 64202- Peace and Development Specialist (Peace Building)

Peace and Development Specialist (Peace Building)

Location :

Bissau, GUINEA-BISSAU

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English French Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year with possibility of extension

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

Guinea Bissau has been among an initial first group of four countries to be referred by the Secretary General to the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), which established a Country-Specific Configuration (CSC) in December 2007. Subsequently, in 2008, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) allocated a funding envelope of US$ 6 million, followed, in 2010, by a second allocation of US$ 16.8 million. The implementation of the projects under this envelope was, however, suspended in the aftermath of the coup d’état of 12 April 2012. With the re-establishment of constitutional order following two rounds of elections in 2014, it is expected that both the PBF and the PBC will resume their full engagement on basis of a revised peacebuilding strategy for Guinea Bissau.

Under the overall supervision of the SRSG and the direct supervision of the DSRSG/RR, the Peacebuilding Specialist will be responsible for assisting the UN in Guinea Bissau and in HQ to develop a revised peacebuilding strategy for Guinea Bissau – encompassing both the PBC and the PBF – that reflects the changes and new challenges on the ground.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Programme planning, management and coordination;
Support building strategic partnership and alliances;
Analysis and communication;
Building Knowledge and Capacity.

Programme planning, management and coordination:

Working with all relevant stakeholders, develop a PBF implementation strategy that can respond in a timely and flexible manner to the post-electoral political and institutional challenges, while at the same time maximizing the impact and catalytic effect of PBF interventions;
Working with all relevant stakeholders, assist the government of Guinea Bissau and the UN in developing a Peacebuilding Priority Plan that can serve as a basis for renewed PBF engagement in the medium-term (PRF Window);
Working with all relevant stakeholders, oversee the implementation of all projects to ensure the timely delivery of quality results and achieving the financial and programmatic targets by key partners (Sub-Recipients, National Programmes etc.);
Coordinate PBF interventions with relevant donors and other partners under the overall supervision of the UNIOBIS Senior Management;
Coordinate and collaborate with partners and stakeholders to link and harmonize approaches and to promote common interests and achievement of results.

Support building strategic partnership and alliances:

Support the PBC review of the Peacebuilding Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding in Guinea Bissau and the development of a Statement of Mutual Commitment;
Provide coherence and synergy between the activities of Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and Peacebuilding Fund (PBF);
Coordinate PBC interventions with national and international partners under the supervision of the UNIOBIS Senior Management and in close collaboration with PBSO;
Oversee the development of communication strategies with national and international stakeholders;
Coordinate and support preparation and implementation of field visits by PBC delegations and PBSO staff.

Analysis and communication:

Support UNIOGBIS senior management in liaising with all bodies of the UN peacebuilding architecture, including the PBC and PBSO;
Keep PBSO informed of various peacebuilding trends in Guinea Bissau and advise on country-specific strategy and engagement;
Support PBSO in providing substantive analysis and reviews as background for PBC meetings in New York.

Building Knowledge and Capacity:

Document lessons learned and best practices in peace building;
Ensure visibility of and knowledge about the work of the PBF and the PBC in Guinea Bissau;
Supervise and ensure the overall functioning of the PBF Secretariat in Guinea Bissau.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrates and promotes the values of the UN in actions and decisions and acts in accordance with the standard of conduct for international civil servants;
Contributes effectively to team-based activities, working collaboratively and sharing information openly; works effectively with colleagues inside the UN as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals;
Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Remains calm, composed and patient when facing conflict, manages conflict productively, focusing on mutually acceptable solutions;
Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action;
Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge;
Creates/contributes to mechanisms to collect and share knowledge;
Actively seeks learning opportunities;
Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development;
Proposes innovative ideas and new solutions to work.

Functional Competencies:

Good understanding of PBC/PBF/PBSO strategic priorities, especially from field-based perspective;
Good understanding of PBF’s substantive areas of focus, with a solid knowledge and understanding in at least one of these areas: country programming, crisis/post-crisis transition planning and coordination;
Demonstrated ability to create and build networks, partnerships and alliances;
Strong writing skills;
Ability to speak and write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences;
Proven ability to advise and develop strategic and operational solutions with clients; anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions;
Proven effectiveness in disseminating and promoting use of sound methodologies and tools to assist organizational units in carrying out results-based monitoring and evaluation;
Anticipates and understands internal and external issues and opportunities that may impact on the organization;
Demonstrated ability to provide change advice and develop strategies to enable staff/office to deal with change effectively
Demonstrated ability to identify needs and develop strategies for capacity-building, especially at field-based level;
Ability to contribute effectively in team-based setting, especially in the area of knowledge-sharing and learning; leverage the different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better outcomes;
Proven ability to build and sustain strategic relations with relevant actors and networking;
Keeps abreast of new developments in areas of focus.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree (Master) in political science, international relations, development, law or related field.

Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant professional experience with the UN, national government or NGOs, with proven track record in programme management, including experience in handling complex organizational issues;
Experience in post-conflict situations and/or peacebuilding operations required;
Experience in concept management, such as researching and development policies analysis, participative approaches and alliances;
Regional experience and/or experience in West Africa and/or a Lusophone environment required;
Familiarity with UN peacebuilding architecture a plus.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Portuguese is required;
Fluency in French is desirable.