UNDP Jobs - 39690- Peace and Development Advisor

Peace and Development Advisor

Location :

Dili, Timor Leste

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2013

Application Deadline :

19-Sep-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the RR/RC, the PDA will provide peace and development support to the entire UNCT, including both analytical and strategic support as well as concrete advice and guidance on programme implementation. While UNDP will be responsible for the overall project coordination and implementation, consolidation of work plans and project papers, preparation of quarterly progress reports, reporting to the project supervisory bodies, and supervising the work of the project experts and other project staff and the PDA will rather be an additional capacity to provide support and strategic direction.

The incumbent will liaise closely with relevant UNCT colleagues, DPA and UNDP, as well as relevant Government institutions and civil society organizations and hold regular consultations with other project stakeholders. The purpose of these engagements will be to ensure that coordination is effective and that activities are undertaken in a conflict-sensitive manner, not to focus on the specific details of project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

The Advisor will work under the direct supervision of the RR/(RC), the PDA is responsible the following key tasks:

Provide strategic advice to the RC and UNCT on peace building issues;
Provide regular analyses on socio-political developments. Identify areas for UN support for national and local initiatives aimed at promoting peace, reconciliation and democratic consolidation;
Support national efforts for peace, reconciliation and democratic consolidation in partnerships with relevant national and regional counterparts;
Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing to develop UNCT and appropriate national capacities for peace building.

Provide strategic advice to the RC on peacebuilding

Undertake comprehensive analysis of issues related to peace building for the RC with support of DPA/UNDP HQ;
Advise the RC and, as appropriate, other UN entities, in supporting national peace-building initiatives and developing appropriate strategic interventions. Contextualize international peace building practices for Timor Leste.

Provide regular analyses on socio-political developments as they relate to developmental activities under the Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan. Identify areas for UN support so that the UN system can best assist national and local initiatives.

Provide the RC with reports and analyses on socio political dynamics;
Directly engage national and international partners to identify and understand ongoing national and local peacebuilding initiatives, ensuring the engagement and participation of marginalized groups, such as women and youth;
Undertake a peace and development analysis for UNCT, building on the fragility assessment conducted by the GoTl;
Recommend appropriate actions for the UNCT to support the New Deal and as required support the Government in the implementation of the New Deal and monitoring of PSGs.

Develop strategic partnerships with relevant national and regional counterparts to move forward the peacebuilding agenda in Timor.

Strengthen UN relations and partnerships with relevant government counterparts and key stakeholders and development partners, both at national and regional levels.
Support the building of alliances and partnerships for peacebuilding-related strategies and initiatives.
Support the RC in mobilizing resources for peacebuilding initiatives.
Provide advice to relevant UNCT programmes aimed at building the national capacities for conflict transformation, conflict analysis, conflict sensitive development and other peacebuilding needs.

Develop UNCT and appropriate national capacities for peacebuilding

Support and advise the Resident Coordinator and UNCT to develop and implement conflict-sensitive development programming;
Support activities in training and knowledge networking, for creation of a critical mass of UN and partners with the necessary skills in peace building, conflict analysis and conflict sensitive programming;
Establish and chair a working group on peace building within the UNCT at the technical level for the UN to coordinate its activities.

Impact of Results

The result of work of the PDA greatly impact effective coordination and undertaking and completion of activities in a conflict-sensitive manner.

By linking the development engagements of the UNCT to a detailed understanding of the local political and conflict dynamics, the PDA based in the RC Office will ensure close monitoring and reporting on external and internal factors affecting country’s stability, in close consultation with DPA and UNDP, and will also support the resource mobilization efforts of UN agencies. The PDA will also deliver training for the staff within the UN system for sounder peacebuilding sensitive programming and management. The UNDP CO will provide specific support services for project implementation.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

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

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

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 and provide policy advice to high level UN officials;
Sound skills and demonstrated experience in facilitation, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder processes and negotiation;
Effective 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;
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, including through the mainstreaming of conflict sensitivity;
Sound understanding and capability to empower and strengthen the capacity of national counterparts;
Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to address myriad challenges.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives;
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.

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;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University degree (Master’s Degree) preferably in political or social science, international studies, public administration, economics; or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.

Experience:

At least 10 years (national and international levels) of senior level experience in conflict analysis, policy, and strategy development, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization;
Specific experience in building national capacities for conflict prevention would be an asset;
Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior levels of government, United Nations, and donors;
Proven experience and understanding of the linkages between UN’s political and development work, with ability to identify complementarities and ensure effectiveness across different areas of UN engagement;
Strong analysis skills, good oral and written presentations and excellent communication with high level partners;
Proven experience in development programming, including good understanding of UN programming modalities, and rules and regulations;
Demonstrable ability to work in a team environment, and to strengthen team cohesion through collective action and individual initiative;
Demonstrable ability to engage with sensitivity, strategic foresight, and political acumen in situations involving multiple - especially political - actors and stakeholders.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, fluency in Portuguese will be desirable.