Background

UNDP is a key implementer of peacebuilding initiatives to support Nepal’s peace process.  Nepal is amidst an important transitional phase after a decade long internal conflict claiming more than 16,000 lives. Although the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in November 2006 brought a halt to the immediate violence there are still many issues to be resolved and new challenges are emerging as Nepal’s post-conflict evolution continues to unfold.   At the national level, there is a lack of consensus among key stakeholders on many complex and challenging issues.   At the district and local levels, there are multiple drivers of tension including social and identity issues, as well as multiple difficulties related to creating consensus on developmental and other priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Advisor/Programme Manager of the Conflict Prevention Programme and corresponding Regional Dialogue Advisor, the Regional Dialogue Coordinator will support the promotion of collaborative leadership and dialogue among political party representatives, government officials, and civil society leaders. The core objectives of this effort are to prevent the escalation of socio-political tensions and promote consensus on key aspects of the peacebuilding agenda. The work will focus on a cluster of two or three districts in a given Development Region in Nepal.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

Create an enabling environment for promoting collaborative leadership and dialogue at the regional level

• Work closely with relevant government officials, political and civic leadership at the regional and district level to promote collaborative leadership and dialogue;
• Support and assist the organization and implementation of dialogue initiatives including administrative and logistical requirements;
• Engage with regional and district level media actors to promote a climate that is supportive of efforts by leaders to work in a collaborative manner;
• Monitor the relevant districts and surrounding region, and produce informed analysis about relevant events and activities;
• Engage with leaders and relevant institutions in a politically informed and conflict sensitive manner;
• Represent, when required, UNDP in regional and district meetings and discussions with government, political and civil society counterparts.  

Support and coordinate capacity building on collaborative leadership and dialogue at the regional level

• Support, organize, participate in, and when required, lead efforts to train leaders on tools and approaches related to collaborative leadership and dialogue.  Topics will include conflict analysis, actor mapping, dialogue/mediation process design, and confidence-building measures;
• Provide technical assistance to leaders through coaching, mentoring and accompanying their engagement with dialogue processes;
• Support the training of leaders from youth, marginalized communities, and women’s organizations, to improve their capacities to effectively participate in dialogue processes;
• Support the organization of national and regional networks of trainers and facilitators;
• Document activities, outcomes and lessons learned from training and other capacity- building efforts

Technical assistance in the implementation of grants operating in region

• Identify and conduct capacity assessments of local level efforts/ organizations that are engaged in collaborative efforts and dialogue;
• Work closely with these organizations or groups to ensure that their efforts are supported in a conflict sensitive manner;
• Monitor and evaluate the activities conducted by implementing partners under the grants programme;
• Provide technical assistance, coaching and accompaniment to implementing partners to ensure that capacity on collaborative approaches and dialogue are adequately built;
• Assist with all reporting requirements regarding the grants programme;
• Support the programmatic work of the Collaborative Leadership and Dialogue (CLD) pillar at the regional level
• Provide inputs into the development of the Annual Work Plan (AWP) and Quarterly Work Plan (QWP). Ensure that the AWP and QWP are implemented in a timely manner;
• Suggest, based on monitoring and analysis of regional and district contexts, modifications to AWP and QWP, ensuring that the programmatic work is attuned to changing realities;
• Ensure that the strategic framework of CLD set within the broader framework of CPP, is implemented to maintain quality of services and to meet planned delivery rates;
• Assist with all reporting (narrative and financial) as required by UNDP for internal and external reporting purposes.

Monitoring, learning and evaluation

• Report on activities, outputs and outcomes required by the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation systems;
• Document lessons learned and best practices throughout the project lifecycle and feed into the project knowledge management system and broader institutional learning;
• Support internal and external evaluation and review efforts;
• Perform other tasks as required.

Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to UN mission, vision and values;
• Sound political judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and capacity for initiative;
• Displays cultural, gender, religious, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

• Understanding of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding strategies;
• Understanding of conflict-sensitive approaches to peacebuilding and development work;
• Understanding of dialogue and mediation processes;
• Understanding of training tools and approaches;
• Capacity to analyse complex social, political and economic dynamics;
• Ability to work under pressure in fluid and sensitive socio-political situations;
• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office;
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Actively works on continuous personal learning and development in one or more practice areas.

• Ability to perform a variety of activities of support, data gathering, design & reporting;
• Ability to write analytical and quantitative inputs for reporting processes;
• Ability to conduct independent research on peace/ community development.

Leadership and Team-building:

• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focusing of results and impact and responding positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Effective communications skills and ability to establish good working relationships with national and international interlocutors;
• Demonstrated openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a politically sensitive environment with a minimum of comfort;
• Ability to travel under harsh conditions within the country whenever required.

Required Skills and Experience

• Masters degree in peace and conflict studies, international development, sociology, political science or a related fields.

• At least 7 years experience in development work related to conflict resolution, conflict prevention, peacebuilding or transitional issues in Nepal;
• At least 3 years’ experience directly related to dialogue and collaborative leadership issues;
• Knowledge of conflict-sensitive approaches to peacebuilding and development work;
• Experience as trainer and facilitator on mediation/dialogue highly desirable;
• Experience of working with political parties, government officials, and/or civil society organizations highly desirable
• Expertise in conflict analysis and experience in applying such analysis to local development contexts in Nepal;
• Excellent understanding of Nepal’s peace process, and the political, social and economic aspects of peacebuilding and development efforts in Nepal;
• Direct experience in the design and/or implementation of development programmes.

• Excellent oral and written proficiency in English and Nepali.