Background

Under the primary and direct supervision of the UN RC (also in his multiple duties as Humanitarian Coordinator, Designated Official and UNDP Resident Representative) and with a secondary reporting line to the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), New York, through the UN RC/HC/DO, the Policy Specialist will work to advise the UN RC on political and related impacting economic, demographic and social issues of Sudan and the region. S/he will work to clarify a complex and dynamic situation in Sudan and the region, and to translate this understanding into practical initiatives to mitigate potentially violent tensions. The improved understanding would also contribute to the implementation of UN programming in a conflict sensitive manner. S/he will provide analysis and strategic advice to the UN Resident Coordinator in developing and implementing strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening national and local capacities for building collaboration and consensus on critical policy questions.
 
Sudan, a large and one of the most geographically diverse states in Africa, has long been beset by conflicts and continues to face challenges in this regard. Sudanese external debt continues to represent a considerable burden on the economy, which is further aggravated by lack of external assistance, mounting inflation and the loss of roughly half of its revenues as a result of South Sudan’s secession. Furthermore, violence in Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States continues unabated and the security situation along the border with South Sudan has continued to be tense. Sudan as well has two DPKO missions in Darfur and Abyei and an appointed UN Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan. Thus the political plain is complex and demanding of maximum coordination and in depth understanding by the UN RC.
 
In this context, the Policy Specialist will assist the UN RC to identify problems, bottle-necks, potential tension points and opportunities for supporting Sudan to build national capacities for generating consensus around strategies for advancing sustainable development. This will include building agreement on crucial reforms and preventing and mitigating recurring cycles of violence over land and natural resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:
  • Provide political analysis to the UN RC;
  • As and when requested provide support to the UN RC in his coordination work with UNAMID, UNISFA and the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan;
  • As and when requested support the UN RC in his functions as HC, DO and UNDP RR;
  • Prepare, and participate in, succinct briefing reports and sessions with senior UN and other officials on issues of relevance to the job description;
  • Provide strategic advice and analyses, including when necessary to UNHQ through the UN RC, on options for promoting inclusive and effective governance in Sudan, with a specific focus on the challenges and opportunities that this offers to the UNCT;
  • Prepare periodic restricted reports analysing trends in Sudan, as well as their impact on UN Programmes and positions, based on reviews of available materials, and meetings with national and international actors, including the UN, Government, development community and civil society;
  • Assist the UN RC and pertinent national and local counterparts as appropriate, in developing entry points for strategic initiatives aimed at reducing conflict and recurring tensions and promoting dialogue and addressing contested issues through consensus;
  • Advise on communications with all relevant actors in government, academia, civil society; and among the wider political and civic leadership, with a view to ensuring that that UN system in-country is well positioned to provide assistance, as appropriate and necessary;
  • Support the Resident Coordinator in his/her engagement with key bilateral and multilateral partners, with a view to soliciting their inputs into, and apprising them, of elements of a UNCT strategy on engaging with a democratic process in Sudan.

Competencies

Core competencies
  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
Building Trust:
  • Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion;
  • Manages in a deliberate and predictable way;
  • Operates with transparency, has no hidden agenda;
  • Places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients;
  • Gives proper credit to others;
  • Follows through on agreed upon actions;
  • Treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
Functional competencies

Professionalism:
  • In-depth knowledge of the political situation in Sudan and neighbouring Arab states;
  • Confidentiality;
  • Ability to prepare policy notes and advocate policy advice at high levels;
  • Capacity to promote a knowledge-sharing and learning culture in the office;
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policy documents;
  • Sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts;
  • Team player, discrete, self-motivated, dedicated, creative, resourceful, flexible, energetic with sound judgment;
  • Demonstrable ability to work in a team environment, and to strengthen all team members through collective action and individual initiative;
  • Demonstrate ability to engage with sensitivity, strategic foresight, and political acumen in situations involving multiple – especially political – actors and stakeholders. 
Planning and Organizing:
  • Demonstrated competency to address the planning; human resources, financial and other issues that are central to high-level planning for democratic transitions and economic recovery.
Communication:
  • Ability to focus on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills in Arabic and English;
  • Ability to build strong relationships with clients and external actors.
Judgment-Decision-making:
  • Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly;
  • Gathers relevant information before making a decision;
  • Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization;
  • Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information;
  • Checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in Political science, international relations, and international economics preferably with specialization in Arab or African peace and conflict studies and/or peace building.
Experience:
  • At least 7 years of proven experience in policy, advisory and strategy development, research and analysis;
  • Experience with fostering political inclusiveness is a plus: Well-developed skills and demonstrated experience in facilitation, consensus-building, multi-stakeholder dialogue processes, mediation, negotiation, dispute resolution, preferably in crisis situations;
  • Experience in strategy and Programme development; Proven advocacy and engagement with senior levels of government, United Nations, and donors;
  • Experience working within the United Nations and in the Arab Region would be a major asset.

Language:

  • Fluent in spoken and written English.