Background

Although Colombia is characterized by a relatively stable democracy and sustained economic growth, for more than 50 years the country has been immersed in a prolonged conflict. Currently, Colombia is in a pivotal point as peace talks between the Government and the main guerrilla group (FARC) are currently underway in Havana. Most of the items on the peace agenda relate directly to the structural causes of the conflict and many stakeholders agree that following the signing of an agreement, peace will need to be built up from the regions.
In this context, the first few months to a year after the signature of the agreement will be the most delicate for the success of the peace process. Early peace-building activities to quickly consolidate peace are widely recognized as essential and together with them advanced planning, extensive consultation, determined reconciliation efforts and complex coordination especially in the areas where the presence of the State is limited.
 
The United Nations Development Program – UNDP is considered a leader on issues of peace and reconciliation in Colombia and has received the recognition of the State, civil society, and international cooperation agencies in the promotion of platforms for dialogue between the state and civil society, at the national and territorial levels, and in public policy advocacy.
 
The Development, Peace, and Reconciliation Area of UNDP in Colombia is the strategic area that seeks to contribute to peace building, human development, and reconciliation. In order to achieve these objectives, it intends to:
  • Support planning for, and implementation of, peace building activities resulting from, or associated with, the peace talks held in Havana, including through the coordination with the Office of the UNDP Resident Representative and Resident Coordinator and with other UN agencies;
  • Promote social and institutional processes of non-violent transformation of conflict, strengthen public institutions, and encourage peaceful coexistence;
  • Empower socially, politically, and economically those populations that are vulnerable, excluded and/or affected by conflict, with particular focus on the indigenous, afro-Colombians, the displaced, women and youth;
  • Preserve the memory and dignity of the victims of conflict, through processes of reconciliation, in accordance with international standards.
Under the overall guidance of the Country Director and the UNDP top-management team, the Programme Advisor (Peace, Development & Reconciliation) will be responsible for coordinating UNDP peace building activities in the context of the current peace process. He/she will manage the area including proper strategic planning, implementation, continued monitoring, reporting, and partnership support. The Advisor will analyze the, socio-economic and political trends and will lead the activities of formulation, management and evaluation of the Peace, Development and Reconciliation Area. The Programme Advisor will ensure that the activities of the Area are consistent with the established UNDAF/CPD/CPAP priorities, and that the emerging challenges and opportunities are responded to with creativity.
 
Furthermore, in light of the nature of the Peace, Development and Reconciliation Area, aimed at promoting development initiatives in a conflict and post-conflict prone environment, the Advisor will also pursue the adequate knowledge management of successful experiences, practices and lessons learned. Proper networking with similar initiatives will also be expected.  
 
The Programme Management Advisor (Peace, Development & Reconciliation) will supervise, lead and coordinate peace building and other activities of the area, including the current and future programme activities. For operational purposes, he/she will work in close collaboration with the operation and programme Units in the UNDP-CO, the Office of the Resident Coordinator and other relevant UN entities. He/she will collaborate and coordinate as appropriate with other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to successfully implement the Peace, Development and Reconciliation Area in Colombia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:
  • Provide substantive leadership and advice to the Peace, Development and Reconciliation Strategy of UNDP, in order to guide and support the current and future programme activities in the context of the current peace process;
  • Lead the elaboration of the peace and development strategy of UNDP, through coherent analysis of national and territorial dynamics of conflict and peace building, ensuring coordination with relevant agencies and the Office of the Resident Coordination;
  • Ensure the effective management of the Peace, Development and Reconciliation Programme and supervise his/her work team, concentrating on quality control of the total programme cycle, from the formulation to the implementation stages;
  • Ensure the creation of strategic partnerships with the State, the civil society and the international community, implementing a resource mobilization strategy for UNDP efforts on Peace, Development and Reconciliation, in coordination with the Office of the Resident Coordinator;
  • Ensure the provision of high quality advisory services to the Resident Coordinator, to the Government, the civil society and the international community in peace and development issues;
  • Lead the coherent implementation of a knowledge management strategy, generating products to be shared within the country office, UN Country Team, the local, national and global community of CPR practice.

Provide substantive leadership and advice to the Peace, Development and Reconciliation Strategy of UNDP, in order to guide and support the current and future programme activities in the context of the current peace process, focusing on achieving the following results:

  • Lead and perform thorough context analysis necessary for proper strategic decision making and programme management;
  • Identify areas for support and intervention in the thematic / sectorial areas that are assigned to him/her;
  • Implement strategic partnerships and resource mobilization in UNDP Country Office in coordination with the Office of the Resident Coordinator;
  • Monitor and analyze programme environment, making appropriate adjustments to the project portfolio.

Lead the elaboration of the peace and development strategy of UNDP, through coherent analysis of national and territorial dynamics of conflict and peace building, ensuring coordination with relevant agencies and the Office of the Resident Coordination.

This entails:
  • Elaborate substantive input to the CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP and other strategic documents through exhaustive analysis and research of the socio-economic and political context of the country at national and local level;.
  • Participate, and when appropriate lead, policy related discussions, inter-agency efforts for donor consultations, engagement within UN system, providing guidance in relation to the peace and development strategy;
  • Ensure interagency coordination in order to make the UNDAF/CPD operational in terms of the peace & development strategy, in collaboration with the UNS agencies.
Ensure the effective management of the Peace, Development and Reconciliation Programme and supervise his/her work team, concentrating on quality control of the total programme cycle, from the formulation to the implementation stages, achieving the following results: 
  • Effectively apply the Results Based Management (RBM) tools, establishing management targets (BSC) and monitoring the achievement of results:
  • Manage and supervise the Peace and Development team;
  • Exercise strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the use of financial resources, in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.

Ensure the creation of strategic partnerships with the State, the civil society and the international community, implementing a resource mobilization strategy for UNDP efforts on Peace, Development and Reconciliation, in coordination with the Office of the Resident Coordinator, focusing on achieving the following results:

  • Develop and implement Country Office partnerships and the resource mobilization strategy in coordination with the Office of the Resident Coordinator, in order to achieve the strategic goals of the programme;
  • Create and coordinate partnerships with the UNS agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bilateral multilateral donors, private sector and civil society;
  • Determine the programmatic areas of cooperation based on UNDP’s strategic goals, the needs of the country, and the priorities of the donors;
  • Analyze and research information on donors, preparation of substantive reports on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for new projects;
  • Support the UN strategy for peace-building promoted by the UN agencies in Colombia under the supervision of the Resident Coordinator.

Ensure the provision of high quality advisory services to the Office of the Resident  Coordinator, the Government, civil society and the international community in peace and development issues focusing on the following results:

  • Support the Peace and Development initiatives of the Office of the Resident Coordinador and Resident Representative of UNDP;
  • Support to the formulation of policies and contribute to strengthening national and local capacities for peace and development;
  • Provide high level policy advice and technical expertise to the government, the civil society and the international community on peace and development issues;
  • Work closely together with the Peace Development Advisor on the above issues where appropriate.

Lead the coherent implementation of a knowledge management strategy, generating products to be shared within the country office, UN Country Team, the local, national and global community of CPR practice, focusing on the following results:

  • Contribute to development of knowledge management products (e.g. tools, reports), and participate in knowledge management networks and communities of practice related to UNDP’s lessons learned/best practice on post-conflict recovery activities in the programme country;
  • Coordinate the design and coherent implementation of a knowledge management strategy, generating products to be shared within the country office, UN Country Team, the local, national and global community of CPR practice;
  • Support the mainstreaming of the CPR approach within Country Office and UN programming.
Impact of Results

The key results will have an impact on the success of UNDP Colombia Peace, Development and Reconciliation Strategy through contributing to the current peace process including peace building, human development and reconciliation activities, within specific areas of cooperation. In particular, the key results will have an impact on providing leadership, management, technical expertise, programmatic support and high quality policy advice, on general conflict prevention, peace-building, reconciliation and post-conflict recovery issues to the UNDP Country Office, the Office of the Resident Coordinator and UN agencies.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
 Functional Competencies:
 
Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside UNDP;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
 Crisis and Conflict Management:
  • Capacity to work and sound decision making under situations of stress and pressure;
  • Cultural sensitivity and adaptability, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives, communicate effectively with and relate to people of different cultures;
  • Solid understanding of local and international political dynamics and ability to interact tactfully and diplomatically;
  • Ability to set and develop a strategic vision in a complex political setting.
 Development and Operational Effectiveness:
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
  • Ability to perform the whole project cycle management, including financial planning and management; exercise effective oversight of contributions, investments and transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting;
  • Good understanding of UNDP programming modalities, particularly in crisis and post-conflict settings;
  • Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
  •  Knowledge of the political and development situation in Colombia and Latin America is essential;
  •  Demonstrable theoretical and policy knowledge of conflict prevention, peace building and conflict sensitive development;
  • Demonstrable knowledge of an understanding of gender and human rights issues in crisis and the interface between them and conflict.
Management and Leadership:
  • Proven ability to provide effective leadership, to manage teams, and transfer advice and knowledge to staff at all levels and from different national and cultural backgrounds;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback ;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Set clear performance goals and standards, and executes responsibilities accordingly;
  • Proven ability to mobilize resources as a means to promote catalytic projects and/or the scaling up of strategic initiatives;
  • Ability to promote and establish a solid team spirit in the staff under his/her supervision.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Social/Political Sciences, Economics, International Relations, Development Studies, Conflict Resolution or a related field. Studies, Diplomas or Research activities in CPR will be an asset.
Experience:
  • Ten (10) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects particularly in conflict/post-conflict or crisis prone settings and conflict sensitive programming;
  • Good negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution skills. Good interpersonal skills and proven capacity to promote partnerships among international organizations, civil society and national governments; 
  • Demonstrated experience in working with public institutions, with communities, with social organizations and/or vulnerable populations, and international organizations;
  • Demonstrates substantive and practical experience in conflict prevention and conflict-sensitive programming;
  • Experience and knowledge in formulation and implementation of programmes and policies oriented to address CPR, conflict and development challenges. Knowledge of UN/UNDP operations in crisis settings is an asset;
  • At least five years of experience in managing staff and team management, including knowledge of administrative issues;
Language Requirements:
  • Full working knowledge of English and Spanish, including excellent written skills.
Important
Only on-line applications which contain a signed UNDP P11 form will be considered. You can find P-11 form at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form-es.docx.

Nationals from Colombia are not eligible to apply.

UN/UNDP internal candidates may be applying for this position.

We strongly encourage qualified women to apply.