Historique

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.

Devoirs et responsabilités

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.

Compétences

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.

Qualifications et expériences requises

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.