UNDP Jobs - 82322- Social Cohesion Associate

Social Cohesion Associate

Location :

Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, UKRAINE

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

14-Dec-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year with possibility of extension

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014 the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs. In late 2014, the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union conducted a Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment, which was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in mid-2015. UNDP has been active and present in eastern Ukraine for the past decade, prior to the conflict, with a focus on community development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on addressing the specific conflict-related development challenges discussed above built on this earlier engagement and established partnerships and started in 2015 through the Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP), a multi-donor funded framework programme formulated and led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and in cooperation with a number of partnering UN agencies (UN Women, FAO, UNFPA). The RPP was designed to respond to and mitigate the causes and effects of the conflict. It is based on findings of the Recovery and Peacebuilding Assessment (RPA) and is aligned to the State Target Programme for Recovery as well as to the two oblast development strategies up to 2020. The RPP involves three pillars for action: 1) restoration of infrastructure and economic recovery; 2) support to local governance and related capacity building; and 3) social resilience and peacebuilding. It is an integral component of the UNDP Country Programme and is therefore fully aligned with the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF) It is closely interlinked with the Democratic Governance and Reform Programme, operating nationally and in all of Ukraine’s regions and is consistent with the SDGs, in particular SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong institutions). As an area-based programme specifically developed for the conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine, the RPP addresses the key stabilization, peacebuilding, economic and governance priority needs in eastern Ukraine following the start of the conflict. It takes into account the opportunities that have arisen from the Minsk Protocol of September 2014 and the renewal of its cease-fire provisions (the latest cease-fire having been agreed in March 2018) and is also fully adjusted to the humanitarian-development nexus. The Programme’s interventions are grouped under the following key Programme components, which reflect the region’s priority needs:

Component 1: Economic Recovery and Restoration of Critical Infrastructure;
Component 2: Local Governance and Decentralization Reform;
Component 3: Community Security and Social Cohesion.

The Programme, which operates on the basis of a pooled funding arrangement, follows a multi-sectoral programme-based approach and is implemented using an area-based methodology. With the current project, it is a unifying interventions framework for 16 projects funded by 10 international partners. In October 2018, four UN agencies (UNDP, UN Women, FAO and the UNFPA) have countersigned a new joint project document, funded by the European Union. The overall objective of the project is to restore effective governance and promote reconciliation in crisis-affected communities of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine thereby enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of local governments in the government-controlled areas of the regions. It will contribute to peace-building and the prevention of further conflict in Ukraine through effective and accountable decentralization, gender-responsive recovery planning and equal access to services, as well as enhanced community security and social cohesion. This endeavor will be achieved through pursuit of the following specific objectives:

Improved regional and local government capacity in recovery planning and service delivery, that is gender-responsive, participatory and in line with decentralization and local government reform agenda;
Enhanced community security for people in conflict-affected areas, with a focus on IDPs and host communities;
Social cohesion restored and strengthened between local authorities and communities, including IDPs;
Enhanced capacity of gender equality advocates and women affected by conflict to demand accountability and transparency on local decision-making and spending.

UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of the Social Cohesion Associate (SCA) to support establishing of effective and trusted mechanisms to redress grievances, governed by rule of law and in full respect of human rights in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Organizational Context:

Under the overall supervision of the Community Security and Social Cohesion Specialist and direct supervision of the Social Cohesion Specialist, the incumbent will support and contribute to the social cohesion component in the two conflict-affected regions. Also, SCA will support close cooperation with Youth Engagement and Volunteers Specialist and other UN agencies (particularly UN Women, UNFPA, FAO).

Duties and Responsibilities

Contribute to the support of local dialogue and trust-building within communities, and between them and the authorities through joint decision-making, public consultation and hearings;
Contribute to and support the set-up of effective local Open Dialogue platforms (which will complement the traditional and less interactive public hearing system);
Participate in process of increasing the level of awareness and information of territorial communities’ members (including representatives of vulnerable groups) on key development topics;
Maintain contacts with citizens’ groups, CSOs and Community Security Working Groups (CSWG) to effectively initiate, plan and implement Human Rights Based community development and community security strategies and projects;
Contribute to the development of CSOs’ and CSWGs’ competence to monitor the fulfilment of local development projects and strategies in relation to social cohesion;
Contribute to the development of civic activism among young people;
Support the activities of social, cultural, volunteer networks and informal interest groups at the community level;
Support the trainings of CSOs to report, in a clear and effective manner, to local governance institutions, service providers and community members on their activities, funding levels and results achieved;
Support organising and carrying out regular regional and local consultations on social cohesion with the Social Cohesion Advisory Groups in GCA of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and provide substantive inputs for the preparation and publishing regular analytical reports;
Assist the authorities on the local, district and oblast levels to implement conflict-sensitive communication strategies and public awareness approaches;
Participate in programme component activities on launching a media platforms in each region as a space for inclusive recovery;
Facilitate and provide full support to development of the school curriculum and recommendations on extra-curriculum activities in schools to promote tolerance education;
Ensure full compliance of Programme activities with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures;
Perform other functions as deemed essential for effective results.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Communication;
Delivery;
Innovation;
Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Encourage and participate in open communication in the team, communicate effectively;
Create synergies through self-control;
Manage conflict.

Competencies expected of the individual:

Excellent understanding of governance issues and challenges, organisational skills and ability to engage with state and non-state stakeholders;
Ability to facilitate dialogue interventions, workshops and roundtables, and work across different and conflicting perspectives while adhering to the UN ethical norms and values;
Ability to take initiative, and identify appropriate and timely interventions;
Good interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work under pressure;
Strong knowledge of Ukrainian legislation, governing practices and modern approaches in social cohesion (especially in armed conflict and post conflict societies);
Knowledge and experience in conflict analysis, prevention and resolution subject area will be an advantage.

Measurable output of the work assignment:

Full and appropriate implementation of Social Cohesion component of RPP;
Results, experiences and lessons learned during implementation of the Social Cohesion component of RPP are collected and reported to the supervisors.

Performance Indicators for evaluation of results :

Annual work plan for the Social Cohesion component of RPP is fully and timely implemented;
RPP operational requirements are carried on in strict accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.

Required Skills and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Psychology, Law or related field;
3 years of experience in working with the local/regional authorities and non-governmental organisations, media in the field of social cohesion, field of administration, programme/project support or other relevant fields;
Experience in facilitating dialogues, proven ability to work across societal divides organising workshops and roundtables and work across societal divides will be strong advantage;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (Word, Excel etc.);
Experience of working in UN agency or international organization will be an advantage;
Fluency in Ukrainian, Russian and English.

Application Instructions:

Click on the "Apply now" button.
Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in or paste your Resume into the last box.
Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (P-11). When completing the Form and, even though not currently requested, please include email addresses for your Supervisors.
Without the completed and signed P11 your application will not be considered. The UNDP Personal History Form can be downloaded at link. Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and please ensure that copies of your educational qualifications are available when contacted.

This is a locally recruited position and no expatriation benefits will apply.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 14 December 2018
UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.