Background 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.
The Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on building national capacities for conflict prevention has made a ground-breaking contribution in bridging the gap between political engagement and development assistance in pursuit of preventing conflict and sustaining peace. In its new phase (2019-2023), the Joint Programme has further strengthened the analytical capacities of national stakeholders and the UN system in support of Member States’ efforts to advance policy and programmatic coherence on conflict prevention and support strategies for sustaining peace with the primacy of politics as the overall guiding principle in developing such approaches and strategies. The new phase of the Joint Programme is accordingly designed to contribute to two mutually supportive outcomes:
Outcome 1: Targeted initiatives and national capacities are more effectively contributing to conflict prevention and sustaining peace.
Outcome 2: UN Country Teams are increasingly conflict-sensitive, have developed conflict-sensitive country strategies, and are leading partnerships on sustaining peace.
The programme has been reconfigured to maximize its contribution in the context of ongoing reforms to the UN Peace and Security architecture and the UN Development System, building also on prior experience and lessons learned. A rigorous monitoring framework will ensure a results-based approach to programme implementation, clarity of work streams, and consistent, interactive engagement with donors/development partners.
The deployment of Peace and Development Advisors (hereafter PDAs) has been the primary instrument of the Joint Programme to provide capacity for Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams to support national partners in dialogue and national or local mediation processes, the establishment and operationalization of national infrastructures and mechanisms for peace; and other initiatives aimed at sustaining peace. There are currently 64 PDA positions across the globe. In an effort to ensure that PDAs are better equipped and empowered to deliver on their mandates, the Joint Programme is deploying Regional Programme Specialists located in regional offices to provide backup support to PDAs and UNCTs in the areas of conflict analysis, conflict-sensitive programming, the strengthening of local capacities for dialogue as well conflict prevention. Regional Programme Specialists can also be deployed to provide surge expertise or short-term technical support to Resident Coordinators in contexts where there are no PDAs. Interim support can be offered in contexts where support is urgently needed ahead of the arrival of a full-time PDA or where unforeseen risks or crises demand urgent advisory support to be provided to the RC.
The Programme Specialist will have a specific focus on the Arab States Region, including North Africa, and can be called upon to advise on regional and sub-regional strategies. They can also provide support to PDAs or RCs in other contexts based on their needs and area of expertise, working closely with UNDP and DPPA.
The Regional Programme Specialist will report to the Director(s) in DPPA, the Regional DCO Director, and the Director of the UNDP Regional Hub in Jordan. S/he will work under the overall guidance and constant liaison with the Joint Programme management and team in New York.
Position Purpose:
There are three broad functions of the position:
Provide ongoing technical and programmatic backstopping to PDAs, DCO Arab States Regional Director, and to UN Resident Coordinators and UNCTs, in contexts where PDA capacity is requested; Support sub-regional, regional and country-led analysis, strategy development and collaboration; Contribute to the generation and sharing of knowledge and support monitoring and evaluation practices;Deploy as surge interim-PDA capacity to support Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams in contexts where a full-time PDA has not yet been established or where the context warrants additional support. Duties and Responsibilities
Provide ongoing technical and programmatic backstopping to PDAs, DCO Arab States Regional Director, and to UN Resident Coordinators and UNCTs, in contexts where PDA capacity is requested
Provide technical expertise on initiatives aimed at strengthening national capacities for conflict prevention supported by PDAs at country-level, including dialogue processes; building local capacity for negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation processes; support to networks of mediators and facilitators at national and local levels; support to electoral violence prevention; countering violent extremism; strengthen women’s and youth initiatives and groups in peace processes; confidence-building measures; and other inter-group processes; as requested; Provide technical support and strategic inputs to PDAs, working with UNCT agencies, funds and programmes, in the design of conflict prevention and peacebuilding programmes or other peace-related strategies at country-level, as requested; Support PDAs in carry-out activities related to mainstreaming conflict prevention and conflict sensitivity in the UNCT, including within the framework of common country planning processes (UNSDCF, CPD, etc.), as well as UN regional platforms, such as the issue-based coalitions, as requested; Support the design, organization and/or facilitation of training and capacity-building activities led by PDAs, or any other concerning peace and development party where there is no PDA presence, at the country level aimed at UNCT and/or national stakeholders to prevent crisis and mainstream conflict prevention; Respond to requests by RCs to accompany him/her in supporting conflict prevention, dialogue and mediation initiatives and processes in countries with or without a PDA as agreed by the JP management; Deploy on a need basis to support PDAs and/or RCs in country to carry out the above-mentioned activities.Support sub-regional, regional, and country-led analysis, strategy development and collaboration
Engage and support PDAs, and when appropriate UN Country Teams, to undertake joint conflict analysis, political economy analysis and other assessment exercises, ensuring that gendered dimensions are reflected, with the aim of informing pertinent programmes and UN engagement with a particular focus on supporting the UN in developing regional/sub-regional or cross-border strategies or approaches; Monitor PDA analytical reports, ensuring dissemination of the analytical products to key stakeholders, and identify trends or key findings that could further inform regional approaches, areas for collaboration or back-up needed; Support PDAs in developing partnerships and entry points for conflict prevention initiatives at the regional/sub-regional level, including with regional inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, in close collaboration with the UNDP Regional Hub/DPPA Mission; Ensure that analyses and initiatives led by the PDA at the country level are aligned with conflict prevention strategies at the regional level; assist in articulating common priorities; Help build understanding and awareness of the PDA role with UN and external stakeholders within the region. Support UNDP and DPPA in the development of regional, sub-regional and cross-border initiatives.Contribute to the generation and sharing of knowledge and support monitoring and evaluation practices
In close collaboration with the Joint Programme Knowledge Management Specialist, help with the identification, documentation, and dissemination of good practices, and lessons learned, including through comparative analysis of conflict prevention initiatives supported by PDAs in the region; Support efforts led by the Programme Specialist to implement M&E strategy and framework, including by informing data collection and tracking of progress; as well as guidance to PDAs in the implementation and translation of the framework into their work; Contribute to the consolidation of the PDA community of practice through feeding of substantive inputs to the Peace Infrastructures Portal; quarterly updates and newsletters; as well as annual report; Maintain close contact with the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme Secretariat, as well as relevant staff in UN Headquarters including relevant focal points at UNDP and UN DPPA; and facilitate and support engagement and information-sharing between these levels; Support the organization of DCO, UNDP, DPPA and/or Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme-related events at the regional level that aim to share experiences and build knowledge in the area of conflict prevention.Deploy as surge interim-PDA capacity to support Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams in contexts where a full-time PDA has not yet been established or where the context warrants additional support
Undertake short-medium term deployments up to two months on PDA assignments to fill in critical gaps or in countries experiencing a sudden onset of crisis, including: Undertake conflict analysis with specific attention to gendered dimensions of conflict; Support the RC/UNCT/DPPA response to an emerging complex political situation or a crisis, including supporting a dialogue process, mediation, electoral violence prevention, or other related processes; Support the UN in adjusting its programmes and responses to emerging situations or crises, with special attention to conflict sensitivity.Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: N/A
Competencies
Core: CoreBehaviouralCompetencies.pdf (undp.org)
This vacancy is archived.