02.02.2024

Вакансія: Peace and Development Officer, NOB, DS-Kyiv

ЗАВЕРШЕНО

Background

Violent conflict has surged in recent years. While the complex relationship between conflict, security and development is increasingly understood, international assistance and investment in conflict prevention have remained relatively low. At the same time, approaches to preventing conflict have been refined considerably, as policy and practice on peacebuilding have evolved – and the UN, its Member States and other partners are increasingly looking to prevention as a critical strategy for sustaining peace and nurturing development. Conflict prevention is increasingly recognized as a rational and cost-effective strategy for countries at risk of violence and for the international community.

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 UNDP-DPPA Programme will further strengthen 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.

The deployment of Peace and Development Advisors 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.

In an effort to ensure that PDAs are better equipped and empowered to deliver on their mandates, the Joint Programme has established in a number of contexts small ‘Peace and Development teams’ where a national Peace and Development Officer provides reinforced capacity to the PDA’s engagement in support of the RCOs (Resident Coordinators Office) and UNCTs (UN Country Teams) in the area of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. The current cadre includes 120 Peace and Development Advisors deployed globally, including 40 national positions.

In some contexts, Peace and Development Officers are deployed in contexts where an international PDA is not present.

Country context – Ukraine

Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 has impacted communities in Ukraine in diverse ways ,and exacerbated some of the tensions and challenges following previous eight years of conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Some of the communities continue to contend with significant humanitarian needs and host a large number of displaced individuals who may not have a safe and suitable place to return to in the near future. These communities struggle to provide housing and essential resources while maintaining social cohesion. Others are ready to embark on recovery and reconstruction efforts, creating conditions for voluntary returns, both from within the country and abroad, to reintegrate and rebuild their lives in the liberated areas.

Overall, across the country the UN is well placed to support Ukrainian partners in designing and implementing community recovery interventions that can contribute to strengthening social cohesion and national unity, reduce e the current reliance on humanitarian assistance, and strengthen the overall resilience of war-affected communities to multidimensional shocks and support sustainable, long-term reintegration of populations in liberated communities. The objective is to create favourable conditions for people to recover and rebuild their lives to enable voluntary return as well as strengthen cohesion/peaceful coexistence between host and displaced communities in the areas of displacement. These community recovery efforts sit in the nexus of humanitarian and development interventions and have a strong focus on social inclusion and cohesion. The efforts also take into consideration the gendered impacts of the ongoing war and will contribute to the implementation of the UN Security Council’s women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, including in promoting inclusion of women and civil society in social cohesion and recovery efforts.

Following the February invasion, the United Nations Country Team in Ukraine has focused on three priority pillars: humanitarian assistance, human rights monitoring and reporting, and early recovery and preparation for reconstruction throughout Ukraine. The UN remains a long-term partner of Ukraine and as such, is committed to a long-term engagement in supporting Ukraine, in partnership with the Government and other national stakeholders, and in concert with international partners, including in promoting and supporting long -term social cohesion and national unity.

Duties and Responsibilities


Under the direct supervision of the PDA the main duties and responsibilities of the PDO will include:
1.) Assist in research, information-gathering, and analysis with a specific focus on supporting and promoting conflict sensitive approaches, social cohesion and long-term peace.
Duties:	Gather and process data and information relevant to the UN’s role and activities in Ukraine and the sub-region as relevant, with a specific focus on supporting and promoting social cohesion, community dialogue, conflict prevention, sustainable development and long-term peace. Support the PDA in undertaking political, political economy, and/or conflict analysis, monitoring the situation in the country, and reporting of issues related to peace and security, social cohesion including through analysis of local sources. Carry out and coordinate research on particular issues and thematic areas, in particular social cohesion and social dynamic of the conflict.
2.) Identify programming entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict sensitivity and social cohesion, particularly with regard to civil society, women, and youth.
Duties:	Assist the PDA in identifying areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders related to social cohesion, dialogue, conflict prevention, and consensus-building; and contribute to the development of conflict-sensitive approaches. Under the guidance of the PDA, support the exploration of entry points with key national counterparts including the Government and civil society. Under the guidance of the PDA and in coordination with DPPA liaison team in Ukraine, advise on mainstreaming conflict-sensitive approaches, including the provision of training UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention, and/or conflict-sensitive development. Undertake mappings and analysis of civil society actors, including youth, women, and marginalized groups, and their capacities for conflict sensitivity and social cohesion at the local and national level. This analysis will inform and provide support to the PDA and UNCT throughout the duration of the assignment. Support the PDA in their engagement with national and local stakeholders, focusing particularly on engaging with civil society actors at the local level and academia, to help link local initiatives to national-level institutions, structures, and processes. As well as reinforcing dialogue between government and civil society and/or people-to-people dialogues.
3.) Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships, community networking.
Duties:	Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector, and the international community, including the UN system). Liaise with DPPA liaison team in Ukraine on possible areas of collaboration and analysis. In close collaboration with the PDA conduct the field visits and meetings with the community-based organizations and stakeholders for data collection and analysis in line with the peace and development workplan. . Support knowledge management and sharing of good practices on conflict prevention, social cohesion; ensure that stories and lessons learned are shared with the Joint Programme Secretariat, and respond to specific requests for information; and Perform an array of duties that support UN coordination and effective Peace and Development Team programme implementation. These may include assisting in organizing meetings and consultations, organizing and implementing consultation processes with national and international partners.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: N/A

The National Peace and Development Officer works under the direct supervision and guidance of the PDA, to provide substantive support in three main areas of activity, including:

Assist with research, information-gathering, and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting conflict sensitive approaches, social cohesion and long-term peace.
Identify entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict sensitivity and social cohesion, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks.
Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships, and community networking
Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:	LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by the deadline
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem-solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously	LEVEL 1: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility	LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination	LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner	LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion	LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, be aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Development	Knowledge Generation	Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business Management	Partnership Management	Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UN strategy and policies
Business Management	Communication	Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels
Agenda 2030: People	Gender	Women, Peace, and Security
Agenda 2030: Peace	Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive	Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion
Agenda 2030: Peace	Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive	Conflict Analysis and conflict sensitivity
Agenda 2030: Peace	Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive	Social Cohesion

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, conflict resolution, peace studies, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences.
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:
Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization.
Extensive experience in analysis, research and sound drafting skills is considered as strong advantage.
Experience in project/programme development, management is considered as strong advantage
Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding, community dialogue and social cohesion initiatives and programming is considered as strong advantage.
In-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in (country/region), including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives. and awareness and familiarity of key actors and stakeholders across the political, economic, and development spheres alongside knowledge of government, civil society, and other non-state actors is desirable.
Specific experience in Women, Peace and Security, and/or gendered dimensions of Peacebuilding being an asset

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken Ukrainian and English is required.
Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Qualified female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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Same Posting Description for Internal and External Candidates.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 23 February, 2024.

If you wish to apply for this or other positions, please visit UNDP in Ukraine website, section Jobs and apply:

https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/16079

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.