Date of last update: 14/08/2022 2022-08-14
UNDP is the UN Development Programme and works in some 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. UNDP supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they help shape global sustainable development for the next 10 years.
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Job Description
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.
Policy Advisors (variously called Peace and Development Advisors or National Capacities Advisors depending on the national context and needs PDA) work with national stakeholders to build, strengthen, and sustain nationally owned and driven efforts to prevent violent conflict and build just and peaceful societies. The range of countries to which PAs are deployed varies considerably, with some deployed to countries emerging from conflict, others where violence is escalating, and others to countries where there is no violent conflict but underlying structural causes of conflict are present. PAs are also deployed in countries where political and developmental challenges exist around elections and constitutional processes, exclusion and inequality, environment, climate change, and natural resource management.
In 2022, PAs will have been deployed into more than 70 countries through the Joint Programme. While most PAs are deployed at the country level, there are a number of PAs who cover multiple countries.
Given the broad range of skills and experience required by PAs, the Joint Programme encourages applications from individuals with a combination of expertise spanning sustainable development, political affairs, peacebuilding, sustaining peace, conflict prevention/resolution, community engagement, justice, reconciliation, dialogue, mediation, and humanitarian-development-peace nexus among other relevant areas. While UN experience is a major asset, it is not a requirement for this position. Moreover, the skills of diplomacy, dialogue and facilitation, analysis, advocacy, networking, capacity development and coordination are critical elements of the work of a PA.
PAs at the P5 level will be deployed in a) particularly complex political, conflict, and security settings as determined by the Joint Programme criticality assessment and analysis carried out by DPPA and UNDP b) in contexts of UN mission/mission transition settings or with other political presences, c) when regional/sub-regional functions are required, or d) when engagement with high-level officials is expected.
Eritrea Country Context: Located along the Red Sea in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea is one of the youngest countries in the continent, having achieved independence from Ethiopia in 1991 (formalized in 1993) after a protracted 30-year liberation struggle. According to the latest national data available, the country's population stands at 3.65 million, the majority of whom reside in rural areas, with over 49 per cent being under the age of 15.
Soon after independence, Eritrea's development path was disrupted by the 1998-2000 border war with Ethiopia followed by a protracted 18-year stalemate between the two countries and ten years of international sanctions imposed in connection with Eritrea's alleged support to Al-Shabaab in Somalia, a claim that Eritrea denied. The situation normalized with the signing of a landmark peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia in July 2018 and the lifting of sanctions by the UN Security Council in November of the same year. Although the historic rapprochement with Ethiopia and the subsequent diplomatic engagements among Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia generated hope that the region could enter a period of peace, security, and cooperation, the armed conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region from November 2020 has reversed the trajectory towards regional peace and the progress in Eritrea's re-engagement with the international community, with the European Union and the United States imposing new sanctions on prominent Eritrean officials and ruling-party related entities in the country in the course of 2021. Eritrea has protested against these new sanctions, terming them unfair and against international law.
Over the past three decades, Eritrea has made progress towards its own vision of people-centered, sustainable development premised on self-reliance, attaining results, particularly in the areas of health and education, though challenges remain. The impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of vulnerability, in a context already characterized by recurrent drought and frequent climatic shocks.
UN Context: The arrival of a new UN Resident Coordinator (RC) in the country in June 2021 created a new momentum for reinvigorating the partnership between the Government and the UN which has remained cordial over the years. In November 2021, the UN Heads of Agencies (HoA) held their annual retreat in Nairobi to review their preparedness for the roll-out of the new Cooperation Framework. They were joined in this retreat by several UN Regional Directors. Discussions were also held about enhancing a UN system-wide strategy of engagement with Eritrea. In December, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa made his first visit to Eritrea following an exchange of letters between the President of Eritrea and the Secretary-General. The visit helped to frame discussions about Eritrea's engagement and contribution to regional peace and security which require follow-up.
In January 2022, the Government of the State of Eritrea and the United Nations jointly launched the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2022-2026. The document will guide UN collective engagement in upcoming years in support of national development aspirations, and by extension the SDGs, and is built around the following strategic pillars:
Also in January 2022, and as a follow-up to the November 2021 HoA retreat, the Government and the UN Resident Coordinator hosted a 25-strong team of UN Regional Directors and their representatives for a week-long programme of engagements with the Government and for a first-hand experience of the national development context. This was the largest ever-UN mission to Eritrea and both the Government and the UN hailed it as exceptionally successful in affirming and aligning the partnership towards the implementation of the new Cooperation Framework.
The RC and the UNCT are keen on building on the current momentum through increased engagement with the Government, partners and the Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.
Deployed in the Office of the RC, the interim Policy Advisor will support the UNCT in its strategic engagement with the Government, to deepen trust and dialogue with key national interlocutors and identify entry points to concretely support the country in its development objectives and engagement with the UN and development partners. The PA will also contribute to enhanced exchanges with other UNCTs in the region to increase the sharing of analyses and developments on regional dynamics, including engagement with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.
Alongside the proven ability to build networks and being an excellent writer able to build trust and sustain constructive dialogue with Eritrean stakeholders, the incumbent should demonstrate the capacity to navigate sensitive political environments, provide strategic analysis and advice to senior officials and effectively identify opportunities and informed strategic choice-making.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
There are three broad functions of the position:
PAs have a primary reporting line to the Resident Coordinator and secondary reporting lines to the DPPA-DPO regional division and the UNDP Resident Representative. Under their guidance and agreed workplan, and in close collaboration with the country team, the PA will assume the following responsibilities.
Undertake conflict analysis and provide strategic advice to the Resident Coordinator in his/her engagement with high-level government officials, academia, civil society, including youth and women's networks, UN Country Teams, HQ, and other relevant stakeholders. Submit the analysis and reporting to the RC, UNDP RR, and DPPA:
Identify opportunities to build national capacities for conflict prevention, including areas of strategic, programmatic, and policy engagement with national stakeholders, and support the RC and the UNCT action in areas of conflict prevention, peacebuilding, human rights, humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) among others:
Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key national stakeholders, regional and international actors, and development partners on issues related to Sustaining Peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:
COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies
People Management Competencies:
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Direction and Strategy: Strategic Thinking
Business Management: Partnership Management
Business Management: Communication
Agenda 2030 - People: Gender
Agenda 2030 - Peace: Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive
Agenda 2030 - Peace: Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive
Agenda 2030 - Peace: Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive
QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:
Language Requirements:
Other Requirements:
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For Swiss nationals
Type of contract: Staff (Temporary)
Duration: 1 year
Macro-area: Sub-Saharan Africa
Level of experience: Senior Professional, more than 5 years
Area of work Definition: Democracy, Governance, Human Rights, Law, Public Administration
Type of organisation: Multilateral Organisations