Peace & Development Advisor Full-Time

Under the direct supervision of the Resident Coordinator and in close collaboration with the country team and UNHQ, the PDA will:

1. Provide strategic and operational support to the RC/RR on conflict analysis and prevention, and assist in his/her relations with government officials, academia, civil society, including women’s and youth networks, and with the wider political and civic leadership:

• Provide continuous analysis to RC, UNCT and UNHQ (and in some contexts, the Humanitarian Country Team) on political developments and conflict dynamics, with a view to identifying appropriate ‘entry points’ for conflict prevention and recommending appropriate strategic responses for the UN system, ensuring gendered dimensions of conflict are captured in both analytical efforts and reflected in UNCT programming initiatives;
• Organize, develop, and implement local and or national-level initiatives to strengthen confidence in local development capacities, including through the promotion of local dialogue capacities for conflict resolution at local and/or national levels.

2. Identify areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders, and support to RC/RR in the preparation of the UN response to government requests, related to building national capacity for conflict prevention;

• Be familiar with and as required provide technical expertise related to peace-promoting activities such as: dialogue processes; support to facilitation of national multi-stakeholder processes; building local capacity for negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation processes; support to capacities of networks of mediators and facilitators at national and local levels; support to electoral violence prevention initiatives; support and design of conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives geared towards countering violent extremism; strengthen women’s and youth initiatives and groups in peace processes; undertake/ support confidence-building measures; organize and facilitate training and capacity building workshops for national stakeholders at all levels; and other inter-group process, as required;
• Provide technical guidance to the design and implementation of Peacebuilding Funded programmes, where applicable, and engage closely with PBF governance mechanisms such as the Joint Steering Committees and their Secretariats;
• Undertake necessary activities to build/strengthen/apply/sustain national capacities/ institutions/ processes to prevent crisis and mainstream conflict prevention interventions throughout the work of UN agencies at country level.

3. Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key national stakeholders and development partners;

• Establish and maintain networks and strategic partnerships for peace building related strategies and initiatives;
• Liaise closely with national, regional, and local stakeholders from Government and civil society including women’s networks and key international actors to identify entry points, foster dialogue and strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships on conflict prevention, reconciliation and confidence-building initiatives;
• Maintain close liaison with relevant donors and other actors supporting UNDP’s peace building efforts;
• Support UN efforts to mobilize resources for peace building and conflict prevention initiatives;
• Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Headquarters including relevant focal points at UNDP and UN/DPA;
• Liaise closely with the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund, particularly in countries where PBF activities are being implemented; and
• Contribute technical expertise to substantive reporting related to peacebuilding projects / programmes.
• Advise and support the RC on engagement with the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC), in coordination with the DPA SADC Liaison Team, with a view to ensuring complementarity and alignment of support in Mozambique.

4. Provide strategic and technical support to UNDP and other UNCT members with regard to conflict prevention programming and work to strengthen their capacity to undertake conflict analysis and mainstream conflict sensitivity in regular programming;

• Support the design and implementation of strategy for identifying entry points for mainstreaming of conflict prevention and conflict sensitivity in the UN Country Team, including within the framework of common country planning processes (UNDAF, CPD, etc.);
•  Support an integrated programmatic approach across the UNCT in the context of SDG 16 – Peace Justice and Strong Institutions;
• Conduct training for UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention and/or conflict-sensitive development, ensuring that the gendered dimensions of conflict are adequately reflected through analysis produced and meaningfully addressed through programmatic efforts;
• Provide analytical and strategic support to UNCT. Support the UNCT in making programmatic linkages with the analysis provided.

Core competencies

Innovation:

• Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully.

Leadership:

• Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others.

People Management:

• Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making.

Communication:

• Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis.

Delivery:

• Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services.

Technical / Functional competencies

Social Cohesion (Knowledge of methods and experience of supporting communities to achieve greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility):

• Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Peacebuilding and Reconciliation (Ability to support peace processes to facilitate recovery and development):

• Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Conflict-Sensitive Programming (Ability to use methods and tools to monitor conflict triggers and determine impact of various dynamics in conflict-prone situations):

• Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Political Economy Analysis [Ability to analyze socio-political dynamics influencing power and influence through various lenses (i.e. national, local, communal levels and ethnic, demographic, etc.)]:

• Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Knowledge Management (Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge):

• Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Relationship Management (Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships):

• Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Resource Mobilization (Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources):

• Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences. In lieu of an Advanced degree, a Bachelor university degree with additional years of experience.

Experience

• At least 7 to years of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, policy, and strategy development, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization;
• Extensive experience in research and project development;
• A proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior levels of government, United Nations, and donors;
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming;
• Sound knowledge of and extensive experience in (country/region), including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives, is an advantage.

Language requirements

• Fluent written and spoken English is required;
• Working knowledge of Portuguese is highly desirable.

Women candidates and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

UNDP reserves the right to contact only pre-selected candidates.