POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Central African Integrated Operational Team, Central and Southern Africa Division, Africa Office, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). The Political Affairs Officers will serve under the oversight of the Deputy Director of the IOT and report to a Senior Political Affairs Officer. Responsibilities• Participate in the daily management of one or more peacekeeping operations, focusing primarily on United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). • Monitor closely the peace process and maintain up-to-date knowledge of issues of peace and security in the assigned country/region, including as they affect the peacekeeping operation(s). • Provide early warning of potential trouble spots. • Monitor and analyse developments in the peacekeeping operation(s) and related countries and region of concern, including relations between the parties, contributors, governments, and regional organisations, including by maintaining close and regular contacts with the peacekeeping mission(s), reviewing situation reports, cables, correspondence, media, etc., with a view to providing timely and relevant analytical and strategic forward looking assessment and recommendations to senior management; identify and respond to changes, problems and incidents; ensure consultation and input from the parties involved; and prepare timely responses to issues and questions raised in the field, as well as monitor and follow-up on outstanding issues. • Formulate recommendations for integrated strategic guidance to the peacekeeping operation (s) for the implementation of its/their mandate. • Draft a wide range of documents, in particular reports of the Secretary-General, briefing notes to the Security Council and other correspondence with the Security Council, its Sanctions Committee, and other relevant bodies; prepare analytical notes, talking points, speeches and briefing notes for meetings of senior UN officials and policy papers; and draft responses to comments, statements, and queries of concerned stakeholders as well as interested Member States, in particular members of the Security Council, troop and police contributing countries, and regional organisations, etc. ensuring input of and consultations with relevant stakeholders in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the wider Secretariat and United Nations agencies. • Build and maintain liaison through informal and formal contacts with a wide-range of actors within the Department, wider Secretariat offices and UN agencies as well as the parties to the conflict, members of the Security Council, other relevant Member States, troop and police contributing countries, regional organizations and others. • Maintain effective working relationships and consultation with appropriate counterparts in other divisions of DPO, other Departments of the UN Secretariat and UN Agencies, regional organisation, NGOs, academia, and media, as appropriate, with a view to coordinating support to the peacekeeping operation (s), including by integrating different aspects related to the mission(s). • Coordinate the substantive results-based budgeting process for the preparation of annual budget documents and performance reports of the peacekeeping operation(s) and provide relevant briefing to legislative bodies, as required. • Contribute to the development of doctrine, lessons learned and knowledge management for the Department of Peace Operations, and to advise on operational mechanisms and models to achieve departmental goals. • Participate in activities to implement operations, devise guidelines, terms of reference and concepts of operations, ensure input from participants and integrate different aspects (e.g., security, administrative and legal), and coordinate implementation. Advise on operational mechanisms and models to achieve Departmental goals. • Participate in fact finding, planning and other missions to countries or operations within assigned area of responsibility and draft reports thereon. • Perform other related duties as required, including backstopping of other operations managed by the Division. Competencies• Professionalism: Knowledge of the work of the United Nations, and of the functions, priorities and policies of peacekeeping and its activities at both Headquarters and in the field; ability to identify and analyze political, ethnic, racial, social and economic problems that cause civil unrest in a country or geographic area; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, political analysis, international relations or crisis management, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution, diplomacy or other relevant field is required. A first-level university degree with a combination of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, political analysis, international relations or crisis management, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution, diplomacy or related area at national and/or international levels is required. A minimum of one year experience in a peacekeeping operations or other relevant field operation in a civilian (non uniformed) capacity is desirable. Experience in political research and analysis on issues related to CAR is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the Secretariat. For this post, fluency in both oral and written English is required. Fluency in French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice• This position is temporarily available until 30 June 2024. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as \"retirement.\" Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. 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