Posting Title: SENIOR CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER, P5 (Temporary Job Opening)

Job Code Title: SENIOR CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/Office: AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur

Duty Station: ZALINGUEI

Posting Period: 26 July 2020 - 01 August 2020

Job Opening Number: 20-Civil Affairs-UNAMID-139014-J-Zalinguei (M)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organisational Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Governance and Community Stabilization Section (GCSS) in the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) based in Zalingei, Sudan. The Senior Civil Affairs Officer will report to the Chief of the Governance and Community Stabilization Section (GCSS).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: Core Profile:

• Supports the Chief of the Governance and Community Stabilization Section (GCSS) in all aspects of civil affairs, DDR and Community Violence Reduction (CVR) work, including through the provision of policy guidance and strategy development.
• Ensures coherence of the work of the GCSS as a whole in line with the Mission mandate. Supervises and monitors the work of Civil Affairs and DDR Officers under his/her responsibility in undertaking the full range of their duties.
• Oversees the reporting activities of GCSS.
• Designs and coordinates diverse specialized expenditure/programmatic funding projects and activities for GCSS to further the overall objectives of the Section, including joint programmes with UNCT and other actors where appropriate. Monitors activities to ensure that substantive work programmes are carried out in a timely and effective fashion, taking account of inclusivity including the targeting of women and youth.
• Manages relevant planning and budgeting processes for the GCSS, in accordance with UN and Mission procedures. Anticipates changes in the environment and proposes adjustments in the priorities or approach accordingly.
• Ensures that information and analysis provided by Civil Affairs and DDR Officers at the local level is collected and presented in a consistent and planned manner. Provides an overall analysis of trends and issues based on input from diverse geographical areas. Ensures that Civil Affairs and DDR/CVR analysis is integrated into overall analysis and planning at the regional level.
• Coordinates (across disciplines and thematic priorities such as support to civil society engagement in peacebuilding, promotion of confidence building, CVR, social cohesion, conflict prevention and mitigation, support to the extension of state administration and the return of basic services) to ensure effective partnership, coordination and information sharing between the Civil Affairs component and both Mission and non-Mission partners. Ensures that all partners and interlocutors are aware of the role and contributions of GCSS as part of the overall Mission and UN effort.
• Supports the Chief GCSS in the overall management of the Section, undertaking or overseeing the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for its functioning.
• Designs and oversees the GCSS workplan. Ensures that all GCSS and non-GCSS Mission actors share an understanding of the Mission mandate and operations, and act in a cohesive and consistent manner. Coordinates with UNCT partners in that area of operations to ensure a coherent UN system effort.
• Performs other duties as required, in line with the DPKO/DFS Policy Directive on Civil Affairs.

Conflict Management:

• Manages GCSS support to national and local actors in designing strategies and processes for conflict management and resolution.
• Convenes or oversees support to dialogue and negotiation between groups in conflict. Facilitates, enables, or mediates dialogue where appropriate.

• Manages partnerships with relevant actors to advocate the protection and empowerment of excluded and/or threatened groups in full respect of humanitarian and international law, including mechanisms for information-sharing, crisis response and protection of civilians as needed.
• Identifies and coordinates a response to specific conflict drivers at the social level, including by mobilising a response from other actors where appropriate.
• Identifies and designs practical GCSS support activities for constructive civil society actors.
• Identifies and oversees support in implementation of the Missions' Protection of Civilians mandate.

Support to restoration and extension of state authority:

• Develops strategies to enhance effective cooperation between GCSS and relevant state institutions with a view to strengthening local ownership of the peace process, building capacity, promoting cooperation between authorities and relevant community and social actors, as well as supporting operations, policy and decision-making processes as appropriate.
• Ensures consistent identification country-wide of the support needs of local authorities and the design of practical GCSS activities to respond to them. Ensures that GCSS work is carried out in coordination with other actors, in particular UNDP, and as part of a joint programme where appropriate.
• Ensures consistent and appropriate GCSS support to dialogue and cooperation between authorities and relevant community and social actors and encourages the development of structures of accountability and transparency.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the contexts within which peacekeeping operations function, and ability to contribute significantly to the overall strategic vision of the Mission. Ability to develop a vision and implement a plan for supporting domestic actors at the national level in conceptualising, designing and implementing conflict management or reconciliation processes. -- Ability to develop a vision and implement a plan for supporting domestic actors at the national level in conceptualising, designing and implementing a process for strengthening state institutions. Seasoned and in-depth knowledge and demonstrated capacity in dealing with policy and strategic issues related to institution building and governance. 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. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork: 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.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Managerial competencies: Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in social sciences, political science, international relations, public administration, anthropology, law, economics or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in civil affairs, political affairs, public administration, DDR, CVR or related fields is required.

A minimum of three years' experience of managerial and supervisory functions is required.

A minimum of five years of experience in conflict management, facilitation, mediation or negotiation skills, with an emphasis on analytical and strategic planning functions is required.

Experience in programme and project management is required.

Experience in facilitating structured dialogue events between different parties, and reconciliation activities and processes is desirable.

Experience working on governance, support to core government functions, or related areas is desirable.

Experience in policy advice in the areas of institution strengthening and governance support in a conflict or post-conflict setting, is desirable.

Experience in supporting strengthening of Civil Society actors is desirable.

Previous working experience in Darfur or Sudan is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 31/12/2020. 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
• 16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule
• 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.

United Nations Considerations

According 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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.