Background

Violent conflict has surged in recent years, and in 2016, more countries experienced violent conflict than at any time in nearly 30 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 recognised 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 and 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. There are currently 49 PDA positions across the globe.

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 and UNCTs in the area of conflict prevention and sustaining peace.

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Duties and Responsibilities
The 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 on research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention;
  • Identify entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks;
  • Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships and M&E of peacebuilding programming.
Under the direct supervision of the PDA, the main duties and responsibilities of the PDO will include:
  • Assisting on research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention;
  • Gather and process data and information relevant to the UN’s role and activities in Uganda and the sub-region as relevant, with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding, social cohesion, conflict prevention and sustainable development
  • 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 through analysis of contextual factors;
  • Carry out and coordinate research on particular issues and thematic areas in particular confict analysis, scenarios planning, dialogue and mediation.
Identifying entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks;
  • Assist the PDA in identifying areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders related to social cohesion, dialogue, conflict prevention, 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, civil society and research institutions/think-tanks
  • Advise on mainstreaming conflict-sensitive approaches including provision of training UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention and/or conflict-sensitive development;
  • Undertake mapping and analysis with various partners including civil society actors, youth, women, and marginalized groups capacities’ for conflict prevention/ peacebuilding at local and national level and using the findings to inform the support provided by 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 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.
Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships and M&E for peacebuilding programming
  • Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector and the international community, including the UN system).
  • In close collaboration with the PDA and the Joint Programme Secretariat, support monitoring and evaluation function, including collecting, processing and analyzing data in the framework of peace and development team workplan;
  • Support knowledge management and sharing of good practices on conflict prevention and peacebuilding; 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.
Competencies
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction Level 4: Models independent thinking and action
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis
Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services
Social Cohesion
Knowledge of methods and experience of supporting communities to achieve greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility Level 4: Apply & Adapt: 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 Level 4: Apply & Adapt: 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 Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Conflict Analysis and Risk Assessment
Knowledge of conflict analysis and risk assessment concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Gender
Knowledge of gender issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis of projects from a gender perspective Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Civil Society Engagement
Knowledge to create and implement civil society initiatives and apply across peace and development work Level 4: Apply & Adapt: 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 Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise
Required Skills and Experience
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:
• Minimum of 2 years 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;
• Experience in project/programme development, management
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming;
• 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.
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