Desk review and research for the Review on the Future of All Forms of UN Peace Operations

Conduct a comprehensive desk review for the Peace Operations Review.

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UN DPO - Department of Peace Operations

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New York (United States of America)

Consultant

Application deadline 1 year ago: Tuesday 15 Apr 2025 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Conduct a comprehensive desk review for the Peace Operations Review.

You have:

Advanced university degree in Political Science/Public and International Affairs/Politics, International Relations, Law, or related discipline.
A first degree in combination with qualifying experience could be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
A minimum of five years of in-depth expertise in the field of UN peace operations is required.
Direct work experience in a UN peace operation and at UN Headquarters is desirable.
Experience with UN reform and/or organizational change processes is desirable.
A record of publications and academic research experience is desirable.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an asset.

Contract

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Details

Result of Service

Outputs of activities listed in the section on "Duties and Responsibilities" should be delivered within the assignment period: 15 May – 26 June 2025: A comprehensive desk review of relevant sources has been prepared to provide an analytical baseline for the Peace Operations Review.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

1.402 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Individual Contractor will be recruited for a period of 30 days. The work assignment will include the following tasks: 1. Review of previous and ongoing reform processes to identify key lessons learned that are relevant for the Peace Operations Review. This will entail compiling and analyzing the original review reports, reform proposals, status updates on reform implementation, and UN-produced as well as external assessments on the results of these reviews and reform processes. Outputs: Bibliography of reviewed documents, incl. thematic register of key lessons learned from previous and ongoing reforms (approx. 10-15 pages) 2. Review, cataloguing and analysis of relevant UN-internal lessons learned documents (such as end-of-assignment reports of former senior mission leaders; after-action reviews and lessons learned studies) that are relevant to the main lines of inquiry for the Peace Operations Review. Output: Bibliography of reviewed internal documents, including thematic register of key findings (approx. 10-15 pages). 3. Review and analysis of key academic and think tank contributions from key institutions and authors globally from the past 10 years (since the release of the Report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations) on key issues relevant to the main lines of inquiry of this Peace Operations Review. Output: Bibliography of key academic contributions, including short synopsis of main findings. (approx. 10-15 pages). In addition to the above deliverables, the individual contractor must be: 4. Available for weekly check-ins with the Review team and to deliver a final briefing to the Review team and senior management in DPO and DPPA.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in Political Science/Public and International Affairs/Politics, International Relations, Law, or related discipline. A first degree in combination with qualifying experience could be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. A minimum of five years of in-depth expertise in the field of UN peace operations is required. Direct work experience in a UN peace operation and at UN Headquarters (DP(K)O or DP(P)A) is desirable. Experience with UN reform and/or organizational change processes is desirable. A record of publications and academic research experience is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Can you describe a previous project where you conducted a comprehensive literature review?	This assesses the candidate's ability to handle extensive research tasks.	Provide specifics about the project, the processes followed, and the outcomes.
How do you prioritize tasks when working under tight deadlines?	This question evaluates time management skills.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What experience do you have with organizational change processes within the UN?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure accuracy and credibility in your research findings?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a time you contributed to a successful report or publication.	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you stay informed about current trends and developments in peace operations?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your experience conducting interviews or engaging with stakeholders in your research?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.
Why do you think lessons learned from past UN peace operations are critical for future initiatives?	Pro members can see the explanation.	Pro members can see the explanation.