Peace and Development Analyst

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Politically, Malawi is a generally peaceful country and has had stable governments since independence in 1964. This notwithstanding, Malawi remains a country with deep-seated social, economic, and political inequalities, tensions, and grievances that have from time to time manifested in violence and conflict incidences, especially during elections. The 2019 elections and the court processes that led to the nullification of the presidential election have exposed Malawi's vulnerability to socioeconomic, political, and religious risks and threats. The social and political violence, conflicts/tensions that resulted from Civil Society led demonstrations across the country, and the level violence experienced during the Fresh Presidential Election held on 23 June 2020 have been unprecedented in Malawi's history. All these points to the fact that there are long-standing unaddressed socioeconomic and political grievances, tensions that could derail Malawi's efforts at national cohesion and national healing. The situation has further been compounded by growing security threat stemming from violent extremism acts in northern Mozambique which threaten to destabilize the security of the region, especially direct neighbors like Malawi.

For this reason, the UN, is focusing attention on the full implementation of the National Peace Architecture (NPA) and the National Peace Policy (NPP) through the development of the legislation that would allow for the establishment of the Malawi Peace Commission (MPC). The MPC will ensure the institutionalization of socioeconomic and political dialogue, conflict prevention and create spaces for dialogue and civil society participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention and early warning. The establishment of the MPC will operationalize section 13(1) of the Constitution, which states that the state shall strive to adopt "mechanisms by which differences are settled through negotiation, good offices, mediation, conciliation, and arbitration." The Bill has been tabled in Parliament for debate and passage. The UN under the leadership of the RCO has undertaken a conflict assessment in the country’s borderland areas with Mozambique and has engaged development partners and other stakeholders to support the UN prevention agenda, especially in the area of prevention and combating violent extremism. In this regard, the UN will support the Government of Malawi, the Malawi Peace Commission and civil society organizations to address the wider governance issues including the intersection of political and economic dynamics that affect sustainable development, including conflict prevention, peacebuilding, anti-corruption, service delivery, and public sector performance at both the national and local levels.

The Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention deployed a PDA in Malawi. The primary purpose of this assignment, therefore, is to assist the PDA in strengthening the National Peace Architecture, specifically support capacity building and coordination capacity of local infrastructure for peace; support the UNCT partners with conflict analysis and stakeholder engagements around peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities; and support the PDA’s development partners engagements and resource mobilization drive to support UNCT conflict prevention and peacebuilding agenda.

Under the direct supervision of the PDA, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for supporting the following tasks:

1. Assisting on research, information-gathering and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention:

Support the PDA in data gathering and analysis of socio-economic, political risks and conflict dynamics including regional developments relevant to conflict prevention and peacebuilding activities in Malawi, with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding, social cohesion, conflict prevention and prevention of violent extremism; support engagements with regional colleagues in Mozambique and the region to enhance exchange of information and cross-border collaborations.

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, including through analysis of local sources;

Carry out and coordinate research on particular issues and thematic areas.

2. 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 and consensus building; and contribute to the development of conflict-sensitive approaches;

Support the PDA in developing new project ideas, concept note and assist the coordination of the implementation of existing conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and projects;

Under the guidance of the PDA, support the exploration of entry points with key national counter-parts including the Government and civil society;

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 mappings and analysis with civil society actors’ (including youth, women, and marginalized groups) capacities for conflict prevention/ peacebuilding at local and national level, using the exercise 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 nation-al-level institutions, structures and processes, as well as reinforcing dialogue between government and civil society and/or people-to-people dialogues.

3. Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships and M&E:

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; and

Support knowledge management and sharing of good practices on conflict prevention and peace-building; ensure that stories and lessons learned are shared with the Joint Programme Secretariat; and respond to specific requests for information.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;

Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;

Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client oriented.

Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.

Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;

Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer in-formation and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

social development involving national and international interlocutors (i.e. international community, civil sector, public institutions) is required

Malawi is a stable and democratic country and has no major security problem. The population of Malawi is about 19 million and the major languages are English and Chichewa. Living conditions in all the major cities are modest with all basic supplies available. Appropriate health services and international schools are available in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba. Malaria is prevalent throughout the country. Social infrastructure can be found in all 4 major cities.

The UN Volunteer will be based in the capital of the country, Lilongwe. Conditions in Lilongwe are generally good and have reasonable health services – with good private health service providers. Housing in Lilongwe varies, and it is possible to rent apartments in safe areas from $500 upwards. The UNV Unit will book temporary accommodation for the first nights at a UNDSS-approved lodge while assisting in getting permanent accommodation. The Government Department of Housing has a provision for government houses to UN staff, and when available, a UN Volunteer is allocated one.