Peace and Development Specialist

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.

Since 2014, the Joint UNDP/DPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention has partnered with United Nations Volunteers to deploy UN Volunteers with a profile in peace and development in countries where PDAs are deployed. A team of UN Volunteers are deployed to work closely with the PDAs, to augment the capacity on both conflict/political analysis and support to programming responses, with a particular emphasis placed on engaging with civil society actors in a manner consistent with UNV’s mandate.

The Joint UNDP-DPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention deployed a Peace and Development Advisor (PDA) in 2013 to work alongside the Resident Coordinator and in close collaboration with the UN Country Team, UNDP and DPA HQ, and the EU. The work of the PDA has focused on supporting the RC through political and conflict analysis and the UN Country Team to design and implement conflict-sensitive programming; while providing strategic guidance and implementation of conflict prevention initiatives that involve national counterparts from government and civil society.

The primary purpose of this position, therefore, is to assist the Peace and Development Advisor, in providing support for conflict analysis and socio-economic research. Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Peace and Development Advisor, the United Nations Volunteer will also work closely with other UN agencies to enhance their own research capabilities.

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Ethiopia is composed of representatives of 27 UN funds and programmes, specialized agencies and other UN entities accredited to Ethiopia as well as representatives of the Bretton Woods institutions. Some of the UN agencies in the UNCT have regional mandate or act as liaison offices to the ECA and the African Union.

Under the direct supervision of Peace and Development Advisor, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support the democratic governance and capacity development programme and other relevant initiatives through assisting in identifying areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders related to dialogue, governance reform, conflict prevention and consensus building, as appropriate. In doing so, systematically consider and streamline gender and social inclusion; • Undertake a mapping and analysis of 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 to the PDA and UNCT throughout the duration of the assignment; • Support the PDA with analysis on political developments and conflict dynamics, with a view to identifying appropriate ‘entry points’ for conflict prevention and peacebuilding,
• Support the PDA in the engagement with national stakeholders, focusing particularly on engaging with various civil society actors at local level who may not otherwise have access or engagement with the international community; • Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector and the international community, including the UN system); • Identify entry points for linking 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; • Conduct analysis and research on issues and thematic areas, as directed by the PDA, including through analysis of local sources; • Other tasks as directed by the PDA and/or UN Resident Coordinator.

Commitment and Motivation Communication Ethics and Values Integrity Planning and Organizing Professionalism Working in Teams

the field of social development involving national and international interlocutors (i.e., international community, civil sector, public institutions) is required. • Computer skills: Excellent knowledge of different computer packages • Strong communication, strategic thinking, public relations and advisory skills, including written and presentations is required; • Demonstrated knowledge of human rights-based approach and gender mainstreaming in programme development/coordination • Demonstrated networking and partnership building skills are required; • Strong expertise in coordinating activities is required; • Relevant, proven work experience in the UN system is an asset; • Peacebuilding and conflict transformation experience is an asset; • Experience in the diplomatic and political sectors is an asset; The incumbent must be a dynamic, team-oriented, multi-functional person who supports the UNCT with professionalism and dedication

Note: Depending on the security situation in Ethiopia at the time of deployment, the assignment may start remotely.

Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent nations in Africa, dating back to about 100 BC. Located in the Horn of Africa, and with a population of 84 million, it is the continent’s third-most-populous country. As a federal parliamentary republic, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister is Head of Government and the President is Head of State. Ethiopia extends over 1.14 million km2, 45% of which is arable land. It is subject to geographical and climatic variations, with its central mountains and plateaus divided by the Great Rift Valley, and surrounding lowlands of desert in the east and tropical forest in the west.

Ethiopia has achieved remarkable economic and social progress, particularly over the past decade. Agriculture, mostly rain-fed smallholder farming, was until recently the leading economic sector, and continues to account for around 80% of employment. However, agriculture has in recent years been overtaken by the services sector, in terms of both rate of growth and share of contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).

Addis Ababa is the Federal Capital of Ethiopia and a Chartered City, having three layers of Government: City Government at the top 10, Sub City Administrations in the Middle, and 99 Kebele Administrations at the bottom. The city’s average elevation is 2,500 meters above sea level, and hence has a fairly favorable climate and moderate weather conditions. Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia, the seat of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).