Political Affairs Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Youth contracts.

According to UN policy directives to achieve gender equity, and the UN system-wide goal established in 1994 to reach 50/50 parity at all levels and in all entities, the gender imbalance at UNAMA is staggering. The representation of female staff at UNAMA varies from 7% to 30%. During the past 10 years, there has been ongoing concern about the gender imbalance at UNAMA. This was most recently expressed during the Senior Gender Dialogue meetings by the current SRSG. It was noted that additional measures are now required if the status quo is to change. Consequently, the SRSG asked the O/CMS to review the situation and identify creative ways to attract and retain qualified female national and international staff. UNAMA Gender balance project: Capacity building of female national candidates: Pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution and 7 subsequent resolutions together comprising the Women, Peace & Security (WPS) agenda, relevant UN policies promoting gender equality within the organization and a request from the SRSG to identify ways to address the current gender imbalances at UNAMA, we see the potential to pilot a National Youth UN Volunteer (NUNV) scheme targeting national women university graduates for 1-2 years to allow them to gain professional work experience in order to apply for regular posts. The use of National UN Volunteers in UNAMA can provide a framework for enhancing the opportunities for national women to advance through addressing the present Human Resources requirements of academic qualifications and lack of work related experience training that continue to have adverse effects women’s access to employment in DPKO/DPA missions. Recruitment of national UNVs through the NUNV modality to work alongside UNAMA personnel will provide on-the-job training which will help to strengthen their technical and professional skills ensuring that young female Afghans enjoy equal access to employment opportunities and will meet experience requirements to apply as NUNV.

Under the overall and direct supervision of an international Political Affairs Officer in each region, the NUNV Political Affairs Officer will be provided with on-the-job training in order to support the Political Affairs in areas of: - Gathering, selecting and analyzing information from diverse sources, including publications and the media, with special attention to the representation of all segments of society including vulnerable categories like minorities and women; - Supporting the monitoring of national, provincial and district level political developments and keep abreast of latest trends and developments in the area of assignment in accordance with the priorities established by the mission; - Assisting in maintaining up to date knowledge of events relating to political issues in general, and in particular areas of responsibility as well as thematic mandates; - Assisting in the development and maintaining of profiles/maps database for the political section, including: provincial and district profiles, tribal profiles, background of important personalities, and other directories, profiles, maps as requested; - Assisting in the maintaining contacts with regional/local civil and government officials/structures; community leaders; political parties and civil society representatives in areas of responsibility; - Assisting in preparing summaries of articles from a wide variety of sources and provide inputs to reports; Supporting the Office’s provision of good offices in line with the mandate; - Interpret from English into Pashto/Dari and vice-versa during meetings; Translate documents from English into Pashto/Dari whenever necessary; - Providing support to visiting teams/missions as required; - Participating in periodic field missions in order to update the overall political situation; - Providing administrative and logistical support to officers in the Political Affairs Division; including arrangements for meetings, preparing documents etc. - Supporting field trips including preparation of road mission requests and arrange for security clearances - Creating and maintaining administrative files and official records including records of incoming and outgoing correspondence

• Accountability
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Working in Teams

Relevant experience in areas linked to political affairs, governance and development issues is desirable.

Afghanistan is a hardship duty station with a volatile security. Living and working conditions for UN volunteers in UNAMA are similar to the living conditions of all other internationally recruited staff members. UN volunteers are provided with safe accommodation in an extensive compound in Kabul with good infrastructure and amenities. The mission has three compounds in Kabul: Compound Alpha, and UNOCA (UN Operational Complex in Afghanistan) the largest one.

UNAMA has three different locations in Kabul, most of the substantive offices, including the SRSG’s are located at the so-called alpha Compound and Palace #7, which is close to the city center, while most of the administrative and technical support offices are located at the UNOCA compound on Jalalabad Road, at some distance from central Kabul.

Generally speaking stringent security measures are in place throughout the country and UN volunteers as other UN staff, are quite limited to duty stations when it comes to movement. Walking is virtually not allowed. The movement is done inside the “green zone” (only) in armored vehicles driven by national qualified UN drivers.

The single unit accommodation in UNOCA and other field locations are fully furnished; this includes, furniture, washing machine dryer, hot plate, iron and iron stand, microwave, plates, cups, spoons, cooking utensils, electric kettle. One bedsheet and pillow cover is provided. The monthly charge for UN provided accommodation is USD 300 which is deducted from the monthly Volunteer Living Allowance.

Inside the UNOCA compound are two cafeterias, a restaurant, a Supermarket and 3 small shops which provide a variety of imported canned and frozen food on offer. There is a Fresh vegetable market daily. There is also a social center, a gym hall and a small library with books and DVDs, run by the welfare Office, within the same compound. UNOCA has a new minimarket where basic goods can be bought also. There are also a number of UN cleared supermarkets in Kabul, in Jalalabad, and in Mazar-I-Sharif. The Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own towel and other personal accessories including toiletries and medicines which they may not find easily within the super markets inside the UNOCA Compound.