POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Contract

This is a NO-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-4 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting These positions are located in the Political Affairs Division within the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The Political Affairs Officers will be based in Beni and Kinshasa. The incumbents report to the Senior Political Affairs Officer.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the incumbents will be responsible for the following duties: - Initiate, organize, and lead all activities related to the Mission political mandate; - Act as political advisor for the head of office; - Support operational and programmatic activities related to the work of the field office, i.e., disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, conflict prevention and resolution, electoral assistance/administration, institution-building, work with/in support of civil society support, etc.; pursues an integrated approach that includes a rights-based dimension, conflict prevention sensitivity, and a gender perspective into the policy, planning and operational activities of the unit. - Prepare and review briefing notes and talking points for the Senior Political Affairs Officer, Head of the Mission, and other senior staff; Provide guidance and advice on assigned issues to her/his supervisor and mission’s management, concerning assigned areas of work, status of negotiations, etc.; Prepare responses to comments, statements, and queries of parties and manage operations involving several components of a limited nature, such as civilian, military, or humanitarian operations; Develop and maintain relations with government officials at the working levels and advises them on issues and policies of mutual concern. - Lead a team which deals with a variety of political issues in a region and or country or major conflict; Attend meetings to identify the scope of the project, consider methodologies, and leads or actively participates in developing guidelines, terms of reference and operational plans and time frames for new team; Assist in planning, coordinating, and supporting programmes, projects and activities requiring mission and/or interagency involvement and participation; Represent the team at round tables, seminars, and conferences. - Provide substantive support to his/her supervisor in the formulation of the programme of work, budget, and medium-term plan of the unit by actively participating in or leading meetings, drafting documents and compiling and/or researching issues related to the mission. - Collect information to inform the Mission leadership of political, institutional, electoral, judicial, security and socio-economic dynamics and trends. Regularly engage with members of the presidency, parliament, government, democracy support institutions, including the electoral and human rights commissions, and/or key judicial institutions. - Prepare or review briefings; analytical notes to the file; code cables; daily political updates; talking points; key messages; analytical profiles; and recommendations. - Promote consensual, inclusive and constructive political, institutional, stabilization and peace processes; legislation in favor of national cohesion; the safe and meaningful participation of women and youth in political and peace activities at all levels; and a sound management of public funds and natural resources. - Conduct or assist in planning, coordinating, and supporting good offices, programmes, projects and activities with relevant Mission components, Agencies and partners. Represent the team at roundtables, seminars, and conferences. Provide substantive support to his/her supervisor in the formulation of the programme of work, while mentoring junior staff members. - Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of the work of the United Nations common system, including peacekeeping and the UN agencies, funds, and programmes in the field, particularly in Africa. Knowledge of political, ethnic and social environments in Africa. Ability to work with people of different national, cultural and professional background. Understanding of the drivers of conflict in the region. Understanding of the coordination requirements for multi-stakeholder planning processes within the UN common system (UNSDCF, Integrated Strategic Framework). Ability to work in difficult circumstances, including crisis situations. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Ability to produce quality reports and papers. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors' language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Managing Performance : Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.

Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education An advanced university degree (Master’s degree, or equivalent) in Political Science, Management or Development, or a related fields is required. A first-level degree with a combination of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification Professional training in the areas of planning, monitoring and evaluation, facilitation and/or coordination is desirable.

Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in oral and written French is required; knowledge of English is desirable.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.