SENIOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER (COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SECURITY)

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 110,869 USD and 138,944 USD.

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Org. Setting and Reporting This position is within the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) located in Mogadishu. The Senior Political Affairs Officer (Comprehensive Approach to Security) will report to the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) of UNSOM.

To achieve Somali responsibility for security, the Federal Government (FGS), Federal Member States, AMISOM and its troop-contributing countries, the United Nations and international partners agreed to take a Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS) in their Security Pact of May 2017. The CAS is an integrated concept of security reform combining military, rule of law, stabilization and preventing/countering violent extremism elements. To ensure national ownership of security, the CAS provides a platform for coordination with lead roles for key FGS entities and international stakeholders, as part of a multi-year transition process. The CAS mechanism is structured along four thematic areas (“Strands”): (1) Enabling AMISOM operations, (2) accelerating the development of Somali security institutions; (3) stabilization; (4) prevention of and countering violent extremism (P/CVE). Each strand is led by a Federal ministry and is co-led by one or more international partners. The Senior Political Affairs Officer (CAS) will be responsible for leading UN engagement with the CAS Secretariat within the Office of the Prime Minister.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Senior Political Affairs Officer (CAS) will be responsible for the following duties:

Support the UN, Government and the international community in the implementation of the comprehensive approach to security. Plans and implements the CAS activities as mandated by the UN Security Council resolutions and other key agreements on Somalia.

Keep UN senior management informed on CAS matters, assist in formulating options as to how those matters might be handled; incorporates an integrated approach that includes a rights-based dimension, conflict prevention sensitivity, and a gender perspective into the policy, planning and operational activities. Assist UN senior management in identifying priority areas where additional support from the international community to the FGS is required, including capacity, resource and policy gaps.

Leads UN engagement with the CAS Secretariat within the FGS Office of the Prime Minister as CAS Coordinator. Prepares briefing notes and talking points for the Head of Mission and other senior staff, and provides continuous guidance and advice to the head of mission, as well as other elected offices of intergovernmental bodies concerning the organization of work, status of negotiations, and conduct of business, including interpretation of CAS Terms of Reference. Develops and maintains relations with senior government officials and advises them on issues and policies of mutual concern.

Coordinates components under the leadership of the DSRSG, DSRSG RC/HC (including AFPs) and UNSOS; plans and allocates work assignments based on UN inputs to the CAS, National Development Plan, Transition Plan and the UN Coordinated Framework (UNCF); works with all UN components in supporting research on a variety of political and security issues relating to Somalia; advises on and participates in the negotiation to establish security operations and develops guidelines, terms of reference and operational plans and time frames for new operations linked to the Transition Plan. Plans and coordinates CAS related programmes, projects and activities requiring mission and/or interagency involvement and participation. Represents division/office/mission at round tables, seminars and conferences.

Formulates the programme of work and medium-term planning for UN support to the CAS and coordinates the overall approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the UN engagement with the FGS and the FMS on CAS matters. Ensure effective organization of the UN-internal CAS and individual CAS Strand meetings.

Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies - PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the work of intergovernmental bodies, the work of the United Nations peace operations and of UN rules and procedures. Ability to evaluate international political situations in area of assignment and to provide advice to senior officials in developing and implementing political strategies to address them. Ability to engage, manage and coordinate many different levels and participants (including military, police and civilian) in operations in both in the field and UN common system. Very good interpersonal skills and ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships in a multicultural environment; 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Ability to establish priorities, plan, coordinate and follow work plan as established; ability to manage conflict situations 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.

• LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflict by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement: does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

• 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 Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) degree in political science, international relations, international economics, law, defence and strategic studies, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, diplomacy, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area. At least three years of experience in a UN Special Pollical Mission, peacekeeping or similar international organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required. At least five years of experience in analysis, advice and reporting as well as in coordinating multi-stakeholder processes is required. Previous experience working with Government and international partners including military, police and civilian components is desirable. Experience working on security and rule of law related matters, with an understanding of transition planning and international partner engagement in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable

  Languages English and French are working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of a local language is an advantage.

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

  Special Notice The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity 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.

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.