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Job Opening
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Posting Title: |
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Political Affairs Officer, P3
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Job Code Title: |
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POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER
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Department/ Office: |
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Department of Peacekeeping Operations
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Duty Station: |
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NEW YORK
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Posting Period: |
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23 February 2015-23 April 2015
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Job Opening number: |
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15-POL-DPKO-40468-R-NEW YORK (X)
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Staffing Exercise ID: |
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N/A
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United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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Org. Setting and Reporting
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The position is located in the Africa II Division, Office of Operations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The Political Affairs Officer will serve under the general supervision of the Director of Africa II Division and under the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the West Africa Integrated Operational Team.
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Responsibilities
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Within the delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Participate in the daily management of one or more peacekeeping operations.
• Monitor closely the peace process and maintain up-to-date knowledge of issues of peace and security in the assigned country/region, including as they affect the peacekeeping operation (s); provide early warning of potential trouble spots;
• Monitor and analyse developments in the peacekeeping operation (s) and related countries and region of concern, including relations between the parties, contributors, governments, and regional organisations, including by maintaining close and regular contacts with the peacekeeping mission (s), reviewing situation reports, cables, correspondence, media, etc., with a view to providing timely and relevant analytical and strategic forward looking assessment and recommendations to senior management; identify and respond to changes, problems and incidents; ensure consultation and input from the parties involved; and prepare timely responses to issues and questions raised in the field, as well as monitor and follow-up on outstanding issues.
• Formulate recommendations for integrated strategic guidance to the peacekeeping operation (s) for the implementation of its/their mandate.
• Draft a wide range of documents, in particular reports of the Secretary-General, briefing notes to the Security Council and other correspondence with the Security Council, its Sanctions Committee, and other relevant bodies; prepare analytical notes, talking points, speeches and briefing notes for meetings of senior UN officials and policy papers, in particular for the Policy Committee; and draft responses to comments, statements, and queries of concerned stakeholders as well as interested Member States, in particular members of the Security Council, troop and police contributing countries, and regional organisations, etc. ensuring input of and consultations with relevant stakeholders in DPKO, the wider Secretariat and United Nations agencies.
• Build and maintain liaison through informal and formal contacts with a wide-range of actors within the Department, wider Secretariat offices and UN agencies as well as the parties to the conflict, members of the Security Council, other relevant Member States, troop and police contributing countries, regional organizations and others.
• Maintain effective working relationships and consultation with appropriate counterparts in other divisions of DPKO, other Departments of the UN Secretariat and UN Agencies, regional organisation, NGOs, academia, and media, as appropriate, with a view to coordinating support to the peacekeeping operation (s), including by integrating different aspects related to the mission (s).
• Coordinate the substantive results-based budgeting process for the preparation of annual budget documents and performance reports of the peacekeeping operation(s) and provide relevant briefing to legislative bodies, as required.
• Contribute to the development of doctrine, lessons learned and knowledge management for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and to advise on operational mechanisms and models to achieve departmental goals.
• Participate in activities to implement operations, devise guidelines, terms of reference and concepts of operations, ensure input from participants and integrate different aspects (e.g., security, administrative and legal), and coordinate implementation. Advise on operational mechanisms and models to achieve Departmental goals.
• Participate in fact finding, planning and other missions to countries or operations within assigned area of responsibility and draft reports thereon.
• Perform other related duties as required, including backstopping of other operations managed by the Division.
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Competencies
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• Professionalism:
Ability to identify and analyze political, ethnic, racial, social and economic problems that cause civil unrest in a country or geographic area; 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. Knowledge of United Nations Policies and activities in Africa and in West Africa.
• 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.
• Teamwork:
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
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Education
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Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international law, diplomacy or other relevant field. A first-level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
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Work Experience
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A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, political analysis, international relations or crisis management, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution, diplomacy or related area at national and/or international levels is required. A minimum of one year experience in a UN peacekeeping operation or other relevant field operation in a civilian (non uniformed) capacity is desired. Experience in a relevant field operation in Africa is desired. Experience in issues related to West Africa is desirable.
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Languages
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English and French are the working languages of the Secretariat. For this post, fluency in both oral and written English and French is required.
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Assessment
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Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
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Special Notice
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This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject
to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
Applicants from troop- and police-contributing countries who are found most suitable and recommended for selection will be given due consideration for positions in a peacekeeping operation or Headquarters support account funded positions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287.
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United Nations Considerations
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Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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No Fee
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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.
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