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Job Opening
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Posting Title: |
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Civil Affairs Officer, P4
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Job Code Title: |
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CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER
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Department/ Office: |
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Field Missions
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Duty Station: |
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Field Locations
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Posting Period: |
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10 March 2015-8 April 2015
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Job Opening number: |
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15-CIV-FMADFS-41146-P-Field Locations (M)
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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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These positions are located in the United Nations field Peace Operations and Special Political missions. The majority of P4 Civil Affairs Officers work at the local level, with some postings at Mission Headquarters. P4 Civil Affairs Officers usually report to the Director / Chief of Civil Affairs, Senior Civil Affairs Officer or Regional Administrator.
These positions are located in United Nations field peacekeeping operations and special political missions. Applicants will be expected to serve in hardship duty stations with difficult working and living conditions. An updated list of missions and additional information on working in the field can be found at http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dfs/
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Responsibilities
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Within the limits of delegated authority the P4 Civil Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties.
Core profile • Represents the mission at the regional or local level and ensures that all relevant governmental and non-governmental actors in the area have accurate information about the mandate and full-range of operations of the Mission. • Provides information and analysis for the Mission and other actors where applicable, on political, social and economic issues affecting conflict dynamics at the local and regional level, including analysis on how these relate to the national level and vice versa. Ensures a sound methodology for identifying the concerns and perceptions of the local population, and ensures these are effectively communicated to the Mission, as well as other actors where appropriate. Identifies emerging issues and critical peacebuilding gaps, provides an early warning function where necessary. • Ensures a shared understanding of the Mission environment, mandate and operations amongst Mission actors at the regional or local level, in particular uniformed components, to support consistency and coherence of approach. Establishes and fosters effective working relations with United Nations Country Team (UNCT), and develops local initiatives for joint work where appropriate. Coordinates and plans with UNCT partners in that area of operations to ensure a coherent UN system effort. • Troubleshoots problems that arise at the regional or local level that threaten mandate implementation and the progress of the peace process. Formulates recommendations concerning Mission broader actions and approaches required at regional or local level, mobilises a response from other actors where appropriate. • Identifies, manages and evaluates individual Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) intended for confidence building purposes at the local level, in line with DPKO/DFS Policy Directive on QIPs and mission specific priorities. • Supervises, monitors and encourages the work of officers under his/her responsibility in undertaking the full range of their duties. • Identifies and researches good practice and lessons learned in Civil Affairs work and shares these with colleagues, including through active participation in the online Civil Affairs Network. • Proactively contributes to overall mission monitoring and planning. • Performs other duties as required, in line with the DPKO/DFS Policy Directive on Civil Affairs.
Conflict Management • Develops a strategy for regional or local level conflict management work in line with the wider strategy, including mechanisms for information-sharing, crisis response and protection of civilians as needed. • Facilitates and supports dialogue between groups in conflict in the area of responsibility by convening structured meetings and similar activities. • Promotes and protects the interest of excluded and/or threatened groups through advocacy in full respect of humanitarian and international law. • Identifies and supports civil society groups and/or institutions that promote a culture of peace and reconciliation. Assists them, including, where appropriate, in becoming effective implementing partners for Quick Impact Projects. Support to State Institutions • Provides a strategy for effective cooperation between Civil Affairs and state institutions at the regional or local level, in line with the wider strategy and in coordination with other actors. • Assists local institutions to assess capacity building and support needs, working with partners including the UNCT and in particular UNDP. Helps to design and mobilise a coordinated response to these needs from relevant actors. • Designs and implements appropriate and practical Civil Affairs support to local authorities, including mentoring and support to policy and decision-making processes where appropriate. • Supports dialogue and cooperation between authorities and relevant interest groups with the aim of creating political space and accountability, and provides support to the development of structures of accountability and transparency. • Initiates and/or supports events such as public fora or town-hall meetings to foster development of political space at the local level. Initiates and/or supports civic education programmes at the local level on a range of issues, including elections, policy issues, and good governance principles, in coordination with local authorities and/or civil society actors. Programme Management • Supports the Director / Chief of Civil Affairs in all aspects of their role. Acts as Deputy Director / Chief of Civil Affairs of a small Civil Affairs component where requested. • Manages a regional or local field office or team, undertaking or overseeing the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for its functioning. Designs and oversees implementation of the Civil Affairs workplan for that area, as well as the work of other components as relevant, ensuring consistency of approach and efficiency of output. • Manages a large Mission QIPs programme in accordance with Mission priorities and the DPKO/DFS policy on QIPs. Includes, inter alia: acting as Secretariat to a decision-making body on QIPs, ensuring the effective and timely running of the project design, approval and implementation process, the keeping of accurate records, assistance with determining mission specific priorities, assessment of impact of the overall programme, and drafting of QIPs submission for the Mission budget. • Oversees development and ensures distribution of high-quality mission-specific induction materials. Designs, oversees implementation and evaluates tailored in-mission skills training for Civil Affairs components in accordance with global Civil Affairs skills training methodologies. • Serves as focal point for researching, identifying and sharing good practices and lessons learned with the Civil Affairs component and the global Civil Affairs community.
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Competencies
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• Professionalism: Core profile: Solid understanding of the contexts within which peacekeeping operations function, and ability to translate a broad strategic vision into concrete objectives on the ground. Ability to adapt experience and knowledge to different environments. Solid knowledge of United Nations policy on Civil Affairs and related areas, and a strong appreciation of the role of Civil Affairs in empowering and enabling other actors. Ability to build networks and to initiate, design and maintain effective working partnerships with a range of actors at the sub-national level, and to positively influence them where appropriate in establishing a common sense of purpose. Proven ability to creatively respond to problems and to mobilise other actors to respond where necessary. Understanding of how to ensure effective coordination. Ability to analyse political, economic and social factors affecting conflict dynamics and to identify critical peacebuilding gaps at the regional or local level. Ability to source, evaluate and integrate information and analysis from a range of actors, and to articulate analysis in clear reports. Understanding of the relationship between regional / local dynamics and the central level in the progress of the overall peace process. Understanding of the functioning of political parties and the role of elected or transitional members of representative bodies. Solid understanding of the principle of local ownership and of how to apply this in Civil Affairs work. Appreciation of the complexities involved in identifying the concerns and perceptions of the local population in post-conflict environments, and knowledge of mechanisms for doing so. Proven ability to work independently under pressure, on occasion in highly stressful or isolated environments and with minimum supervision. Ability to work with tact and diplomacy, primarily as an enabler of constructive actors and processes. Respect for local cultures and values, awareness of the impact of personal conduct, ability to adapt behaviour to different environments with sensitivity. Commitment to long term objectives, tenacity and a positive attitude in pursuing them. 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.
• 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.
• Planning& 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.
• Empowering Others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.
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Education
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Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, public administration, anthropology, law, economics or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with 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 seven years of progressively responsible experience in Civil Affairs-related work with UN Peacekeeping Operations, UN funds or programmes, National or International NGOs, or community based organizations, research institutions, etc. Additionally a minimum of three years working in a conflict/post conflict environment are required. Of these seven years, a minimum of four years should be in one (or more) specialised areas, Conflict Management and Reconciliation, Support to State Institutions and Programme Management is required.
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Languages
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Fluency in English and/or French is required; knowledge of a third official UN language is highly desirable.
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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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United Nations Considerations
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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.
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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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