Peacebuilding Technical Advisor 109 views0 applications

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organization. We work to reduce violence and protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath. NP implements programming through the deployment of civilian protection teams to the field.

South Sudan is in the process of giving an end to its civil war through a Revitalized Peace Agreement. The war, which started in December 2013, has forced millions of people to flee their homes and resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. The humanitarian emergency created by the conflict still affects hundreds of thousands of people who have been separated from their families and lost their homes, livelihoods and access to basic services like food, medical care and education.

NP is continuing to scale up to meet the growing needs. In South Sudan, NP has 14 field teams providing protection and peacebuilding programming for communities affected by violent conflict. Violence is a triggering factor for displacement, which reduces the community’s ability to effectively respond to intensified protection concerns for vulnerable populations. Programming is founded on Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) methodology and is thematically focused on reducing threats to civilians and decreasing violence in communities in four focal areas:

1) Child protection (through strengthening referral pathways and community-based psychosocial support);

2) Women’s protection (through GBV prevention, women’s participation in peacebuilding, and fostering local mechanisms for self-protection including Women’s Protection Teams)

3) General protection (through protection mainstreaming, Early Warning Early Response, capacity building, intercommunal violence reduction and direct protection activities).

4) Peacebuilding (through community engagement, support to local peace structures and intercommunal dialogue facilitation)

NP’s programming focuses on both prevention and response, driven by the belief that communities can be strengthened to sustain local UCP infrastructures and recognizing that immediate intervention is often necessary in times of humanitarian crisis. NP does not provide material aid, post-incident health care or case management, rather we work with existing service providers to connect survivors with those services and seek to uphold to safety and dignity of all civilians.

About You

In response to the deterioration of the protection landscape, NP is undertaking a major protection project that combines elements of mobile and static response across South Sudan. Besides, due to the revitalized Peace Agreement, the organization perceives an increasing space for peacebuilding initiatives, which are being conducted in line with NP’s UCP methodology. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced candidate to serve as a technical advisor on the current projects and support programme staff with better implementation. The candidate also needs to possess excellent research and analytical skills. This exciting role will require the development of a peacebuilding strategy to effectively address changing conflict dynamics in different field sites across South Sudan.

You will play an important advisory role to the Programme staff during an exciting period of growth and development in the NP’s South Sudan country programme, that ultimately seeks prevent and reduce the incidence and impact of conflict, displacement and GBV on communities and lead efforts in Peacebuilding in South Sudan. You will be inspired by NP’s current programming that integrates capacity building, direct protection and prevention activities. You have the skills and experience to be able to provide technical guidance, advice and support to improve, broaden and strengthen this critical programming plan. You will be able to engage with community leaders, partners and authorities to elaborate peacebuilding activities in line with current projects. You are able to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and recognize the primacy of the local actors as foundational for the success of the programmes NP implements. You have the experience working in a team that is diverse in age, gender, nationality and ethnicities and recognize the richness of this environment and the importance of incorporating diverse experiences and perspectives.

Job Title: Peace building Technical Advisor

Function: Management

Job Group: Programme

Duty Station: Juba with frequent travel to field locations

Administrative Line Manager: Head of Programme

Line Management Responsibility: None

JOB PURPOSE:

The position will provide leadership and advice in Peacebuilding programming and support the organization in becoming a leader in peace and conflict-sensitive programming. It will define the technical guidance, standards for technical approaches and programs to enhance global industry practice on peace and conflict sensitivity. The aim is also to work with country office teams to mobilize adequate resources to effectively scale up community-based peacebuilding efforts.

External engagement and strategic partnerships for advocacy, policy influence and resource development in peacebuilding are critical. The position will also coordinate thought leadership, evidence and learning on peacebuilding to enhance local population wellbeing.

Major Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

· Develop integrated peacebuilding and conflict-sensitive technical guidance in line with organizational strategies and policies.

· Assist, advise and coordinate the implementation of the technical guidance and conduct a regular performance review of set targets in projects

· Provide technical oversight to major peacebuilding and community-based initiatives in South Sudan and ensure compliance with global standards.

· Engage and support NPSS strategy development and measurement processes

· Provide leadership in mainstreaming and scaling up promising practices in Peacebuilding programs with special focus on integration and reconciliation.

· Coordinate the contribution of Peacebuilding in knowledge management initiatives in NPSS

· Ensure the provision of technical support in the development, adaptation and scaling up of specific project models and approaches that contribute to specific community-based outcomes.

Resource Development

· Stay alert and explore potential funding sources for Peacebuilding programming to support field Offices and work with Program Development team on these opportunities.

· Collaborate with Head of Mission and Head of Programs in NPSS to support resource development for Peacebuilding programming

· Provide technical assistance for Peacebuilding work to ensure that the field offices have adequate public and private funding to scale up high-quality programming.

· Be in charge of coordinating and developing proposals for Peacebuilding programming.

External Engagement:

· Develop and implement an engagement plan with key strategic donors and key partners

· Establish and strengthen linkages and networks with leading institutions, governments and other organizations to establish formal or informal partnerships

· Represent NP portfolio, results and proposals to external partners including donors, civil society organizations, academia and technical partners

· Represent NPin South Sudan, peacebuilding and interfaith events and technical working groups

Evidence and learning:

· Coordinate the documentation and publication of promising practices in peacebuilding programming

· Define and regularly update research priorities on Peacebuilding

· Engage research institutions and universities in mission-critical research to solve key problems/issues identified in communities

· Conduct and facilitate operations research studies and pilots, document and dissemination lessons learned to members of the Peacebuilding and Interfaith.

Collaboration and cross-functional work:

· Collaborate with various teams in the country office to conduct analysis and conflict monitoring and make recommendations for action

· Work with key units to champion integrated programming contributing to community resilience.

· Collaborate with other units to leverage the impact of Peacebuilding work in national offices

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Minimum education, training and experience requirements to qualify for the position:

1. Master Degree in human rights, law, international relations, peace studies, development, social studies, or related field
2. A deep knowledge of peacebuilding and interfaith issues that affect the region
3. Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills, particularly in a cross-cultural environment
4. Strong planning and organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple activities
5. Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders and represent NP, particularly with donors and partners
6. Experience managing field-level programs
7. Experience in leading campaigns

List additional work experience required as a minimum qualification for this position

1. 05 years of experience in peacebuilding and faith and development programs in developing countries
2. Long historical understanding of South Sudan
3. Experience leading and managing a professional technical team
4. Significant bi-lateral, multi-lateral donor grant experience with program design, implementation, funding acquisition and reporting

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience

1. Strategy development
2. Theory of change and logical framework development
3. Advocacy and campaigns
4. Budget development/management, including knowledge of general accounting and budgeting principles

Coaching and mentoring

List additional work experience preferred for this position

1. Experience in East Africa, programming in fragile contexts
2. Professional experience in training/capacity building
3. Research and evaluation experience