Senior Political Affairs Officer, Addis Ababa 114 views0 applications

Posting Title: Senior Political Affairs Officer, P5

Job Code Title: SENIOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/ Office: Department of Political Affairs

Duty Station: ADDIS ABABA

Posting Period: 25 July 2018-7 September 2018

Job Opening number: 18-POL-DPA-96804-R-ADDIS ABABA (X)

Staffing Exercise ID: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

The Senior Political Affairs Officer will be deployed to work with the Peace and Security Department (PSD) of the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to help advance a mutual understanding of the working methods of AU-PSD and the United Nations Department of Political Affairs, and contribute to analyses of the causes of conflict in Africa. The deployment of the Senior Political Affairs Officer is in line with DPA’s strategic objective of deepening strategic partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations. The Senior Political Affairs Officer will work in collaboration with the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU). S/he reports to the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs in the Department of Political Affairs (OASG1/DPA).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties as they relate to his/her work with AU-PSD and the assigned region:

• Monitors and assesses political developments in Africa in close collaboration with UNOAU, UNHQ, SPMs and PKOs and analyses the policies of AU and other international and sub-regional organizations to provide UNHQ and senior UN officials with early warning and policy options for conflict prevention, peace-making and post-conflict peace building.
• Contributes to the formulation of political affairs strategies; develops a vision or direction for work; proposes policy directives and plan of action on matters relating to the UN partnership with AUC and where appropriate, regional economic communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms (RMs) in the areas of conflict prevention, management, resolution and peacebuilding in Africa for immediate and long range solutions to political problems in general and in specific geographical areas; identifies emerging issues pertaining to the mandates of DPA/UNOAU and analyses implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and measures.
• Implements the operational activities related to the work of the department, i.e., peacekeeping, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict rehabilitation, election administration, political and governance institution-building, civil society support work, etc.; incorporates 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.
• Coordinates and manages programmes, projects and activities requiring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement and participation.
• Contributes to briefing notes and talking points for the Secretary-General, Senior UN Officials, Senior Advisers, contextual information materials, such as background notes, political profiles and databases of relevance to the assigned portfolio as needed or appropriate.
• Provides continuous advice to the African Union concerning the organization of work, status of negotiations, conduct of business including interpretation of the rules of procedure of the United Nations.
• Acts as coordinator for complex coordination and support missions.
• Ensures preparations for official meetings, events, and visits, including through the provision of Secretariat services, prepares written summaries of meetings/visits and assists with follow-up activities, as appropriate.
• Supports the overall work of DPA in the establishment and maintenance of a strong working relationship with AU and other partners.
• Represents division/office/mission at round tables, seminars and conferences.
• Responds to/prepares responses to comments, statements, queries of parties and manages operations involving several components, including civilian, military and humanitarian operations.
• Develops and maintains relations with senior government officials on issues and policies of mutual concern.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism -Knowledge of the work of intergovernmental bodies, the work of the United Nations and its related bodies concerned with political, economic, social and related matters. Ability to evaluate international political situations in area of assignment. Ability to manage and coordinate many different levels and participants in operations in both the field and UN common system. Knowledge of the working methods of regional and sub-regional organizations, particularly the African Union; ability to advance mutual understanding and deepen the strategic partnership between UN and regional organizations in the area of peace and security. 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.
• 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.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks ‘outside the box’; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
• Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.
• 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, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two 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 science, international relations, law, disarmament, development management, conflict resolution or related area. Experience working with the African Union or African sub-regional organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required; Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This post is funded for a 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. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. The United Nations is 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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.