Job Description
| Department/Office: | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Posting Title: | POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, P4 |
| Job Code Title: | POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER |
| Duty Station: | KHARTOUM |
| Posting Period: | 25 January 2021 – 08 February 2021 |
| Job Opening Number: | 21-Political Affairs-UNITAMS-148853-F-Khartoum (M) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).
The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS, which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, protection and promotion of human rights and sustainable peace; support peace processes and the implementation of future peace agreements, assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur; and support the mobilization of economic and development assistance and the coordination of humanitarian assistance.
The position is based in Khartoum, Sudan and is located in the Section of Political Support. The incumbent will report to the Senior Political Affairs Officer.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
– Identifies, analyzes and monitors key political developments, trends and emerging issues in Sudan and the region as well as emerging issues with respect to the implementation of UNITAMS’s mandate;
– Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with mission components, UN Common System colleagues and counterparts, Government representatives, political leaders, civil society actors, transitional national institutions and bodies, military and law enforcement actors, academic and research institutions, and other national and international partners on information-sharing, policy and coordination matters;
– Assesses implications and makes recommendations to senior management on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives including, among others, using UNITAMS’s good offices;
– Prepares summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes, options papers, code cables and input for the reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council, General Assembly or other bodies;
– Drafts notes and code cables providing in-depth political analysis to UNITAMS and DPPA- DPO;
– Prepares and reviews contextual information materials, such as background notes, political profiles and databases of relevance to the assigned portfolio;
– Consults and cooperates with partners to develop strategies and plans of action to address political challenges, in pursuit of shared objectives;
– Supports preparations for official meetings, events and visits, including through the provision of Secretariat services and by drafting talking points and speeches for senior UN officials;
– Participates in fact-finding – and other – missions;
– Prepares written summaries of meetings/visits and assists with follow-up activities, as appropriate;
– Contributes to the formulation and implementation of the unit’s programme of work;
– Supports planning and budgetary processes for the unit;
– Supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff; assists with the selection of new staff;
– Performs other relevant duties as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of UN role in preventive diplomacy, good offices, mediation and conflict resolution; Ability to complete in-depth studies on political issues and propose solutions to political problems in specific areas or countries; Ability to assess the political/security implications of trends in Sudan and its neighborhood and to provide recommendations for the engagement of UNITAMS; Shows pride in work and 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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments and 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.
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) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or other related. A first level university degree with a combination of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted, in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area, is required.
A minimum of three (3) years of working with national level institutions in country(ies) undergoing political transition is required.
Experience in political outreach, analysis, advice and reporting is required.
A minimum of three (3) years of field experience in political affairs in a United Nations peace operation or a comparable international organization is desirable;
Experience working in Africa and/or the Middle East in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.
Experience drafting analytical reports and papers on sensitive and high profile matters relevant to the Mission’s mandate including briefing notes, background papers, talking points, speeches, and other correspondence for senior UN officials, reports of the Secretary-General, or similar reports 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 Arabic is desirable.
Assessment
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.
Please note that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed by national authorities, selected candidates may be required to start the assignment/appointment remotely, in agreement with the hiring manager, and until further notice.
This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station specified in the Job Opening.
Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
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.
