Job Opening
| Vacancy No | UNITAMS-JO-El Fasher-2022-76 |
| Posting Title | LIAISON OFFICER, P4 (Temporary Job Opening) |
| Job Code Title | LIAISON OFFICER |
| Department/Office | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Duty Station | NYALA; ZALINGUEI; DAMAZINE; |
| Posting Period | 15 March 2022 – 22 March 2022 |
| Job Opening Number | 22-Political Affairs-UNITAMS-176571-J- (R) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
Org. Setting and Reporting
These three positions are located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).
The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) and resolution 2579 (2021) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace; support peace processes and 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 coordination of humanitarian assistance.
These positions are based in Regional Liaison Offices located in Zalingei, Nyala and ad Damazin. These locations are classified as “D” (ad Damazin) and “E” (Zalingei and Nyala) hardship duty stations and as non-family duty stations.
One (1) position is located in the Zalingei Liaison Office within the El Fasher Regional Office. The incumbent will report to the Head of Office, Political Affairs, El Fasher Regional Office.
One (1) position is located in the Nyala Liaison Office within the El Fasher Regional Office. The incumbent will report to the Head of Office, Political Affairs, El Fasher Regional Office.
One (1) position is located in the ad Damazin Liaison Office within the Kadugli Regional Office. The incumbent will report to the Head of Office, Political Affairs, Kadugli Regional Office.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Liaison Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Coordination and communication
• Provides information and analysis for the Mission, on issues affecting conflict dynamics at the local level. Ensures that the political and socio-economic concerns and the perceptions of the local population are effectively communicated to the Mission, as well as other actors where appropriate. Represents the mission at the local level as required.
• Provides support to the work of the substantive sections of the mission and assists with the general management and administration of work. Contributes to a shared understanding of the Mission environment, mandate and operations amongst Mission actors at the local level, in particular uniformed components, to support consistency and coherence of approach. Fosters effective working relations with the United Nations Country Teams (UNCT).
• Contributes to the formulation of recommendations concerning Mission actions and approaches required at the local level and assists with mobilizing responses from other actors where appropriate.
Monitoring, analysis and reporting
• Monitors, analyses and reports on emerging political socio-economic developments and advises appropriately;
• Contributes to overall mission monitoring and planning as required.
• Interacts closely in preparing summary and analytical documents, including political updates, situation reports, background notes, talking points, options’ papers, code cables and inputs for the reports of the Secretary-General and other sensitive and confidential official communications to UNHQ.
Conflict Management
• Supports dialogue between communities 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.
• Supports civil society groups and/or institutions at the local level that promote a culture of peace and reconciliation.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of the work of the United Nations, in particular related to peace operations, peacebuilding, sustainable development and post-conflict stabilization. Ability to evaluate political situations and challenges and to build effective relations with local stakeholders in order to identify appropriate solutions; Takes initiative to advance potential solutions in coordination with colleagues; 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.
Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, public administration, law, economics, or related area. A first level university degree in combination with two (2) 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 liaison-related work, political science, political affairs, international relations, law, mediation, conflict resolution, or related area is required.
A minimum of three (3) years of working with local officials, civil society, tribal leaders, political parties and other stakeholders in or on country(ies) in conflict or post-conflict situation is required;
A minimum of two (2) years experience in political outreach, analysis, advice and reporting is required.
A minimum of two (2) years of experience in supporting or facilitating structured dialogue events between different parties and reconciliation activities and processes, 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
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is temporarily available for six months period. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
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.
