Director – Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Programme – P6

Background

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The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programme for Ethiopia was initiated as a crucial step towards implementing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on 2nd November 2022 in South Africa. This agreement ended the long-standing conflict that had arisen between the TPLF and the Federal government in Ethiopia, resulting in widespread violence and displacement. 

The objective of the DDR programme is to facilitate the disarmament of former combatants from Tigray, Amhara and Afar, their demobilization, and eventual reintegration into civilian life. The programme is geared towards restoring peace, promoting reconciliation, and creating a conducive environment for sustainable development. Eventual areas of coverage may go beyond Northern Ethiopia and cover other regions of Ethiopia as may be requested by the Government of Ethiopia. 

The Government of Ethiopia has created and mandated the “National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC)” to design, plan, implement, and monitor the DDR programme in the country. At present, the overall DDR beneficiaries identified are 371,971 ex-combatants. The Ethiopia DDR programme will be the largest in the world in terms of number of ex-combatants and funding requirement. 

 

Position Purpose 

UNDP is supporting the NRC in close coordination with various national and international partners, including the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other actors. It is expected that the DDR program will provide an opportunity for the combatants in northern Ethiopia to turn their focus towards peaceful and productive activities, thereby contributing to the overall stability and development of the North Ethiopia region. The DDR programme has close linkages with the National Dialogue, Transitional Justice, and Peace Support programmes and is expected to coordinate with these programmes. 

Under the direction of the Resident Representative, the Director DDR will be responsible for leading a multi-disciplinary team to achieve a high level of programme performance, coordinating and building strategic partnerships with key national and international actors, and providing policy and technical guidance while engaging with relevant national authorities for successful implementation of the programme. 

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. 

 

Duties and Responsibilities 

Lead Strategic Partnerships/Networking, effective coordination, and Policy Advice: 

• Act as prime anchor in promoting Ethiopia Country Office (CO) work and its profile within the development partners, advancing key CO policy and initiatives/programmatic offers, and strengthening institutional partnership between CO and development partners on DDR and other related areas.
• Systematically disseminate information to strategic development partners on CO’s DDR policy and programmatic work in Ethiopia.
• Lead, facilitate and stimulate engagement (or foster partnerships/initiatives) between the CO and the UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa.
• Provide strategic advice to UNDP Ethiopia leadership and national counterparts on all matters related to DDR programme in Ethiopia, including in institutional strengthening (capacity building) for the national DDR institutions.
• Develop plans, coordinate, and supervise DDR activities in relation to UNDP and UNCT support to the National Rehabilitation Commission to plan and implement the National DDR programme; ensure an integrated and harmonized approach among other components of the UNDP programmes (Peacebuilding and Governance, and Gender).
• Ensure an integrated approach to DDR amongst UN agencies and coordinate with African Union, World Bank, and Development Agencies.
• Develops and maintains relations with government officials at federal and regional level, and other stakeholders; and actively promotes coordination and communication between international and national partners with a view to pursuing a nationally led DDR programme.
• Provide policy and operational advice to UNDP, National Rehabilitation Commission, and development partners leadership on an ongoing basis.
• Advise and support the Commissioner, NRC, in the identification and development of synergies and partnerships with other actors (national and international) at the strategic, technical, and operational levels.
• Prepare and/or supervise preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, reports, and studies, etc.
• Guide, supervise and mentor staff in the execution of their respective functions.
• Contribute to the development of resource mobilization strategy and ensure effective coordination with donors, including the private sector.

Lead and provide strategic direction to Effective Programme/Project Formulation, Monitoring and Management: 

• Identify high level opportunities for joint programmatic and other activities with development partners; stimulate and support the development of a programmatic portfolio, including through leveraging relevant RBA and corporate products on Africa.
• Design and develop strategic products and programmes to leverage opportunities and identify, map, and engage on key entry points under the development partners funding cycle with a focus on peacebuilding, through proactive cooperation with relevant partners.
• Support and collaborate with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and Ministry of Defense (Peacekeeping Training Centre) to develop and implement strategies to prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence linked to reintegration of ex-combatants.
• Design and deliver training programs on GBV awareness, prevention, and response tailored to the needs of justice, military, and law enforcement personnel.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the Ministry in the development and implementation of policies, protocols, and procedures related to GBV.
• Provide technical expertise and strategic guidance to the Programme Team in effectively planning and implementing programme activities to ensure achievement of targets and results. Oversight responsibilities include annual work planning and budgeting, monitoring, and reporting on progress and budgets, management of project resources, procurement of goods and services, and contractual management.

Lead Outreach and Resource Mobilization: 

• Lead the resource mobilization, which includes identifying funding opportunities and supporting the preparation of funding proposals and donor briefings. Work with CO to define roles and incentives for donor participation and develop relevant mechanisms for partner engagement.
• Assess and prioritize information concerning events, policy development and programme directions of the development partners and communicate relevant issues for CO management.
• Mobilizes funds for the DDR programme and for other projects as directed.

Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relative to the assigned thematic area(s) and UNDP. 

• Provide substantive advice and technical support to the development and implementation of a capacity development/ learning plan on thematic area of the project for Country Office and participate in global/regional learning initiatives.
• Lead the process of knowledge capture of national and international know-how in relevant thematic areas and document project lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning. Produce materials with lessons learned and best practices and other knowledge-based tools.
• Keep abreast of the developments in the thematic area of the project and provide guidance on how to incorporate them into UNDP’s current and future programming in the relevant sector. Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to content development for knowledge products.
• Lead advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of development programmes in the sector.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise and manage DDR programme personnel.

 

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results

• ​​Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact​.

Think Innovatively

• ​​Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight​.

Learn Continuously 

• ​​Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all​.

Adapt with Agility

• ​​Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes​.

Act with Determination 

• ​​Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence​.

Engage and Partner 

• ​​Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion 

• ​​Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion.

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

 

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking 

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management: Portfolio Management 

• Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
• Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment.
• Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Business Management: Partnerships Management 

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity – Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility 

• Area-Based Programming.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity – Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility 

• Development Solutions to Internal Displacement.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity – Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility 

• Development and Mine Action (for people’s livelihoods).

2030 Agenda: Prosperity – Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility 

• Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, International Relations, Development Economics, or related disciplines is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 15 years (with master’s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional work experience leading teams, providing policy and programme advice and pioneering approaches on DDR, PVE and SSR at the global, regional and/or national levels in UN agencies is required.
• Strong and relevant field experience in fragile and post conflict countries managing programmes, people, and institutional relations in different development contexts is required.
• Demonstrated track record of excellence in delivering the work of complex and large programme in the area of crisis recovery and thematic areas, including but not limited to DDR, SSR and mine action is desirable.
• Proven working experience in providing programme and policy advisory services, building institutional capacity, mobilizing financial resources, and forging partnerships to support countries in complex crisis and development challenges is required.
• Proven experience in preparation of proposals for funding and donor briefing is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in capturing knowledge of national and international know-how in relevant thematic areas and document project lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning is desirable.
• Prior experience of working in Ethiopia and Africa will be desirable.

Language: 

• Fluency in English required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is desired. 

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

 

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders) 

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

 

Applicant information about UNDP rosters.

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

 

Non-discrimination.

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

 

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