Political Affairs Officer, P-3

Position description

Established in 2005, the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) helps to sustain peace by fostering international support for nationally owned and led peacebuilding efforts. The Office assists and supports the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), manages the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) on behalf of the Secretary-General, and works to enhance system-wide coherence and partnerships with UN and non-UN actors in support of building and sustaining peace in relevant countries. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department’s mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions. This post is in the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The Political Affairs Officer will report to the Special Assistant who reports to the Assistant Secretary-General.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provides guidance to ensure consistent support to the ASG, with particular focus on tasking and finalization of materials for meetings and other engagements, including speeches and talking points.
• Prepares talking points, speeches and background notes for the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support and other senior UN officials as needed;
• Supports the role of the Office of the ASG in ensuring office wide knowledge management, document sharing, policy and guidance, and coordination, by establishing processes and providing training.
• Supports DPPA/PBSO efforts to enhance the visibility of peacebuilding, PBSO and the Peacebuilding Commission, including by producing content for social media and PBSO websites.
• Develops and implements partnerships with other UN entities and external partners, including with international financial institutions, regional organizations and independent research and policy institutions;
• Supports the mainstreaming of gender and youth issues in the work of the PBC, Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and PBSO;
• Monitors the overall trends in conflict-affected countries, including those in which the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is engaged, with a view to identifying opportunities and emerging threats to the peacebuilding process, liaising with relevant UN and non-UN actors and recommending appropriate course of action to the leadership of PBSO, including through PBF programmes.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of events relating to political issues, in general, and in particular as they affect the countries and thematic mandates in relation to peacebuilding.
• Provides technical and substantive back up in the implementation of mandates of the office.
• Maintains contacts with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters.
• Monitors actions taken by intergovernmental groups, UN organisations, government and non-governmental organizations in relation to peacebuilding.
• Prepares input to meetings of the SG/DSG/USG with officials from countries under the Organization’s purview.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of UN intergovernmental processes, rules of procedure, structure, mandates and working methods of PBC and UN principal organs; Knowledge of procedural requirements for drafting and processing of official UN documents; Good knowledge of relevant regional and international institutions. Knowledge of range of communications approaches, tools and methodologies essential to media operations and message targeting, in particular with respect to website and social media management. Ability to identify and analyse political, social and economic trends in a country or geographic area relevant to the issues of building and sustaining peace. Ability to produce high quality speeches and written materials, sometimes under short timeframes. 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. 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• 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.

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 in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, political science, or conflict resolution is required.
• Experience in a Front Office environment and supporting a Senior Official is required.
• Experience in multilateral negotiations and working with member states in the context of UN intergovernmental processes, particularly in the Peacebuilding Commission or other intergovernmental organ, is required.
• Experience in data collection and reporting against results frameworks and annual work plans, with respect to both regular budget and extra-budgetary funds is required.
• Experience in regional or international organizations in the area of conflict resolution is required.
• Experience in working with international, multilateral financial institutions (such as the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank or equivalent institutions) is required.
• A minimum of three years of experience in the area of peacebuilding is required.
• Experience in networking with academic institutions, research organizations and think tanks in the area of international peace and security is desirable.
• Experience working in conflict-affected countries is desirable.

Languages

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

Application instructions

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