Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization at United Nations Development Programme

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United Nations Development Programme Jobs 2024 – Mozambique
International Jobs. United Nations Development Programme looking for “Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization”. Applicants with an Advanced degree may apply on or before 04-Jul-24.

United Nations Development Programme Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization Jobs 2024

The United Nations Development Programme has published a job vacancy announcement on 27/06/2024 for qualified applicants to fill in the vacant post of Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization to be based in Pemba , Mozambique.

Company Name: United Nations Development Programme

Job Title: Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization

Duty Station:Pemba , Mozambique

Country: Mozambique

Application Deadline: 04-Jul-24

About the Company:

Since 2017, Cabo Delgado, province has been the target of terrorist attacks, which have resulted into civilian deaths, destruction and interruption of economic activities, resulting into increased poverty and insecurity. Violent attacks by Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) have escalated since 2020, heightening protection risks, especially for youth, women, and girls. NSAG activities and counter offensive operations have forced mass displacement and brought destruction and fear. It is estimated that the terrorist induced conflict has affected around 1.0 million people in the districts of Mocimboa Da Praia, Palma, Muidumbe, Nangade, Macomia, Quissanga, Ibo, Meluco, and Mueda, of whom around 786,520 are displaced.

Violent attacks have significantly heightened protection risks, especially for women and girls. The government of Mozambique, with the strengthening of regional and international cooperation in the field of defense, including with the arrival of troops from the Republic of Rwanda and the SADC Standby Forces (SAMMIM), reclaimed several areas affected by the conflict. Prior to the arrival of the first Foreign roops on the ground in July 2021, UNDP had initiated stabilization interventions to assist the government of Mozambique in its efforts to re-establish the presence of the State in the reclaimed areas, paving way for reconstruction and a subsequent safe and voluntary return of IDPs to their areas of origin. Benefitting from decades of experience in stabilization activities elsewhere on the continent and in the world, and with an office fully established in Pemba in 2021, UNDP stabilization programme is operating in the 06 districts of Mocimboa Da Praia, Palma, Muidumbe, Nangade, Macomia and Quissanga. UNDP supports the government of Mozambique in three interrelated and complementary dimensions as part of stabilization:

  • Output 1: improving community security with a focus on Rule of Law and Access to Justice, and creating the foundation for social cohesion, peace and development.
  • Output 2: Rehabilitation of infrastructure to make it functional and accessible, and empowerment of local authorities in improving service delivery to the population.
  • Output 3: Providing socio-economic support to individuals and communities, including immediate livelihood support for affected populations.

Over the last 6 months, there has been significant increase of attacks in the areas where stabilization is being implemented with resultant negative impact on programme implementations. For instance, recent attacks in the districts of Macomia and Quissanga has led to temporary suspension of stabilization interventions in these districts. Such incidences call for close civil-military coordination in target areas.

It is in this context that UNDP requires a Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization in Cabo Delgado. The critical role of this function is to ensure active communication between the stabilization programme and the security services at district and provincial levels. S/he will be responsible for constantly monitoring the security situation in the six target districts from Cabo Delgado through liaison with the security services and the local levels.

The function of the Security Liaison Officer does not have accountability and responsibility for the security/safety of UNDP’s programme, asset, personnel – within the framework of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS). However, Security Liaison Officers’ role and expected outcomes may support the UNSMS data needs, when necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Head of Stabilization and in close collaboration with the stabilization project team, and the UN Department of Safety and Security UNDSS, the Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization will perform the following functions:

Ensure provision of Conflict and security analysis and risk assessment:

  • Consistently seek to understand the security context (with a focus on stabilization target locations) through constant analysis of local developments, conflict drivers, ways to mitigate harm to populations and reputational risks to UNDP;
  • Analyze whether security forces are willing and capable of providing security for local communities in Stabilization target locations. Assess security implications and risks for local communities targeted by the Programme’s initiatives;
  • Maintain an up-to-date security assessment of targeted Stabilization locations and monitor changes and trends over time;
  • Regularly report conflict and security-related updates to the Head of Stabilization and to the Resident Representative;
  • Share information and analysis on the conflict and security context with UNDP’s Security Associate and UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS).

Engage and Liaison with security forces on the ground, authorities and communities:

  • Engage with all relevant actors for effective security liaison in stabilization targeted districts in Cabo Delgado and establish excellent working relationships with security forces on the ground;
  • Build a strong working relationship with community-based structures providing security services to local communities in stabilization targeted locations, under the umbrella and guidance of provincial or district administrations;
  • Liaise continuously with relevant security forces, provincial and district authorities (Secretary of State, Governors, District Administrators, Police Commands, etc.), and local communities on security-related matters, to ensure and monitor Government’s commitment to the provision of security services in stabilization targeted locations. This liaison needs to be in collaboration with UNDSS and UNDP Security Associate;
  • Advice and support the Head of Stabilization in explaining the objectives of stabilization programmes and the need for such programmes to focus on security provision to operate to relevant political authorities and security stakeholders;
  • Facilitate collaboration, cooperation and trust-building between local security forces and targeted communities;
  • Participate in structured and regular information sharing, intelligence gathering and interactions with early warning mechanisms through community engagement, considering their particular security threats and concerns;
  • Serve as the primary focal point for all matters related to security of local communities in stabilization targeted locations.

Advise on programmatic aspects related to security for communities:

  • In consultation with security forces and local authorities and communities in stabilization targeted locations, propose to the Head of Stabilization programmatic interventions aimed at reinforcing the security of communities and law enforcement actors at the local level;
  • In coordination with the Head of Infrastructure Pillar, and in consultation with the local government, propose infrastructure rehabilitation that have the potential of reinforcing the security of communities over time;
  • In close coordination with the Head of Livelihood Pillar, provide advice on potential linkages between community-level security interventions and creating emergency short-term income generation opportunities for conflict-affected populations from stabilization targeted districts, such as targeting youth at risk of recruitment by Government–opposed armed groups and/or supporting former members of Government-affiliated security actors and their families;
  • Advise on the implementation of perception surveys aimed at collecting data and trends on communities’ perceptions of security in stabilization targeted locations and on their level of satisfaction with security services provided by national and local providers.

Monitor and report on human rights due diligence:

  • Ensure all work conducted with security forces in the context of the stabilization programme is in line with the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) risk assessment;
  • Monitor and timely report to the Resident Representative and the Head of Stabilization on human rights violations conducted by national security forces and Government affiliated security actors and support the Resident Representative in addressing and responding to such violations with political authorities and security forces;
  • Assess the reputational risks to UNDP being associated with security providers conducting human rights violations and report back to the Resident Representative and Head of Stabilization with concrete recommendations.

Effective coordination with other international actors operating in Cabo Delgado:

  • Ensure continuous liaison with UNDSS to ensure sharing of experiences and knowledge of the situation on the ground in the program areas. Ensure that UNDSS personnel are aware of any developments in respect to the security situation which the Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization may be made aware of as a result of his/her work;
  • Attend civil-military coordination – CMCoord – meetings held by UN entities, nurturing bilateral relations with CMCoord Officer as well as protection and humanitarian clusters and sectors as appropriate;
  • During coordination activities, consistently emphasize the different nature of liaison and cooperation with security forces vis-à-vis UNDSS and humanitarian CM Coord;
  • Respect other agencies’ (particularly humanitarian agencies) different mandates and their ways of doing business. Eventual friction and competing agendas should be addressed by the Head of the Stabilization from the outset;
  • Ensure the respective UNDP stabilization teams initiate and maintain a dialogue on security matters and transition strategies with humanitarian, peacebuilding and development communities, UN system, civil society, international and local NGOs.

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

The Security Liaison Specialist – Stabilization will perform under the guidance of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Head of Stabilization and in close collaboration with the stabilization project team, and the UN Department of Safety and Security UNDSS.

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Functional/Technical competencies

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: Communication

  • Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channel.

2030 Agenda: Peace 

  • Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Community/ Citizen Security/Armed Violence Reduction.

2030 Agenda: Peace 

  • Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Safeguarding human rights and protecting vulnerable groups.

2030 Agenda: Peace

  • Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Human Rights Mainstreaming.

Business Management

  • Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Business Development

  • Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Military Studies, Law, Political Science, Social Sciences, International Studies, Public Administration, or a related field, is required.
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in liaison with security forces (or similar function) in humanitarian, stabilization or conflict -affected countries is required.

Required skills:

  • Proven experience and In-depth knowledge of security management and risk management;
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations;
  • Demonstrated experience in liaising with military and security personnel, and government counterparts.

Desired additional skills:

  • Previous experience in civil-military cooperation (CIMIC), or experience with military/security forces in the context of UN humanitarian and/or peacekeeping operations is desirable;
  • Previous experience working within the field of Security Management is an asset.

Language:

  • Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
  • Working knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish, and Swahili languages will be considered an added advantage.
Disclaimer
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.

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Pemba, Mozambique