Background

UNDP is the United Nations’ global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to assist people build a better life. UNDP’s vision is to assist countries in achieving the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion. UNDP is mandated to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, reduce inequalities and exclusion and build inclusive institutions, while linking those to SDG and 2030 agenda. Through its Regional Hub for the Arab States, located in Amman, Jordan, UNDP provides technical assistance, programming and policy advice to country offices in 17 Arab countries, with the 18th located in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Governance and Peacebuilding team is one of the teams providing assistance to the needs and priorities of its country offices and to regional projects and initiatives to ensure quality programming in the areas of conflict prevention and peacebuilding, inclusive political processes, human mobility, rule of law, state building and public sector reform and local governance. The Youth teams “Youth Empowerment, Engagement, and Knowledge Project”, SHABABEEK, works across the Arab region with stakeholders, including governments, civil society, private sector, and the youth themselves, to create an enabling environment for youth in the Arab region to unleash their creativity and leadership in civic, economic and political spheres, the project aims to fundamentally shift societies’ perception of youth as assets for regional transformation and social cohesion.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will support the Governance and Peacebuilding team in two initiatives to strengthen inclusive conflict prevention and peacebuilding solutions, and to allow UNDP to expand its work on Youth, Peace, and Security in the Arab States. She/he will prepare background briefs, research and analysis and assist in the preparation and drafting of documents that will support UNDP policy and programming in the region. This will involve undertaking specialized analysis of relevant regional thematic areas. The two initiatives will promote a risk-informed, leave no one behind (LNOB), and prevention-oriented approach to programming and will incorporate a people-centric approach by supporting citizen engagement in development. The post will specifically assist in achieving the following initiatives:

• Conflict prevention and peacebuilding: the Governance and Peacebuilding team is developing and implementing conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programmatic interventions in the Arab States, aimed at strengthening inclusive solutions at the regional level and supporting the work of UNDP Country Offices. These initiatives consider ways to support youth and civil society engagement and include analysis on conflict prevention, dialogue and mediation, reconciliation, local peacebuilding practices, social cohesion climate security, among others.
• Youth, Peace and Security: the role of youth as agents of change in the field of conflict prevention and peacebuilding is another emerging priority in the region. The Governance and Peacebuilding team is supporting regional actors and partners, such as the League of Arab States, in analyses, developing policies and strategies, and strengthening the YPS agenda in the region. Moreover, the team is supporting UNDP Country Offices (CO) in their efforts to realize the agenda at the country level, including through National Action Plans and strategies, organizing regional exchanges and developing a regional YPS offer under the Youth Civic and Political Engagement Pillar of the regional Youth project. Under this initiative, UNDP will a) develop regional resources, tools, networks and platforms to facilitate coordination and knowledge exchange on issues related to YPS and emerging cross-cutting trends such as climate change; b) produce knowledge to identify policy and programming entry points for meaningful regional interventions; c) provide coherent tailored and youth-sensitive country support; and d) advocate to re-focus conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts to consider the positive role of young people as agents of change for peace and emphasizing the principle of leaving no one behind.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding, Regional Programme Advisor or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Support Analyst will undertake the following tasks:

Assist in Policy and Strategy Advice and Development:

• Assist in preparing policy briefs, sector scan, status papers on development challenges based on desk review studies and analysis for evidence-based advocacy and policy development in the field of Governance and Peacebuilding with a focus on Youth, Peace and Security;
• Assist in the development of ongoing initiatives, including review of policy literature in respect to the above initiatives to enhance UNDP programming in the field of Governance and Peacebuilding within the Arab Region;
• Participate in the development of new or ongoing initiatives, including support reviewing of policy literature to enhance UNDP programming in the field of peacebuilding and YPS within the Arab Region;
• Document good practices, case studies, innovations and pilot models for wider dissemination and sharing.
• Assist the Governance and Peacebuilding team in working with regional partners, such as the League of Arab States, on the implementation and localization of the regional YPS strategy, including liaising with UNDP Country Office focal points and regional partners on Youth, Peace and Security, and facilitating knowledge exchange and regional networks.
• Through the regional level work, contribute to the global efforts of UNDP in strengthening the YPS agenda through, among others, supporting global knowledge products, initiatives, and coordination.

Project Design, formulation and other project related functions:

• Assist in Governance and Peacebuilding and YPS program development within UNDP in the Arab Region feeding into global policy development.
• Support the SHABABEEK project to advance the pillar of youth civic and political engagement and participation in public life and public policy design to explore and promote innovative tools and frameworks for integrating a youth perspective in policy formulation and service design.
• Support the development of a regional offer on Youth, Peace and Security in the Arab States with the goal of strengthening the capacity in the region to develop and assist in YPS National Action Plans and strategies, national YPS coalitions, youth sounding boards, among others, including liaising and coordinating with the UNDP Country Offices;
• Participate in preparing conceptual framework and concept notes on new areas of work or development challenges relating to Peacebuilding and Youth, Peace and Security.
• Assist in preparing conceptual framework and concept notes on new areas of work or development challenges;
• Assist in the development of technical support of new interventions or projects;

Knowledge Management:

• Assist in preparing knowledge and communication products related to the above tow initiatives within the Governance and Peacebuilding team;
• Assist in organizing regional Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Community of Practice sessions;
• Review knowledge products (subject, design and content);
• Disseminate knowledge and communications products.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Institutional Arrangement

The Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Support Analyst will report to the Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Regional Programm Advisor and work closely with colleagues from the Conflict Prevention unit. He or she will coordinate with other teams at the Hub, as relevant.

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Required Skills and Experience

Education requirements

Bachelor’s or advanced degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from an internationally accredited university in social sciences with a focus on peace and conflict studies, international relations, political science, development studies or a related field.

Years of relevant work experience

Up to one (01) year of professional work experience is desirable. If candidate only has a Bachelor’s degree, two (2) years of relevant experience is required at the national and/or international level in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, YPS, or other relevant programmes;, experience working in the UN or other international development organizations is an asset;

Required skills

• Report-writing with the ability to present recommendations supported by findings gathered through desk review;

• Organizational skills and analytical, research, data gathering, writing and communication skills;

• Strong commitment to working for sustainable development, peacebuilding and human rights, and advancing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda;

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.

Desired skills

Experience in facilitation, consensus-building, dialogue processes, mediation, dispute resolution, social cohesion, and relevant conflict prevention and peacebuilding intervention areas highly desirable.

Knowledge or work experience in the Middle East and North Africa is desirable.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of Arabic is desirable.