POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER (Temporary Job Opening) [Temporary]

This post is located in the Haiti Team/Americas Division (AD) of the Department of Political and Peace Building Affairs (DPPA) and the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). The Americas Division leads efforts for the prevention of conflict, mediation and sustaining peace in the region. It is responsible for the delivery of the strategic priorities of DPPA and DPO with regard to the countries as well as regional and sub-regional organizations in the Western Hemisphere. AD is structured in three sub-regional teams and two field-mission backstopping teams, each composed of a Team Leader, Desk Officers and a Team Assistant. The teams are overseen by the division’s Director and Deputy-Director. The Haiti Team provides backstopping support to the UN special political mission in Haiti (BINUH). The Political Affairs officer (P4) reports to the Haiti Team Leader.

Responsibilities

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

• monitors and analyzes political developments and operational activities related to the mandate of BINUH, with particular focus on gender-sensitive analysis and the participation of vulnerable and marginalized communities in political processes;
• reviews available information on the region that have a bearing on Haiti in situation reports, cables, correspondence, media, etc. and identifies matters for follow-up and the need for action;
• prepares timely responses to issues and questions raised in the field and at HQ related to Haiti and makes recommendations on actions to take;
• prepares responses to requests for information (verbal and written) from a range of sources with respect to operational and political issues, collects advice and inputs from units in the Secretariat and United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes and maintains liaison with a wide-range of actors within the Department, Secretariat offices and UN agencies as well as members of the Security Council, other relevant regional Member States, police contributing countries, and regional organizations;
• drafts and reviews various documents, including reports of the Secretary-General, briefing notes to the Security Council, talking points and briefing notes for meetings of senior officials with parties, contributors, Member States etc.;
• prepares draft press releases and reviews draft reports and publications prepared by others to ensure accuracy;
• participates in fact finding, planning and other missions and drafts related reports;
• promotes action to achieve DPPA goals in women, peace and security by including a gender perspective in all activities and reporting; providing advice and support to Senior Officials on ways to increase political participation of women in Haiti; formulating proposals for UN support to increasing women’s participation in consolidating peace and security in Haiti.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of general office and administrative support including administrative policies, processes and procedures. Knowledge of the work of the Division and immediate work unit. 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.

Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, economics, development management, conflict resolution, public affairs or related area is required.

Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international or non-governmental organization- in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required.

Experience drafting reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies or international organizations is required.

Experience working to support political processes in a transition setting, including regarding issues related to the economic and governance sector, is desirable.

Experience in political analysis related to Haiti in desirable.

Experience in gender-sensitive political and conflict analysis is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency of French 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 an initial period of six months with possibility of extension. 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.