It is in this context that UNDP has developed a ‘Peace Support Programme/Facility (PSP/F)’ nested within the Federal Government’s Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) but focused on urgent actions over a period of 24 months to stabilize conditions, restore a sense of normalcy, and deliver a first peace dividend to conflict-impacted populations.  The approach is to fill the gap that is likely to open between the urgency of addressing a wide range of priority needs quickly to consolidate peace and stabilize conditions and the time it will take for the larger, longer-term and more comprehensive 3R Framework to kick-in meaningfully, possibly in late-2024, at the earliest.  Moreover, the PSP/F is designed flexibly, so that it could potentially be scaled-up to become the foundation of a larger UN-wide effort in the same direction. In line with this approach, the PSP/F is being implemented already in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions.

The strategic goal of the PSP/F is to contribute toward an irreversible peace process in Northern Ethiopia. This will be pursued through an actionable set of measures that can build trust between communities and legitimate Ethiopian authorities and lay the foundations for recovery, peacebuilding, and sustainable development, founded upon country leadership and ownership.

Working within the broader framework of 3RF, the PSP/F will focus on the following windows:

Window 1:  Local Governance, Human Rights and Social Cohesion

Window 2:  Basic Social Services (health, nutrition, education, WASH, protection)

Window 3:  Economic Revival (enterprises and livelihoods)

Window 4:  Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants

Window 5:   Solutions to Internal Displacement

Geographic Focus:  Afar, Amhara and Tigray (Northern Ethiopia); Window 4 Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants (8 regions)

Target population impacted by the conflict:  10 million.

Timelines for implementation:  June 2023 – May 2025

Considering this, UNDP Ethiopia intends to recruit a full time and highly experienced head/director of the Pace Support Program to oversee the management, operations, and strategic leadership of the Peace Support Facility, facilitate mobilization of resources and ensure implementation of the stabilization program to the highest quality standard. Accordingly, the incumbent Under the direct supervision of the head of peace support office and working closely with UNDP Country Office senior management and programme/operations staff, the Deputy Head of the Peace Support Office (PSO) will act as the de facto Alternate for the Head of Peace Support Office and is responsible for the following functions:

• Serve as the overall technical lead for planning and implementation of the peace support program’s strategy and monitoring and assess performance.
• Assist the Head of Peace Support Office in performance management and advises on policies and strategies to adequately respond to stabilization, recovery, and development challenges and needs.
• Support the Head of Peace Support Office in provision of strategic programme planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and learning in peace support implementation regions.
• Lead the PSO in ensuring vigorous documentation, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning in peace support implementation regions.
• Support the Head of Peace Support Office in Leadership and Knowledge Management for the Peace Support Office (PSO).
• Support the Head of PSO in provision of Policy Advice on Stabilization/peace support and Programmatic/ Overall Technical Management.
• Oversees the Peace Support Office (PSO), ensuring that it operates in a cohesive, efficient, effective, and transparent manner, upholding UN values and maintaining the highest standards of integrity.

2. Assist head of peace support in policy advisory, operation and management of the peace support program focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Assist head of peace support in providing high quality and strategic policy and programmatic advice to the UNDP Country Office (CO), government and partners, informed by global experience and good practice.
• Offers technical leadership in the development of a relevant, high impact and well- integrated stabilization/peace support programme portfolio, including formulation of high quality and results-based projects appropriate to the Ethiopian context.
• Assist in preparation of policy documents, briefs, and other strategic papers/materials under the direction of the CO for use in the development and presentation of a coherent perspective to help define strategies and implementation actions.
• Takes responsibility for ensuring that the PSO meets all relevant benchmarks of programmatic and operational benchmarks set corporately by UNDP as well as by the CO.
• Plays a key role in developing and maintaining a skilled, professional, motivated, and high performing team in the PSO, including overseeing the proper discharge of core human resources functions.
• Develops and oversees the operating and programmatic budget of the PSO, ensuring adherence with all relevant UNDP financial and programme budgetary rules and regulations as well as procedures.
• Maintains full adherence with UNDP procurement rules and regulations, including effective management of the procurement planning process.
• Represents the programme in appropriate as authorized by the head of peace support.

3. Ensures the timely monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the program is done with high quality standard: 

• Develops and oversees integrated programme planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E) systems that comply with UNDP standards, as adapted to Ethiopia by the CO.
• Provides guidance and manages the overall peace support offices programme development and implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring, processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP country office and consistency with CPD priorities.
• Assist in planning and executing a timely, inclusive, and transparent annual work planning process for the PSP/F, manner, acting in close consultation and collaboration with the CO, and involving Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions as well as federal entities including UNDP’s coordinating body, the Ministry of Finance.
• Manages UNDP’s stabilization/peace support efforts as a portfolio, applying necessary tools of portfolio management and ensuring measurable integration of cross-portfolio issues such as gender equality and empowerment, doing no harm, peace building, human rights, and resilience.
• Assist in establishment and overseeing a robust, state-of-the-art, monitoring and verification system to ensure proper and accountable use of resources entrusted to UNDP by donors and government, maintaining detailed and accessible digital records that demonstrate proper targeting of beneficiaries and use of resources in full compliance with approved Annual Work Plans (AWPs).
• Based on monitoring and evaluation of the recovery and development situation, provides programmatic responses, ensure close monitoring of results through effective application of RBM tools, and other benchmarks.
• Leads on timely and adequate reporting against plans, including on-time, substantive and well-documented progress reports, and ensures regular assessments of programmes/projects to identify and synthesize good practices and lessons learned, to inform future, CO and corporate learning and strategic communications.
• Ensures that the PSO meets all relevant project quality and management as well as M&E and audit benchmarks and requirements, including timely and full implementation of annual and multi-year M&E plans, project audit plans (NIM and DIM, as appropriate), HACT assessments and spot checks, reporting on the gender marker, project quality assurance (PQA) and ESG standards, and substantive contributions to the CO’s annual Results-Oriented Annual Report (ROAR).
• Assist peace support offices in identification of risks and challenges to the ongoing operations of the projects and applies timely mitigation measures aligned to the CO risk management strategy and corporate Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) system, documenting lessons learnt while providing advice to the RR and other senior managers on mitigation strategies.

4. Advise on Knowledge Management, research and analytics, learning and documentation and enhanced visibility for the Peace Support Office (PSO).

• Ensures the smooth running of the Peace support office, builds an effective PSO team, promotes teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results.
• Ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the PSO by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations. Continually find ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations of the PSO.
• Responsible for the management of the PSO staff, provides coaching to staff and effective leadership and direction and monitors their performance, completing performance assessments where necessary. And ensures timely and regular reporting and performance management of all PSO staff.
• Under the supervision of the head of peace support and in collaboration with the head of peace support office, operations, and security focal person ensures enforcement of security procedures and MOSS/MORSS requirements in the peace support office and that the security needs of office and projects are met.
• Mitigates risks and impacts associated with the peace support office operations (e.g., logistical, security etc.) by proactively designing reduction measures in collaboration with the head of field office, operations, and the security resource person.
• Provides leadership in overseeing of effective provision of services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, logistics and sound economic management as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations.
• Ensures cost-recovery system for the services provided by the peace support office to projects or other agencies in collaboration with operations.
• Supports the capacity and knowledge building of his team and his national counterpart by identifying capacity needs and establishing training/learning plans/programmes.
• Promotes identification and synthesis of good practices and lessons learned from the UNDP Regional Stabilization Facility for organizational sharing and learning as well as external information.
• Actively participates in UNDP knowledge networks and takes advantage of good practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally and encourages Regional Stabilization Facility staff to do so by creating a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Ensures the guidance and coordination of stabilization-related exchange of knowledge to help influence/ advance policy dialogue and present such material at regional and other forums.
• Promotes the participation of the Country Office in regional projects and regional activities related to the project area as appropriate.
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

5. Policy Advice on Stabilization/peace support and Programatic/Overall Technical Management

• Promotes early stabilization approaches and provides policy advice to UNDP Management, government counterparts, local administration, donors, and other partners on issues related to stabilization/stabilization.
• Ensures the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as gender, peace building, human rights and resilience into stabilization and post crisis response.
• Liaises closely with other UNDP projects especially in the North and ensures smooth transition of stabilization/peace support to longer term development programs under the National Stabilization Strategy.
• Ensures systematic and effective analysis, project monitoring, including but not limited to regular field visits, as appropriate, and participation in implementing partner platform and./or Regional Steering Committee meetings.
• Proposes and guides on new innovative methodologies on Stabilization/peace support-related planning and financing.
• Ensures strategic communications on Stabilization/peace support-related areas in accordance with communication standards of UNDP.
• Oversees overall work plans and budgets for all activities of the UNDP National Stabilization/peace support Facility in Ethiopia and ensures that overall delivery is on track.
• Ensures systematic and effective analysis, monitoring, including regular field visits, as appropriate, and participation in Project Board and/or Steering Committee meetings.
• Provides strategic direction to the overall Stabilization/peace support portfolio and leads the project teams. Works closely with a wide array of partners to ensure that the UNDP Regional Stabilization Facility/peace support in Ethiopia work responds to the UNDP Country Program strategy and the vision of wider stabilization.
• Ensures linkages of Stabilization/peace support with other relevant projects of the Ethiopia Country Office in the Northern, (advice, lessons learned, etc.).
• Ensures coordination with regional-level work of the UNDP Regional Stabilization Facility/peace support, as well as delivery of Facility regional components in the Northern of Ethiopia.
• Ensures timely and adequate reporting against plans, including timely and articulate progress reports and situation reports.
• Identifies risks and challenges to the program and provides advice to Senior Management of the UNDP Ethiopia Country Office on mitigation strategies.
• Ensures appropriate levels of visibility and public awareness on results and ongoing activities.
• Ensures that appropriate environmental and safety standards as well as due diligence are applied to the relevant activities in the program.
• Ensures strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations and the implementation of clear accountability mechanisms.
• Participates in internal control mechanisms for adherence to UNDP rules and regulations in contracts, assets, procurement, recruitment, etc., as required.

6. Stakeholder coordination, Partnership Management and Resource Mobilization

• Oversee and support the efforts made to mobilize the required resources for the peace support (stabilization) program.
• Identify and establish good relationship with stakeholders including development partners interested in peace support and stabilization program in Northern Ethiopia.
• Facilitate program steering committee meetings and ensure regular and ad hoc meetings are carried out, update them on the progress and ensure the necessary documentations are produced.
  • Ensure up-to-date information and provide advice the management on emerging issues in relation to changes in stakeholder relationships/structures.
  • Represent UNDP’s PSP at relevant platforms, workshops and conferences and events.
• Manage direct relations between the PSP and other stakeholders in the ecosystem and programs in the country office.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Direct supervision:  programmes and, operations team (in Addis Ababa), and Heads of Project Offices in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Head of Peace Support Office, the Deputy Head of Peace Support Office is responsible for the coordination and management of peace support programme. Ensure quality delivery of physical and financial performance.

Crisis Management 

• Country Management Support: Crisis coordination and stabilization programming.

Crisis and Fragility 

• Policy and Engagement: Humanitarian-Development Peace (HDP) Nexus

• Experience in setting-up / leading similar multi-sectoral program in crisis recovery context.
• Experience in leading programme and operations teams.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages and handling of web-based management systems.

• Experience preferably in managing projects in a UN agency is desired.
• Experience in conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives. Experience of managing large-scale projects with multiple sectoral teams.
• Experience of coordinating multiple stakeholders and inter-agency programmes.
• Record of interaction at higher levels of government, UN, and donor community.
• Record of resource mobilization.
• Experience/expertise in stabilization is an advantage.
• Proven experience in Resource Mobilization is an asset.
• Proven record of accomplishment in high level advisory services to Government counterparts for post conflict situations and programs is desirable.
• Sound knowledge of UNDP or another UN agency is desired.
• Task management skills to plan and prioritize work activities to meet organizational goals and organizes and oversees work processes efficiently to achieve quality results are desirable.
• Knowledge of Results Based Management methodologies would be an asset.
• Experience/Ability to work and achieve results in a multicultural, demand driven and sensitive environment.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and local language is required.
• Knowledge another UN language will be an advantage.