General
Description of assignment title
Associate Political Affairs Assistant
Assignment country
Afghanistan
Expected start date
15/02/2024
Sustainable Development Goal
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Volunteer category
National UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity
UNAMA
Type
Onsite
Duration
6 months
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Kandahar
Details
Mission and objectives
UNAMA was established in 2002 as a Political/ Peacebuilding Mission, exceptionally) directed and supported by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).
Context
UNAMA’s field presence remains central to the Mission’s engagement with its stakeholders at the sub-national level in Afghanistan. The field presence enables the Mission to deliver its mandate and maintain its awareness of related developments throughout the country. The Mission currently maintains six regional offices, in Balkh (Mazar-e-Sharif), Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar (Jalalabad) and Paktya (Gardez); and five provincial offices, in Badakhshan (Fayz Abad), Baghlan (Pul-e Khumri), Bamyan, Faryab (Maymana) and Kunduz. Field offices have a direct reporting line to the Chief of Staff. The Kandahar Office shall continue to support mandate implementation at the sub-national level through building effective working relationships with the de facto authorities to facilitate an enabling environment for mandate/programme implementation, strengthening cooperation for and the coherence of UN activities; support the provision of essential services to Afghans; support dialogue between the de facto authorities and local stakeholders on issues of sub-national governance, basic rights and inclusion; provide outreach and good offices, including facilitating dialogue between political stakeholders, focusing on promoting inclusive, representative, participatory and responsive governance and broad participation in public life; and provide advice on local consultative mechanisms, confidence-building measures, capacity building, and conflict management and reconciliation. The FO shall also maintain situational awareness, reporting and analysis and engage with all stakeholders at the sub-national level in the protection and promotion of human rights.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of Kandahar Head of Field Office, the National UN Volunteer will: •Collect, select and analyze information from diverse sources with special attention to the representation of all segments of society including vulnerable categories like minorities and women; •Support the development and implementation of UNAMA facilitated roundtables, political outreach events, and discussions with local communities to address local drivers of instability in assigned area; •Support the Head of Office in interactions with external partners •Support the Head of Office with preparing drafts, briefing notes, background papers and talking points; •Interpret from English into Pashto and vice-versa during meetings; Translate documents from English into Pashto and vice-versa whenever necessary; •Provide administrative and substantive support to the Head of Office •Create and maintain administrative files and official records including records of incoming and outgoing correspondence; and •Performs other related duties as required.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in areas linked to political affairs, political economy, governance, humanitarian or development issues is desirable;
Area(s) of expertise
Elections and governance, Development programmes, Translation and interpretation
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Pashto, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Political affairs, governance, development and humanitarian affairs.
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included ) and final repatriation (if applicable). Furthermore, in non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, a Well-Being Differential (WBD) will be provided on a monthly basis
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy