Portfolio Specialist Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding

Background

Kenya continues to grapple with a complex set of peace and security challenges, despite progress in democratic governance and economic development. Persistent threats include intercommunal violence, resource-based disputes, and violent extremism—particularly in the northern and coastal regions bordering Somalia. These challenges are exacerbated by fragile cross-border dynamics, historical marginalization, and inadequate early warning and response mechanisms. While the Government of Kenya has established several frameworks, including the National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism and the Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Directorate, gaps remain in translating these strategies into coordinated and sustainable action at both national and local levels.

In line with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2022–2026), UNDP Kenya has prioritized conflict prevention and peacebuilding within its Governance, Peace and Social Cohesion Pillar under the Country Programme Document (CPD 2022–2026). UNDP’s work in this thematic area supports inclusive governance, strengthens the rule of law, and promotes social cohesion through partnerships with national institutions, civil society actors, and regional entities. Guided by UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2022–2025) and the Regional Bureau for Africa’s Framework on Governance and Peacebuilding, the programme adopts a systems-oriented approach to build resilient communities and foster peaceful coexistence.

The Regional Peacebuilding and Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) Project is a flagship initiative under this pillar, implemented in Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. The project consolidates multiple peace and security initiatives into a cohesive framework, integrating early warning systems, reintegration efforts, community resilience programming, and policy advocacy. In Kenya, it targets communities most affected by violent extremism and instability, aiming to equip local actors with tools and resources to build sustainable peace. The Portfolio Specialist will be responsible for the strategic leadership and operational management of the project, while also serving as the Thematic Lead for UNDP Kenya’s broader Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention work—ensuring synergy across interventions and alignment with national and regional peacebuilding priorities.

Strategic Areas of Focus:

The Portfolio Specialist – Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding will focus on strengthening national and local capacities for conflict prevention and peacebuilding through evidence-based policymaking, technical support, and multi-stakeholder dialogue. The role will position UNDP as a thought leader in this thematic area through regular provision of high-level political economic analysis in the thematic area as well as strengthening partnerships and resource mobilization. Additionally, the role will support the reintegration and social cohesion of returnees and conflict-affected populations, contribute to the implementation of Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Strategy and Peacebuilding Architecture, and foster partnerships with government bodies, CSOs, Youth, regional organizations, and international partners to advance national and regional peace and human security.

Position Overview:

UNDP Kenya seeks a highly qualified Portfolio Specialist- Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding and P/CVE to lead UNDP work in this thematic area by ensuring a coherent approach, synergies across all projects in this thematic area including, but not limited to the Peace Building Fund supported project as well as the Refuge project to avoid duplication and demonstrated value for money as well as contribution to broader results in this thematic area. The incumbent will serve as UNDP specialist and focal point with the Government, DP, UN and others and provide strategic advisory support and conflict prevention analysis to the TL and senior management as well as lead the development of new programs in this thematic area.   S/he will coordinate all work in the thematic area in UNDP Kenya Country Office as well as serve as the Project Manager for the KOICA-funded “Peacebuilding and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) in East Africa” project. The Portfolio Specialist will be based in Nairobi and will work under the overall guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative – Programme. The position will report directly to the Team Leader, Democratic Governance Unit, and manage/supervise other focal points of peacebuilding-related projects in the Country Office.

The Portfolio Specialist will lead the portfolio team in the areas of strategic and annual planning, project implementation, capacity building, and monitoring and reporting for results. S/He will be responsible for ensuring that portfolio objectives are met in line with the UNDP’s governance frameworks and the Government of Kenya’s development priorities.

Main Deliverables

The Portfolio Specialist – Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding and P/CVE will provide overall strategic leadership for UNDP Kenya’s peacebuilding and conflict prevention portfolio. The incumbent will ensure the successful implementation of the Kenya component of the Regional Peacebuilding and PVE Project while integrating peacebuilding strategies at the national and regional levels.

A. Strategic Direction and Leadership:

• Lead and manage the peacebuilding and conflict prevention thematic portfolio by setting strategic priorities, ensuring alignment with national and regional frameworks, and ensuring that all activities integrate gender, youth and human rights approaches.  Lead the design of adapted and context-driven programmatic interventions that enable the delivery of UNDP’s programmatic offer, while ensuring cross-sectoral cross-portfolio fertilization.

B. Partnerships building and Resource Mobilization:

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with government bodies, civil society organizations (CSOs), regional organizations, and international partners to promote collaboration and resource mobilization for long-term peacebuilding outcomes.

C. Portfolio Management and Coordination:

• Ensure the effective management and implementation of all projects under this portfolio including the Regional Peacebuilding and PVE Project, including overseeing work plans, budgets, monitoring outputs, and ensuring gender-sensitive programming across the portfolio.
• Management and mentoring of portfolio team to ensure timely and quality delivery of portfolio results. Timely results reporting.

D. Knowledge Management and Visibility:

• Lead the creation and dissemination of high-quality knowledge products, policy analysis briefs/recommendations, and communication materials in collaboration with the CO and Regional team and key partners, ensuring the visibility and impact of UNDP’s work in this thematic area. Represent the CO at high-level and technical engagements/dialogues with donors, gov and other partners as requested.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings to better harmonize and inform the development and monitoring of joint initiatives and programmes in this area and contribute views and ideas and assess trends and development needs as per evaluation of the country’s overall programmatic performance and external trends.

E. Financial and Operational Oversight:

• Ensure financial integrity and compliance with UNDP rules and donor-specific regulations, overseeing portfolio’s procurement, administrative processes, and ensuring results are achieved by performance standards. Risks and compliance management including audits.

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

Institutional Arrangements

The Portfolio Specialist- Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding and P/CVE will work closely with the Regional Services Team at the regional level, the Team Leader of the Democratic Governance Unit and the Country Office teams in the operations and other programmes and in providing strategic guidance to the planning and implementation of the regional project. S/he will be responsible for ensuring consistent and enhanced progress towards the overall realization of the objectives of the project. S/he will ensure timely submission of all requests for processing as outlined in the planning documents of the project. Under the general guidance of the Team Leader Democratic Governance Unit, the Portfolio Specialist will provide organizational, coordination and managerial support for the Regional PVE project. S/he will ensure the strategic direction of project operations and coordinate the programmatic and operational activities of the project team, assess work plans and monitor outputs. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the other projects and operations teams, programme staff in other UN Agencies, Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful implementation of UNDP peacebuilding and P/CVE programmes.

Competencies

Core

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.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy

• Strategic Thinking
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• 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 Development

• Knowledge Facilitation
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• 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 channels.

Partnership Management

• Relationship Management
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Project Management, Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field is required, or;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the national or international level in in Peace and Conflict, Public Policy, Law, Political Science, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field is required.

Required Skills:

• Advanced computer skills and knowledge of office software packages essential, experience handling web-based management systems;
• Sound knowledge and experience working with project teams and in all aspects of project cycle management.

Desired additional skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section:

• Experience in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and PVE, with a strong background in democratic governance preferred;
• Sound knowledge of project management, organizational management, asset management, information and communication technology, administration, financial and human resources management, preferably with an international development setting;
• Excellent analytical, communication, writing and presentation skills;
• Willingness to work extensive hours and under pressure.

Required Languages(s):

• Fluency in English and Kiswahili at working level.

Professional Certificates:

• Advanced computer skills;
• Office software packages;
• web-based management systems;
• Mediation, peace and community development.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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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