• Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
• Location: Dhaka
• Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
• Occupational Groups:
  • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
  • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
  • Peace and Development
• Closing Date: 2023-03-18

Background UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Violent conflict has surged in recent years, and in 2016, more countries experienced violent conflict than at any time in nearly 30 years. While the complex relationship between conflict, security and development is increasingly understood, international assistance and investment in conflict prevention have remained relatively low. At the same time, approaches to preventing conflict have been refined considerably, as policy and practice on peacebuilding have evolved – and the UN, its Member States and other partners are increasingly looking to prevention as a critical strategy for sustaining peace and nurturing development. Conflict prevention is increasingly recognized as a rational and cost-effective strategy for countries at risk of violence and for the international community. The joint UNDP-DPPA programme on building national capacities for conflict prevention has made a ground-breaking contribution in bridging the gap between political engagement and development assistance in pursuit of preventing conflict and sustaining peace. In its new phase (2019-2023), the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme will further strengthen the analytical capacities of national stakeholders and the UN system in support of Member States’ efforts to advance policy and programmatic coherence on conflict prevention and support strategies for sustaining peace. The deployment of Peace and Development Advisors has been the primary instrument of the Joint Programme to provide capacity for Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams to support national partners in dialogue and national or local mediation processes, the establishment and operationalization of national infrastructures, and mechanisms for peace; and other initiatives aimed at sustaining peace. In an effort to ensure that PDAs are better equipped and empowered to deliver on their mandates, the Joint Programme has established in a number of contexts small ‘Peace and Development teams’ where a national Peace and Development Officer provides reinforced capacity to the PDA’s engagement in support of the RCOs (Resident Coordinators Office) and UNCTs (UN Country Teams) in the area of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. There current cadre includes 120 Peace and Development Advisors deployed globally, including 40 national positions. Country context – Bangladesh Bangladesh has made remarkable development gains in recent decades, but longstanding, as well as new, peace and development challenges are extant. For over forty years conflict in Myanmar has resulted in influxes of Rohingya into Bangladesh. The country currently hosts almost one million Rohingya refugees from conflict in neighbouring Rakhine State in Myanmar.  The bulk of this group crossed the border in 2017. The conflict in Myanmar is ongoing, and the risks to peace and security have straddled the border and represent a challenge to not only Bangladesh but also the wider Bay of Bengal region.  The burden on Bangladesh is considerable both from a humanitarian, as a well as a peace and development perspective. The Rakhine crisis has also placed stresses on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region in Bangladesh. The CHT was the scene of subnational conflict and insurgency from 1978-97, and a fragile peace agreement is not yet fully implemented.  The conflict in neighbouring Myanmar has created new risks in the CHT area. Additionally, Bangladesh is working to prevent violent extremism, and while considerable success has been made in the countering of terrorism, there remain significant medium to long term prevention challenges. Furthermore, Bangladesh faces a critical situation with respect to climate change and this may present major peace and security risks in the future.  Tens of millions of people will be displaced by riverine flooding, erosion and rising sea levels in the world’s largest delta.  Responding to this climate security challenge may be the single biggest peace and development challenge facing the country now and for decades to come. Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Peace and Development Advisor, the National Peace and Development Officer will work closely with other UN agencies to enhance their own prevention and research capabilities. Position Purpose The Peace and Development Officer works under the direct supervision and guidance of the PDA, to provide substantive support in four main areas of activity, including:

1. Assist with research, information-gathering, and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
2. Identify entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks.
3. Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships, and M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation)
4. Coordination of UN and International PVE Working groups

Duties and Responsibilities Assisting on research, information-gathering, and support analysis with a specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention. 

• Gather and process data and information relevant to the UN’s role and activities in Bangladesh and the sub-region as relevant, with a specific focus on supporting and promoting sustainable peace and development.
• Support the PDA in undertaking political, political economy, and/or conflict analysis, monitoring the situation in the country, and reporting of issues related to peace and security, including through analysis of local sources.
• Carry out and coordinate research on particular issues and thematic areas, in particular, for instance, on prevention of violent extremism, cross-border conflicts, the role of religion in public life and increased social resentment due to economic vulnerability and poverty.

Identify programming entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, women, and youth.

• Assist the PDA in identifying areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders related to social cohesion, dialogue, sustaining peace, and consensus-building; and contribute to the development of conflict-sensitive approaches.
• Under the guidance of the PDA, support the exploration of entry points with key national counterparts including the Government and civil society.
• Advise on mainstreaming conflict-sensitive approaches, including the provision of training UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention, and/or conflict-sensitive development.
• Undertake mappings and analysis of civil society actors, including youth, women, and marginalized groups, and their capacities for conflict prevention/ peacebuilding at the local and national level. This analysis will inform and provide support to the PDA and UNCT throughout the duration of the assignment.
• Support the PDA in their engagement with national and local stakeholders, focusing particularly on engaging with civil society actors at the local level and academia, to help link local initiatives to national-level institutions, structures, and processes. As well as reinforcing dialogue between government and civil society and/or people-to-people dialogues.

Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Provide coordination support to UN and international PVE working groups, including: provision of technical assistance to UN agencies involved in the design and implementation of VE projects; contribution to the harmonization and coordination of PVE and hate speech interventions by UN, and national and international partners; ensuring the updating of mapping of actors and risk/conflict analysis; and liaising with AP Regional platform on Hate Speech to ensure country-level implementation of action points.
• Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector, and the international community, including the UN system).
• In close collaboration with the PDA and the Joint Programme Secretariat, support monitoring and evaluation function, including collecting, processing, and analyzing data in the framework of peace and development teamwork workplan.
• Support knowledge management and sharing of good practices on conflict prevention and peacebuilding; ensure that stories and lessons learned are shared with the Joint Programme Secretariat, and respond to specific requests for information; and
• Perform an array of duties that support UN coordination and effective Peace and Development Team programme implementation. These may include assisting in organizing meetings and consultations, organizing and implementing consultation processes with national and international partners.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: N/A Competencies Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by the 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, be aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• Business Development – Knowledge Generation
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
• Business Management – Partnership Management
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UN strategy and policies
• Business Management – 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
• Agenda 2030: People – Gender
  • Women, Peace, and Security
• Agenda 2030: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive
  • Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion
• Agenda 2030: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive
  • Conflict Analysis and conflict sensitivity
• Agenda 2030: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive
  • Prevention of Violent Extremism and Violence Prevention

Required Skills and Experience Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, conflict resolution, peace studies, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, PVE, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization.
• Extensive experience in analysis, research and sound drafting skills.
• Experience in project/programme development, management
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention, PVE and peacebuilding initiatives and programming.
• In-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in Bangladesh and Asia Pacific Region, including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives. and awareness and familiarity of key actors and stakeholders across the political, economic, and development spheres alongside knowledge of government, civil society, and other non-state actors.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Bangla is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Important: Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. Disclaimer Applicant information about UNDP rosters Note: 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. Scam warning The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization’s page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead. Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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