POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, Dakar, Senegal
Organization: Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission
Country: Senegal
City: Dakar
Office: Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission in Dakar
Grade: P-4
Closing date: Friday, 5 April 2024
Organizational Setting and Reporting
This post is located in the Political Affairs Section in UNOWAS. The Political Affairs Officer reports to the head of Senegambia Cluster.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of head of cluster the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of head of cluster the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Prepares and reviews documentation, including but not limited to, briefing notes and talking points. Provides guidance and advice on issues concerning assigned areas of work. Prepares responses to comments, statements, and queries of parties and manages operations involving several components of a limited nature. Develops and maintains relations with external stakeholders at the working level and advises them on issues and policies of mutual concern.
Provides substantive support to POLAS including by actively participating in or leading meetings; drafting major components and compiling or researching issues related to the mission.
Attends meetings to identify the scope of projects, considers methodologies, and leads or actively participates in developing guidelines, terms of references, operational plans and timeframes for assignments. Assists in planning, coordinating and supporting programmes, projects and activities requiring mission and or interagency involvement and participation.
Leads and organizes operational activities related to the work of the Political Affairs Section. Pursues an integrated approach that includes a conflict prevention sensitivity, and a gender perspective into the policy, planning and operational activities of the Section.
Monitors developments, assesses implications and makes recommendations on possible actions, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and advance the Section’s mandated objectives;
Specifically serves as focal point or liaison for assigned specific Senegambia countries within POLAS Senegambia cluster, with direct responsibility for developing and maintaining close working relations with the relevant Resident Coordinator’s Office and UN country team as well as building synergies and complementarities with regional partners in particular ECOWAS in support of conflict prevention, resolution, management and mediation;
Assists to conduct regular stakeholder analyses in order to build and maintain a database for understanding the relationship dynamics of various national actors and stakeholders in the sub-region, including civil society, Think Thanks, political parties; and in this regard building technical working relationships with them in order to assist UNOWAS with a coordinated UN approach to the strengthening of strategic partnerships and coordination towards the enhancement of efforts for peace and security.
Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism – Knowledge of political issues related to the West Africa sub-region is a prerequisite; Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes; Ability to provide solutions to political problems in specific areas and/or countries; Ability to relate to various issues and perspectives to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas; 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; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning and 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
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, law, public administration, or related field is required. A first-level university degree with a combination of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of relevant, progressively responsible professional experience including in, political science, international relations, law, public administration, programme management and/or strategic planning processes in peace consolidation settings or related field is required. Experience in drafting compiling inputs and reporting is required. Work experience in West Africa sub-region, particularly Mano River Basin countries of the sub- region is desirable. At least two years of experience in a field mission or working with UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes is desirable. Practical experience of using monitoring and evaluation tools is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required.
Assessment
Not available.
Special Notice
This position is temporarily available until 8 August 2024 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.
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