UNDP

Position: PVE Project Specialist

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Posted date: 1 day ago

Application Deadline: Jan, 29/2022 (5 days left)

Job Description

BACKGROUND

The spread of radicalization leading to violent extremism is an imminent threat to peace, stability, and development. Absolutist ideologies that reject co-existence, tolerance, and progress represent an existential threat to many countries. Such ideologies have found recruits amongst youth who believe they have been failed by the state and excluded from legitimate political and economic processes. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the leading development agency in the United Nations System has sought to understand the drivers of radicalization, its manifestations at the national and regional level, and how government, communities, and citizens can be supported to respond which ensures the protection and promotion of human rights. The UNDP Regional Service Centre of Africa developed the Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism regional project. This followed an 18-month consultation process with the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (including IGAD and ECOWAS), Bilateral partners CSO’s including faith-based institutions, academia/research-based institutions, media organizations, African governments, and the wider UN family. The project articulates a development response and addresses structural, causative, or perpetuating factors. The initiatives focus on twenty-four (24) countries including countries at the epicenter of the crisis; neighboring countries affected by violent extremism and countries at risk. The initiative promotes a regional approach given to cross-border and sub-regional dynamics demanding a coordinated regional approach.

The Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism: A Development Approach project is implemented at the country and regional level. At the regional level, the project supports the capacity of the African Union Commission (AUC) and Regional Economic Communities (IGAD and ECOWAS) to prevent and respond to violent extremism. At the country level, the project focuses on interventions in seven key areas: national PVE coordination and capacity; rule of law and security; disengagement and reintegration; socio-economic factors; public awareness, dialogue, and counternarratives; community resilience; and gender-specific initiatives. Programming was informed by cutting-edge research published in September 2017 by UNDP – Journey to Extremism in Africa – which presents the largest set of primary data on the drivers and incentives of joining violent extremist groups, as expressed by recruits to the continent’s deadliest groups themselves. In addition, programming is supported by two cross-cutting activities: research, policy, and advocacy; and, capacity-building for regional and subregional organizations. The project as a whole draws on UNDP’s expertise and capacities as they relate to drivers.

Position Purpose

The PVE Project Specialist will be working within a dedicated team of international and national staff, reporting to the Regional Peacebuilding Advisor who is responsible for the implementation of UNDP’s Regional Project on Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism in Africa, and under the overall leadership of the Governance and Peacebuilding Coordinator.

The PVE Project Specialist’s primary focus will be to work closely and provide support to the 24 affected UNDP

Country Offices in Africa who are responsible for the implementation of selected components of the Project.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Peacebuilding Advisor, support implementation of Violent Extremism Project

• Participate in substantive coordination and implementation, including policy analysis and advice; capacity development, and training concerning activities that fall under this project.
• As part of the Governance and Peacebuilding Team support the implementation of Project Activities and implementation at the Regional Level.
• support the National coordination and Country Office implementation of PVE including needs assessments of the programming landscapes, baselines and thereafter assist in the development of implementation plans and projects.
• Support development of multi-country/cross border PVE projects.
• Develop community initiatives that will build trust between authorities and communities in districts/regions affected by violent extremist groups.
• Provide technical and advisory support to the UNDP Country offices, Regional Organizations, and National Governments concerning the implementation of this project.
• Ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed across all project interventions according to best practices.
• Provide support to the final project evaluation process.
• Provide support to the development of the follow-up project.
• In collaboration with the Regional, Peacebuilding Advisor acts as a focal point to respond to requests from UNDP Country offices in matters relating to countering/preventing Violent Extremism

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Peacebuilding Advisor, establish and maintain a strategic partnership and implement the resources mobilization strategy 

• Establish and maintain dialogue with the UNDP Country offices, government officials, both local and national, NGOs, partners, donors, and communities to provide knowledge and understanding, ensuring accurate interpretation of the project objectives and implementation.
• Identify areas of cooperation and coordination with UN agencies, Regional Organisations including the AUC and RECS, academia, and CSO’s for the implementation of joint activities related to the Project.
• Collect and analyze information on donor contracts, funding priorities, criteria, and processes related to the Project.
• Promote and explain the UNDP projects’ activities and support the UNDP's cooperation with donors.
• Support RBA resource mobilization efforts particularly as it relates to the follow-up project.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Peacebuilding Advisor, ensure efficient financial management, advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and representation 

• Facilitate gathering of information from national interventions and feed into the overall regional project of monitoring and evaluation processes ensuring compliance with UNDP M&E requirements in reporting on program results and progress towards outcomes.
• Ensure proper monitoring and evaluation procedures are instituted in all project activities.
• Ensure proper monitoring of project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets.
• Produce and coordinate the preparation of the substantive and operational reports from the national projects.
• Provide oversight to the effective provision of services to PVE National interventions including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics, and sound financial management.
• Ensure the integrity of financial systems and directly oversee the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of the project and implementation on a national level and advise the Project Manager accordingly.
• Maintain field-level financial accountability through regular liaison with field staff, monitoring payment requests from the field, and ensuring timely and regular payment.
• Develop annual work plans, budget reports, and other documents for the management and reporting of project activities.
• Support the implementation of the project following the budget.
• Manage the accurate and timely quarterly reporting on the progress of the project with a specific focus on the activities and funds utilized.
• Produce high-quality reports to donors at the standard and timeline according to UNDP’s contractual obligations to donors.
• Facilitate proper monitoring of project inventory and filing system. Assure fair and transparent personnel management and procurement of goods and services following UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures.
• Ensure overall accountability for the use of project funds as well as the strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations in all project operations.

Ensure Knowledge Building and Management 

• Under the direct supervision of the Regional Peacebuilding Advisor, provide support to staff capacity building on UNDP Country office level as requested.
• Participate in Task Forces and other ad-hoc internal working groups on cross-cutting themes as requested by Regional Peacebuilding Advisor
• Perform any other tasks as required by the Regional Peacebuilding Advisor.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

Achieve Results

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have a lasting impact

Think Innovatively

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination

• Think beyond immediate tasks/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

• Political savvy, navigate the complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• Appreciate the benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

Agenda 2030: Peace - Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding, and Responsive Institutions

• Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion
• Conflict Analysis and conflict sensitivity
• Conflict Prevention
• Early Warning
• Prevention of Violent Extremism and Violence Prevention
• Violence Reduction Prevention of Violent Extremism

RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Master's degree in Social Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies, Conflict Prevention, Human Rights, Politics, Economics, or in a related area.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• 5 years of experience in project support implementation.
• Prior experience working on CVE/PVE related projects.
• Experience working in areas related to youth empowerment is desirable.
• Experience in the implementation of projects including project development and reporting is desirable.
• Familiarity with the UNDP/United Nations and/or the AUC /REC is desirable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint is required. 

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in oral and written English and French is desirable 

How to Apply

CLICK HERE

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Candidates selected according to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.