Office/Unit/Project Description 

The two-year conflict in Northern Ethiopia has triggered a major humanitarian crisis in the Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions with profound adverse effects on Ethiopia’s ambitious economic and governance reforms. The conflict resulted in significant loss of lives; displacement of millions needing humanitarian assistance; and large-scale damage to infrastructure and services. On 2nd of November 2022, an agreement for lasting peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities was signed between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GoE) and the TPLF. Led by the AU, the Peace Agreement has ended active combat in Northern Ethiopia and raised hope for a gradual restoration of services and humanitarian operations in the region. This wide-ranging agreement committed, among other things, to an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities, the creation of an interim administration in Tigray region pending regional elections, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants (XCs), resumption of unhindered humanitarian access, the restoration of essential services, reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returning refugees, transitional justice, social cohesion and reconciliation, and recovery and reconstruction. The peace agreement also paves the way for the restoration of peace, security, and stability in the Afar, Amhara and Tigray Regions.

It is in this context that UNDP has developed a ‘Peace Support Programme/Facility (PSP/F)’ nested within the Federal Government’s Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) but focused on urgent actions over a period of 24 months to stabilize conditions, restore a sense of normalcy, and deliver a first peace dividend to conflict-impacted populations.  The approach is to fill the gap that is likely to open between the urgency of addressing a wide range of priority needs quickly to consolidate peace and stabilize conditions and the time it will take for the larger, longer-term, and more comprehensive 3R Framework to kick-in meaningfully, possibly in late-2024, at the earliest.  Moreover, the PSP/F is designed flexibly, so that it could potentially be scaled-up to become the foundation of a larger UN-wide effort in the same direction. In line with this approach, the PSP/F is being implemented already in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions.

The strategic goal of the PSP/F is to contribute toward an irreversible peace process in Northern Ethiopia. This will be pursued through an actionable set of measures that can build trust between communities and legitimate regional government authorities and lay the foundations for recovery, peacebuilding, and sustainable development, founded upon country leadership and ownership.

Working within the broader framework of 3RF, the PSP/F will focus on the following windows:

• Window 1:  Local Governance, Human Rights and Social Cohesion

• Window 2:  Basic Social Services (health, nutrition, education, WASH, protection)

• Window 3:  Economic Revival (enterprises and agriculture, demining livelihoods)

• Window 4:  Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants

• Window 5:   Solutions to Internal Displacement

Geographic Focus:  Afar, Amhara and Tigray (Northern Ethiopia); Window 4 Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants (8 regions)

Target conflict-impacted populations:  10 million

Timelines for implementation:  June 2023 - May 2025

In view of this, UNDP would like to recruit a competent Local Governance and Peacebuilding Programme Specialist who would join the Peace Support Project Offices in Afar, Amhara and Tigray to effectively deliver the goals and objectives of the Peace Support Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate implementation of UNDP corporate and UNDP Ethiopia’s strategies in alignment with the current CPD, the results framework of UNDP Peace Support Programme’s Local Governance, Peacebuilding, Social cohesion, reconciliation, and Human Rights in the areas assigned.

• Provision of technical advice and services internally within the UNDP Peace Support programme team, Governance and Peacebuilding Unit, and externally to regional government and non-governmental counterparts on implementation of the Local Governance, Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion activities in alignment with the PS/F project objectives

• Regular monitoring and evaluation of Peace Support activities as per the project M&E framework and plan, analysis of programme data for promotion of data use for decision making.

• Establish and strengthen the provision of support for strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ national actors, and development partners, and support and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office  

• Facilitation of knowledge building, management, communication, and outreach.

Job Requirments 

Min. Education requirements

·        Master’s/ Bachelor’s degree in Regional/Area Development, Local Governance, Peace and Security Governance, Community Development, Development Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy, or related disciplines.

Min. years of relevant work experience

·           Minimum of 5 years (with master's  degree) and or 7 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in project management and provision of technical advisory services.,

·         Experience in the usage of advanced computers and office software packages, including in Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common internet applications and handling of web-based management systems.

Required skills

·         Hands-on experience in the design, monitoring and evaluation and impact analysis of peacebuilding, local governance or relevant projects and programmes.

·         Demonstrated working level experience in peacebuilding, governance and/public policy analysis and capacity development.

·      Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, private sector, project staffs,)

·      Practical experience in organization management, strategic planning of associations and public organizations at the national and regional level.

·      Good knowledge and understanding of Ethiopia, including local governance, peacebuilding, political, economic, and social context of target Regions.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

·         Experience and track record of engagement with and coordinating activities and initiatives that involve senior levels of government, the United Nations, and donors.

·      Capacity for responsible problem-solving and troubleshooting.

·      Experience in the field of post-conflict coordination and proven analytical capacity, especially for issues relating to local governance.

·      Familiarity with programmatic issues related to local governance, peacebuilding needs, conflict assessment, stabilization, social cohesion, and relief to recovery transition processes.

·      Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, and guidelines related to peacebuilding, reconstruction, and development, and a good knowledge of the United Nations System and the multi/bilateral cooperation.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English and the official language of the duty station is required.

For more and detailed information, please use the document linked below: 

TOR_Local Governance PB and SC-6-2-2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply online using THIS LINK

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: one page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns, or other materials.