Job Opening
Posting Title: Political Affairs Officer, P3
Job Code Title: POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER
Department/Office: SRSG for West Africa/United Nations Office in West Africa
Duty Station: DAKAR
Posting Period: 22 March 2021 - 20 April 2021
Job Opening Number: 21-Political Affairs-UNOWA-152326-R-Dakar (M)
Staffing Exercise N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting
This post is located in the Sahel team of the Political Affairs Section of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). The Political Affairs Officer reports to the Team Leader of the Sahel team.

Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Sahel Team Leader, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Prepares documentation, including but not limited to, briefing notes and talking points related to peace, security and other developments in the Sahel region. Prepares responses to comments, statements, and queries of parties relating to UNOWAS engagement in the region.
• Supports his/her supervisor in compiling or researching issues related to the team’s workplan. Attends meetings to identify the scope of projects, considers methodologies, and actively participates in meetings related to Sahel issues.
Represents the team at round tables, seminars and conferences.
• Participates in assigned operational activities related to the work of the Sahel team. Perform monitoring, analysis and reporting tasks as required, maintaining an integrated approach that includes a rights-based dimension, conflict prevention sensitivity, and a gender perspective.
• Assists in identifying, analyzing and monitoring political developments and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of the Mission's mandate.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies
Professionalism - Demonstrates professional competence for the conduct analysis of peace, security and other developments in the Sahel region. Ability to identify and analyze political, social and economic problems that cause civil unrest in a country or geographic area.
Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence for the conduct analysis of peace, security and other developments in the Sahel region; 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 or a 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.
Professional training in the areas of planning, monitoring and evaluation, facilitation and/or coordination is an asset.

Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, conflict resolution, conflict prevention or related area.
Previous experience in peacekeeping or special political mission is required
Work experience in West African and Sahel Region 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
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice
Initial appointment against this position is for a period of one year and may be subject to extension.
Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her.
In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).
In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira.
For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.