JPO - Women, Peace and Security Analyst

IMPORTANT: Under the JPO programme framework, the following position is open only to nationals of Norway.

The Junior Professional Officers (JPO) programme The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) JPO Programme equips outstanding young leaders with the skills and experience required to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make a positive difference in the world. As a pathway into the world of development, the programme offers young professionals’ excellent exposure to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development while providing a valuable entry point into the UN system.

During their assignments, JPOs benefit from the guidance of experienced UNDP staff members and are actively involved in supporting the design and implementation of UNDP’s programs within UNDP’s headquarters, regional or country offices. Additionally, the JPO will undergo a journey of exposure and growth which will build both personal and professional capacity for a career within the multilateral development sector.

As a JPO and young professional in UNDP you should be interested in pursuing a global career with aspiration to work for a field-based organization in support of the development agenda.

The JPO will work as part of a team and be supervised by an experienced UNDP staff member, including :
•    Structured guidance and feedback, especially in the beginning of the assignment, with the purpose of gradually increasing of responsibilities 
•    Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results
•    Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise
•    Completion of the yearly UNDP Annual Performance Review (APR) including learning and development objectives

The JPO will benefit from the following learning and development opportunities:
•    Participation in a virtual Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course within the first 4 to 6 months of assignment
•    Use of yearly JPO duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
•    On-going Masterclasses on relevant and inspiring themes
•    Career development support mechanisms and activities
•    Networking with fellow JPOs, young professionals and senior UNDP colleagues
•    Mentoring programme 
•    Other training and learning opportunities  

For detailed information on the JPO Programme and recruitment criteria, please visit https://www.undp.org/jposc

Organisational context

Sudan is navigating a precarious peacebuilding journey following the December 2018 revolution that led to the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir. Despite efforts to establish a civilian-led government, the country has experienced significant setbacks, including a military takeover in October 2021 and the eruption of armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. This ongoing conflict has severely strained Sudan’s social fabric, exacerbating ethnic and tribal divisions and triggering the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.

In December 2023, the United Nations Security Council made a significant shift in its approach to Sudan by terminating the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) through Resolution 2715. This pivotal decision redirected the UN's focus towards maintaining critical programmatic priorities and bolstering preparedness for potential ceasefire negotiations and political transition processes.

Ongoing attempts at peace present a pivotal opportunity for amplifying the voices of civilians, particularly women, who are disproportionately affected by conflict. Women have historically been marginalized in peace processes despite their critical roles in fostering community cohesion and rebuilding post-war societies. As indicated by numerous studies on women's and youth participation in peace negotiations, inclusive dialogues that integrate these demographics result in more comprehensive and sustainable peace agreements. Women and girls, often the first responders in crises, are not only victims of this violence but also pivotal to the survival and resilience of their communities. Sudanese women and women’s rights organizations continue to advocate for peace and a return to democratic governance at different fora. Their participation in peace processes and humanitarian responses is not just beneficial but necessary for creating lasting peace and security..
 

Position purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Lead Pillar for Inclusive Governance and Peacebuilding, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Analyst will provide technical and related strategic programmatic support to CO programme/projects.

He/she advises the country office senior management on development and implementation of the Programme/Projects, cost effectiveness and responses to emerging complex challenges in managing the Programme. He/she in supporting UNDP’s efforts to advance the WPS agenda, ensure that the voices of Sudanese women are heard in the pursuit of a just and sustainable peace and ensuring that the needs and perspectives of women are central to all peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts in Sudan.

He/she will provide specialized guidance on gender-sensitive approaches to peacebuilding initiatives, analyze trends and vulnerabilities, and facilitate partnerships with key stakeholders to advocate for women’s rights and empowerment. He/she works closely with internal and external counterparts, including government counterparts, development partners, NGOs, civil society, private sector etc., to successfully deliver UNDP Programmes. He/she ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations. 

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across 

interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

Provide support to strategic technical direction in the area of Women, Peace and Security

• Provide support on strengthening women’s roles and participation in peace processes at all levels; Provide support in system-wide coordination on monitoring and reporting on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), and support the implementation of the Framework of Cooperation on prevention and response to CRSV; 
• Draft reports on contributions to the UN strategic documents, annual work plans/reports, programme/ project proposals, briefs, policy dialogue and other documents related to WPS and its cross-cutting nature;
• Guide and support in developing a resource mobilization strategy to further advance WPS in Sudan as part of the implementation of UNDP`s work in Sudan, support resource mobilization efforts
• Support the development of gender sensitive conflict analysis to feed into outcome documents and updates 
• Support inter-agency coordination on WPS and coordination with key national stakeholders and international partners

Contribute to the advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts

• Facilitate the t system-wide coordination on WPS including the creation of platforms for knowledge management / sharing and best practices related to WPS across programme;
• Work with programme team members to carry out data collection and dissemination of data, evidence and knowledge on WPS;
• Guide and support in the development of knowledge management on WPS, including awareness raising campaigns; 
• Promote the participation of women in peace processes, including through dedicated technical assistance and advisory support to civil society and other key stakeholders; 
• Support community-level peacebuilding initiatives led by women’s groups to promote the WPS Agenda and amplify the voices and advocacy efforts of women in peace processes through media platforms.

Provide WPS programme development services, support monitoring and reporting

• Guide and support the design and formulation of programme proposals and budgets;
• Promote inclusion and women’s participation in conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding efforts
• Contribute to the Identification and implementation of targeted measures to advance women’s direct and meaningful participation at all phases and levels of peacebuilding efforts
• Facilitate the transparent, accountable, and ongoing engagement with women human rights defenders and peacebuilders as important stakeholders in shaping peacebuilding priorities for UNDP 
• Support the monitoring and reporting of WPS-related activities under the UN Common Approach and its results framework.
• Take part in various UNDP/UN fora to mainstream the WPS agenda. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to ensure the success of the team, including guiding, training, and coaching short-term staff, including interns and consultants, as needed.

Education

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent)  in Social Sciences, Human Rights, Gender Studies, International Development or in a related field of expertise is required. OR
• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned field of study in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
   

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• A minimum of two  (2) years (with master’s degree) or four (4) years (with bachelor’s degree) of working experience (paid) in designing, planning, implementing, and monitoring policies, frameworks and programmes to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda is required. 
• Experience working internationally, in a conflict/post conflict setting and/or the Africa region is an asset. 
• Training in project management is a plus.
• Experience in managing partnerships with national and international partners is desired.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management is required. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
   

Nationality of candidate

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes
Act with Determination     LEVEL 1: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion
 

Cross-functional and technical:

Business Management 

• Project Management:  Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
• Communication: 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.
   

Business direction & strategy    

• Negotiation and influence: Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations
• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
   

Attachments needed e.g.: 

• A brief motivation letter in English that explains why you're the perfect candidate for the position by using examples of your interests and achievements 
• Copy of your passport
• Copy of your Master degree