Peace and Development Specialist

A Djibouti, le système des Nations Unies pour le développement (UNDS) est représenté par 14 fonds, agences, programmes et entités qui mènent des activités conformément à leurs mandats spécifiques et conformément au cadre de coopération des Nations Unies pour le développement durable (UNSDCF) signé avec le gouvernement de la République de Djibouti.
L'équipe de pays des Nations Unies (UNCT) est composée de représentants de ces organisations. Il opère sous la direction du Coordonnateur Résident dont le rôle est de fédérer ces différentes entités afin de renforcer la cohérence et l'efficacité du travail de l'UNDS à Djibouti. En tant que plate-forme clé pour la prise de décision conjointe entre les entités des Nations Unies, l'équipe de pays des Nations Unies sert de mécanisme permettant à toutes les entités des Nations Unies à Djibouti de formuler des positions communes sur des questions stratégiques et d'assurer la cohérence de l'action et du plaidoyer.

Djibouti is a country of 1.1 million inhabitants in the Horn of Africa. It is also the only francophone country in the region. It hosts the Headquarters of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa. Despite its small size, Djibouti is a key actor, geopolitically and geographically, in the sub-region, noting its key position at the entrance of the Red Sea. Its ports are actually Djibouti’s main resources of revenue.

Djibouti is at the moment the only stable country in the sub-region. However, it already faces several development challenges.

- Migration. Djibouti is on the Eastern route of migration. It is a very welcoming country for migrants due to its nomadic traditions and in terms of policies (e.g. access to healthcare). In 2023, according to the IOM Displacement tracking matrix, 278,272 migrants (including 29% of women and girls) were counted. 99.70% were from Ethiopia and 0.3% from Somalia. Most migrants were heading to Saudi Arabia (67%), Yemen (21%) and Djibouti (12%). The number of 2023 migrants corresponds to 25.3% of the total of Djibouti population. Djibouti is currently doing a census in 2024, whose outcome may provide a more precise info on the number of undocumented persons.

- Security and political regional tensions:
- Ethiopia is still quite fragile internally which is likely to contribute to the continuation of migration from Ethiopia through/to Djibouti. In addition, the January 2024 announcement by Ethiopia and Somaliland related to a MOU to give access to a port in Somaliland increased tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia. Some may fear a spill-over of tensions within the country which encompasses population of both origins and/or should the situation deteriorate, Djibouti could also become a place for high number of refugees, which the small country would have difficulty to absorb economically.
- Yemen. The Houthis Red Sea attacks since November 2023 are impacting the global commerce but also directly the incomes of Djibouti as less vessels using the ports are coming. However, the longer the attacks last, the greater the economic impact on Djibouti will be.
- Sudan. While Djibouti is not feeling any direct impact from the conflict yet, if the Sudan conflict continues, it is possible that more migrants from Sudan may take the Eastern route.
- Djibouti is already a hub to support countries in the region. For instance, all WFP food aid for Ethiopia goes through Djibouti. Some organisations are also supporting their operations in Yemen from Djibouti. Vice versa, Djibouti is also an evacuation location for some. In addition, Djibouti hosts five military bases which include three permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France and US), as well as Italy and Japan. It also hosts some European contingents which contributes to the ongoing counter-piracy military operation at sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean ‘Operation Atalanta’.

There was a Peace and Development Advisor (PDA) deployed for 6 months in the RCO Djibouti in 2023 which confirmed the importance and need for such role. However, due to global budgetary constraints, the PDA position had to be moved to another country.

Under the direct supervision of Head of the Resident Coordinator Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

- Contribute to mainstream conflict prevention and peace building concepts into ongoing and new development programs or other initiatives of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCT) in Djibouti. Particular attention will be given to local / municipal level peacebuilding initiatives and programs dealing with reconciliation, social cohesion, culture, education and youth as well as volunteering and civic engagement, with a possible focus on relations between migrants and local population, while mainstreaming gender in the different approaches.

- Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between relevant Djibouti stakeholders (government, civil society, customary power, private sector and the international community in Djibouti, including the UN system). Under the guidance of the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office, the UNV will support the exploration of entry points for linking local initiatives to Djibouti-wide institutions, structures and processes, including with the different military bases present in Djibouti.

- Perform an array of duties that support UN coordination and effective Peace and Development activities implementation. These may include assisting in organizing meetings and consultations, organizing and implementing consultation processes with local, national and international partners, supporting monitoring and evaluation processes, liaising with other Peace and Developments Advisors in the region(s), as well as reporting to Headquarters, such as DPPA/DPO.

- Assist in providing analysis and strategic advice for developing a vision on the role of the UN system to support dialogue and reconciliation in Djibouti, taking into account existing UN programs, inter alia related to local communities, migrants, democratic governance, security, justice, returns, youth civic engagement and volunteering and area-based development.

- Be the RCO focal point for Human rights, Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Disability inclusion.

- Conduct quality research, collection and preparation of relevant data and documents.

- Contribute to the development of new joint programmes of the UNCT.

- Notetaker of key meetings, as directed.

- Other tasks as directed by the Head of the RCO and/or UN Resident Coordinator.


Volunteer mobilization and management:

Furthermore, the UN Volunteer is expected to promote volunteering and volunteerism within the framework of their assignment (and work time) as a UNV Peace and Development Specialist through activities such as but not limited to:
 
- Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the influence and impact of voluntary action and citizen engagement in local / municipal level peacebuilding initiatives and programmes, and/or peace monitoring processes – particularly dealing with reconciliation, culture, education and youth;
- Network and build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and supporting and/or participating in local volunteering initiatives to peacebuilding initiative and/or project;
- Promote or advise local groups to the availability and use of the UNV online volunteering modality, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible;
- Take part in and/or encourage, mobilize and support co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers and members of the local community to play an active part in community level peace building and development activities;
- Support and take active part in local, regional or national UNV or other volunteer activities to mark International Volunteer Day (IVD), etc.;
- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and/or volunteer action within the work of the Department of peacebuilding and social cohesion and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications;
- Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
- Be acquainted with, identify ways to and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism or altruistic civic involvement in Djibouti