Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Specialist

Background

The United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 provides a strategic framework for peace and prosperity of all people and planet through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a critical agency of the UN, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in diverse sectors to achieve the SDGs notably through the eradication of poverty and inequality, improving democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions, and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help build a better life.

UNDP places premium on conflict prevention and peacebuilding through collaborative efforts with multilateral partners in support of Member States efforts to prevent conflicts, address the underlying drivers of conflict, empower marginalized groups and promote social inclusion at national and cross-border levels. In line with the New Agenda for Peace, achieving peace and prosperity demands collaborative multilateral actions to address the interlocking threats to human security, peace and prosperity that are exacerbated by increased geopolitical fracture, reversal of democratic gains, climate crisis and intra and inter-state conflicts.

The UNDP Sierra Leone through its Elections Project “Fostering Peaceful, Credible and Inclusive Elections 2022-2023” supported the organization of the 2023 general elections. The main opposition party’s rejection of the electoral results and boycott of participation in governance created a political impasse, which propelled the project extension from December 2023 to August 2025 to ensure sustained UN technical assistance for prospective electoral reforms in collaboration with development partners. A mediated settlement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, culminated in the signing of the Agreement for National Unity on 18 October 2023. The Agreement provided for the APC’s participation in governance; the establishment of a Cross-Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies Review adopting 80 Recommendations for improving the electoral processes in Sierra Leone.

In line with the CPD 2025-2030, the Country Office continues to support the strengthening of democratic institutions by enhancing capacities of oversight and electoral management bodies for electoral legislative reforms and implementation of the Agreement for National Unity; promoting political dialogue and peacebuilding process at sub-national, national and cross-border levels. The imperatives of fostering multilateral partnerships and cooperation for cross-border peacebuilding cannot be overemphasized given the political and socio-economic threats that exist between border communities in the Mano River Union (MRU) and the broader West Africa region. In 2019, UNDP and MRU signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen regional integration for advancement of peace, security and SDG in the region. The MoU underlines the essentials of strengthening the capacity of the MRU Joint Border Security and Confidence Building Units to address transnational organized crimes and promote cross-border peacebuilding and social cohesion. It also identified the need to promote democracy and good governance, youth entrepreneurship and cross border trade of SMEs in the MRU Member States.

Scope of Work 

The CPD 2025-2030 highlights peace and prosperity as highly desirable goals for Sierra Leone, which requires collaborative partnerships to maximize the benefits and prevent its destructive capabilities. Accordingly, the Specialist will provide technical advisory on policies and actions that promote inclusive pathways for political dialogue and peacebuilding in the country and border communities. Specifically, s/he will coordinate with key national and regional stakeholders on anticipatory actions for political dialogue and peacebuilding for the transformation of conflicts; and promote innovative opportunities especially for women and youth to mitigate vulnerabilities to manipulation, exploitation, and radicalization to violent and criminal activities.

Summary of Key Functions

1. Analysis, Policy Advice and Development
2. Programme Development and Implementation
3. Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and Representation
4. Knowledge Management and Reporting

Specific tasks and responsibilities

A. Analysis, Policy Advice and Development

• Provide regular situational analysis on socio-economic and political developments and its implications for Sierra Leone, the Mano River Union, and West Africa region;
• Provide advisory support to national and sub-regional institutions for the development and implementation of gender-sensitive peacebuilding policies;
• Facilitate capacity strengthening of relevant stakeholders for the management of conflict and sustaining peace;
• Provide advisory support for promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution dialogues;
• Prepare background papers, reports, briefing notes and talking points as requested by the CTA.

B. Programme Development and Implementation

• Provide programmatic support for the development and implementation of conflict prevention and peacebuilding programmes including the UNDP PBF project [elections];
• Coordinate with national state institutions and civil society to promote the integration of conflict sensitivity in project activities designed to foster post-electoral peace, cohesion, and stability;
• Provide technical advisory support for the Implementation of the Agreement for National Unity especially the operationalization of the Inter-Party Dialogue Framework, and implementation of requisite electoral legislative reforms;
• Ensure coordination and collaboration of UNDP COs in MRU for the conceptualization, development and implementation of innovative livelihood projects aimed at addressing structural drivers of conflict;
• In collaboration with the Mano River Union Secretariat and relevant donor partners, coordinate the roll-out and implementation of the cross-border project on governance, cohesion, and trade.

C. Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and Representation

• Foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with national institutions, inter-governmental organizations, development partners, civil society and think-tanks;
• Identify and advise on the opportunities and prospects for resource mobilization;
• Support the development of project proposals with the purpose of resource mobilization;
• Represent the UNDP SL at national and regional meetings on conflict prevention and peacebuilding;
• Within the peacebuilding context, support promoting of high-level political dialogues and mediation.

D. Knowledge Management and Reporting

• Contribute to the development and management of knowledge products and sharing of best practices and lessons learned;
• Promote cross-fertilization and regional exchanges of knowledge among communities of practice and networks;
• Provide technical input, draft policy documents, and required briefs/ documents/ reports related to the project activities;
• Prepare progress and final narrative report and participate in the project board and technical committee meetings to report on the progress made on the implementation of the peace component, potential risks affecting timely implementation of the project activities.

Perform other duties within his/her functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the project and the organization.

Impact of Results

Effective implementation of conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives enhances the capacities of Sierra Leone, border communities and regional intergovernmental organizations on anticipatory actions to address triggers of instability, and positions UNDP as reliable partner for peace and democratic consolidation.

Institutional Arrangements

The Specialist will report to UNDP CTA Elections project, while fostering coordination and collaboration with relevant units in UNDP Country Offices in the MRU.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact ;

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• 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.

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation
  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Communication
  • Ability to 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.

Partnership management

• Relationship Management
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Required Qualification, Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development, Political Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration, and Management or other relevant fields is required, or;
•  A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in international development with a focus on good governance, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and/or mediation.

Required Skills:

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Desired Skills:

• Work experience with developing countries is highly desirable;
• Work experience with security sector institutions is an advantage;
• Experience working with UNDP or other international organizations supporting peacebuilding and/or conflict prevention programmes;
• Knowledge and understanding of crisis prevention, preparedness, response and recovery; resilience; stabilization; transition; etc; international crisis response architecture (including humanitarian system; peacekeeping operations; special political missions; etc); gender equality in the context of programming in humanitarian and early recovery settings and relevant policy and tools.

Required Language(s) 

• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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