Chief of Service, Political Affairs, D-1

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is entrusted with the overall mandate of enhancing the contributions of the UN towards the achievement of peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel. It engages in preventive diplomacy, good offices and political mediation and facilitation in countries in West Africa and the Sahel. This position is located in Dakar, Senegal. The Principal Political Affairs Officer promotes key aspects of the UNOWAS mandate through direct engagement with national and international partners in the West African and Sahel region. He/She also provides political analysis and advice to UNOWAS mission leadership and United Nations Headquarters. The Principal Political Affairs Officer reports to the SRSG through the DSRSG.

Responsibilities

Management of the Political Affairs Section:

• Implement operational activities related to the work of the section, fostering dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among stakeholders and strengthening the capacity of civil society and institutions;
• Manage, oversee, and guide the team of political affairs officers and support their ongoing learning and professional development;
• Plan, coordinate and manage programmes, projects and activities of the regional office and coordinates with other components of the Mission and external to the Mission as required.

Political Analysis and Advice:

• Provide political analysis, policy guidance, and strategic counsel to the Head of Mission and senior leadership on political developments and conflict resolution initiatives in the region;
• Monitor and assess political trends and emerging issues, analyze their potential implications for the implementation of the Mission’s mandate and make recommendations on possible strategies and measures, and propose plans of action for immediate and long-range solutions to political problems in the region;
• Prepare various reports, briefings, and policy documents for internal and external stakeholders, including the Security Council, the General Assembly, and other bodies.

Liaison:

• Develop and maintain relationships with government officials, political and community leaders, civil society organizations, media, and international organizations in the region;
• Provide good offices and facilitate dialogue and reconciliation processes at the regional and community level;
• Coordinate cooperation between political affairs and state institutions and forge partnerships with other organizations in support of policy goals.

Other duties:

• Perform other related duties as required by the Head of Mission or the DSRSG.

Competencies

• Professionalism – Has ability to identify and analyze the underlying causes of instability (e.g. political, ethnic, sectarian, social, economic) in West Africa and to provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior officials; Demonstrates sound knowledge of the UN system and understands the roles of substantive components within the Mission; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence and calm when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
• Creativity – Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; Takes calculated risks; Thinks “outside the box”; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;
• Managing Performance – Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports staff when they make mistakes; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly;
• Judgement/Decision-making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, social science, economics, law, public administration, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, diplomacy, conflict resolution, or related field is required;
• Extensive experience in political outreach, facilitation, analysis and reporting is required;
• Experience managing a team or office is required;
• Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international organization or non-governmental organization- in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required;
• Field experience in Africa is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English and French is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Application instructions

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