Early Warning System Analyst (Elections)

Background

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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) signed in September 2018 and the subsequent formation of a Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in February 2020 ended several years of civil war in South Sudan. One of the key benchmarks in the Agreement is the conduct of elections. In August 2022 the Roadmap to the Agreement extended the transitional period and stipulated elections be held in December 2024. These elections will be South Sudan’s first elections as a sovereign state. A United Nations electoral Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) was deployed to the country in May 2021 and a Trilateral team, composed of African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD) and the UN, conducted a needs assessment and evaluation of the electoral and permanent constitution making processes in 2022. In January 2023 the Government of South Sudan formally requested the United Nations to provide electoral assistance recognizing the need to begin planning and preparations for the elections, including establishing the legal framework, reconstitution of the National Elections Commission (NEC), working with political parties, civil society and the media raising public awareness and creating conditions for inclusive participation of citizens.

A UN Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT) has been established, led by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and UNDP as part of the IEAT has set up the South Sudan Electoral Support (SSES) project. Against this background UNDP South Sudan is seeking to engage the services of an Early Warning Systems Expert to support the development of an early warning systems as well as the capacity development and institution building of the NEC operations and security departments.

Scope of Work

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and the UN IEAT Senior Operations Advisor, and under the direct supervision of the international Early Warning System Advisor, the incumbent will provide advice to NEC and the project team on the implementation of an Early Warning System, as well as liaise with national security sector and contribute to the setup of the structures of joint Elections Operations centers (JEOCs).

Duties And Responsibilities

• Contribute to the analysis conflict maps and the conduct of risk analysis for each of the states and administrative areas;
• Facilitate the liaison with national stakeholders, including the security sector;
• Contribute to the organization of meetings and conferences around the establishment of the early warning systems;
• Works closely with the gender component of the UN IEAT to ensure that protocols for early warning systems incorporate gender sensitive procedures;
• Contribute to the setup of the Joint Electoral Operations Centers (JEOCs) and coordinating with national stakeholders including law enforcement organs;
• Guide NEC in reviewing the preparedness of the JEOCs with focus on protocols for communications;
• Guide the development of mechanism to collect and analyze data/information in relation with electoral security;
• Advise NEC in compiling and analyzing the reports compiled by the JEOCs;
• Contribute to the post electoral phase for designing the lessons-learned exercise on the work of the JEOCs;
• Contribute to the drafting of regular updates and draft reports and other documents according to the Project’s reporting framework as well as ad-hoc requirements;
• Perform other tasks and duties as requested by the international Early Warning System Advisor;
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor and direct supervision of the international Early Warning System Advisor, the incumbent will support the UN IEAT in providing overall all support to NEC in elections security and specifically for the set-up of early warning mechanisms for the electoral process in South Sudan.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Data Analysis

• Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.

Category Management

• Ability to segment spend into areas which contain similar or related products enabling focus opportunities for consolidation and efficiency.

Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

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.

Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Monitoring

• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.>

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Sciences, International Relations, Strategic Planning Studies, Public Administration, Project Management, Economics, Business Administration, or related fields, 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

• Up to 2 years (with master’s degree) or 2 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in areas of conflict prevention, early warning and risk monitoring;
• Experience and knowledge of the South Sudanese political and governance landscape, including current and latent conflicts;
• Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills, ability to foster networks and partnerships;
• Experience and good working knowledge of information and computer technology;
• Proven experience in analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Demonstrated ability to multitask under pressure and to meet strict deadlines often under hardship conditions;
• Previous experience in working with UN or NGOs or international organizations is an asset;
• Experience in working in a demanding environment with the skills of dealing with electoral operations is an asset;
• Previous experience and sound understanding of challenges related to electoral programmes is an asset;
• Experience and knowledge of dispute resolution and early warning practices in South Sudan will be an added advantage;
• Experience in conducting comprehensive assessments related to early warning will be an added advantage;
• Experience working within or with security forces is an advantage.

Required Language(s) (at Working Level)

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic is required.

Disclaimer

Applicant Information About UNDP Rosters

Note: 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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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