SPECIAL ASSISTANT, POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The Special Assistant will be based in Mogadishu and reports directly to the Head of UNSOS.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Special Assistant, will be responsible for the following duties:  Mandate Implementation Analysis, Advice and Reporting: • Identify, analyze and monitor strategic and operational developments, including cross cutting and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of the Mission's mandate. • Assess implications and make recommendations on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives; monitor, evaluate and report on implementation. • Coordinate/draft summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes, notes to file, code cables and input for the reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council. • Formulating and managing the implementation of the Mission's programme of work, including through regular review and update of the mission concept and support to planning and budgetary processes.  Supervision: • Provide day to day supervision of the mission's Risk Management and Compliance Unit. The Risk Management and Compliance Unit provides expert advice on the implementation of risk and compliance policies and tools including Enterprise Risk Management, the Organizational Resilience Management System and the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on support to non-UN security forces (HRDDP). • Provide day to day supervision of the mission’s Gender Adviser and actively support and advise on implementation of UN system-wide gender parity objectives.  Coordination and Facilitation: • Coordinates the work of the Office of the Head of UNSOS components ensuring oversight measures and priorities being addressed. • Keep the Head of UNSOS informed on all matters requiring his/her personal attention, assist in formulating options as to how those matters might be handled, and ensure appropriate follow up, as directed. • Plan, organize and manage the Head of UNSOS's meetings and Mission events, prepare written summaries and conduct follow-up activities, as appropriate. • Coordinate/draft correspondence for the Head of UNSOS's signature. • Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with mission components, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), ATMIS/African Union Commission, Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and local authorities, the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), donors and other national and international partners on coordination and policy matters. • Coordinates, as required, actions related to the transition planning activities of ATMIS and FGS and broader UNSOS support to UNSOM, ATMIS and the Somali Security Forces and other members of the United Nations family. This includes coordinating external outreach and reporting requirements in relation to the UNSOS-administered Trust Fund in Support of Somali Security Forces (SSF)Coordinates operational and strategic guidance issues on behalf of Head of UNSOS, with Office of Director and Pillar Heads of UNSOS. • Performs other duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism – 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 when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.  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.   Client Orientation - Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect.  Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.  Building Trust - Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear or repercussion. Manages in a deliberate and predictable way. Operates with transparency, has no hidden agenda. Places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients. Gives proper credit to others. Follows through on agreed upon actions. Treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.  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 impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the 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.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, diplomacy, conflict resolution, or related area, is required.    Extensive experience in political outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice and reporting 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 nongovernmental organization in a conflict or post conflict setting is desirable.    Previous experience working in the office of a senior public official and/or as a Special Assistant is desirable.    Knowledge of the geo-political environment in the Horn of Africa and experience working with the African Union Commission is desirable.    Experience in the Military and working with international security forces is desirable.    Experience in project management and/or resource mobilization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the advertised position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.  The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship.  Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.  Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.  Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.   By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).  Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.  This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.  Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.   The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.  Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.