Overview

The Political Affairs Officer will monitor and review developments impacting peace and security, provide assessments and recommendations, and advise senior UN officials on political and security-related matters.

Tasks Summary

• Monitors and reviews developments with potential impact on peace and security and UN mandates.
• Provides assessments of political and security-related situations and formulates recommendations.
• Advises senior officials on substantive political matters and country-specific or regional issues.
• Analyzes political and security-related trends to provide early warning advice.
• Prepares analytical notes, reports, talking points, speeches, and other communications.
• Maintains awareness of the political and operational environment related to UN presences.
• Provides technical and substantive backstopping to UN presences and operations.
• Contributes to the formulation of strategic and operational guidance for mandates.
• Supports cooperation and coordination with multilateral and regional organizations.
• Maintains engagement with UN presences, entities, Member States, and organizations.
• Supports inter-agency task forces and coordination mechanisms.
• Advises Resident Coordinators on common country assessments and cooperation frameworks.
• Provides guidance to Peace and Development Advisers.
• Participates in planning and assessment missions and accompanies senior officials.
• Participates in conferences, seminars, and academic fora.

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.
• A minimum of three years of experience working on current key peace and security issues related to Europe and performing political analysis, advice, liaison and reporting responsibilities, is required.
• Experience in drafting analytical documents, briefing materials, speeches, and public statements for senior officials is required.
• Knowledge of current peace and security issues and political developments in Western Balkans is required.
• Experience supporting mediation and/or peacebuilding processes is required.
• Experience in performing desk officer responsibilities, including providing backstopping support to UN peacekeeping missions or political offices in the field, is required.
• Experience working in the field for a multilateral operation related to peace and security in Europe, especially UN peacekeeping or political missions, is desirable.

Qualification Requirements

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