Overview
The Political Affairs Officer will review and monitor activities in an assigned country or region, assess trends affecting the political situation, and provide early warning advice to DPO leadership. The role involves preparing analytical reports and participating in negotiations and fact-finding missions.
Key Responsibilities
- Reviews and monitors activities in the country or region assigned; assesses trends which might affect the political situation and the political impact of intra-regional and national issues; recommends solutions/possible action by United Nations.
- Analyses political and related events within assigned area with a view to provide early warning advice to DPO leadership.
- Prepares analytical reports and papers on sensitive and high profile matters of concern to the General Assembly, Security Council, or other bodies; drafts notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other correspondence for senior UN officials.
- Participates in the organization and supervision of Secretariat services required by the Department and to other committees and bodies related to its work.
- Acts as focal point for collection and analyses of information on political issues of assignment.
- Arranges and participates in negotiations, peacekeeping operations and fact-finding missions.
- Deploys to peace operations as required, to support missions in undertaking integrated planning for transitions in close coordination with relevant mission components and UN partners.
- Meets regularly with operational teams including UN staff, national officials as well as mission and UN Country Team staff on issues related to planning and UN transitions.
- Provides up-to-date information to senior officials regarding substantive political matters and country or regional issues and makes recommendations on actions to take.
- Maintains contacts with other sectors of the UN, including the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the Development Coordination Office (DCO), Department of Operational Support (DOS), Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters relating to planning and transitions; briefs representatives and provides, as appropriate suggestions and recommendations.
- Undertakes guidance development on issues pertaining to UN mission transitions and planning in close consultation with key stakeholders.
- Participates in conferences, seminars and academic fora related to his/her assigned area of expertise.
- Carries out, in consultation with the Chief of the Section, administrative functions relating to the staff planning and budget.
- Drafts plans for transitions and participates in the activities of implementation.
- Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Required Experience
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. At least one (1) year experience in a United Nations peace operation (peacekeeping or special political mission) is required. Planning experience in a UN peace operation transitions context is required. Strategic planning experience in a UN peace operation is required. Experience in policy and guidance development at UN HQ and/or in a UN peace operation is required. Designing and delivering training in UN HQ and/or in a UN peace operation is required.
Qualifications
An advanced university degree (Master's or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or other related area or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
