Result of Service

Provision expert and informed view in coordinating the work of SCOs in CT and PVE domain.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background and rationale:

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was established by the General Assembly in June 2017 (A/RES/71/291). The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and (e) ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

The Office’s Special Projects and Innovation Branch’s External Partnerships Sections (EPS) is responsible for forging partnerships with the private sector, academia, civil society organizations, regional and sub-regional organizations, and all other relevant stakeholders to implement a “whole-of-society” approach to CT and P/CVE initiatives.

There is a growing recognition of the important civil society’s contribution in preventing terrorism and a strong demand from various public and private sector actors for greater understanding of their role and ways to complement governmental counter-terrorism actions. This includes an understanding of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, especially the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 75/291 which stresses the importance of the role of civil society among other stakeholders in the efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding, in promoting pluralism, tolerance and coexistence and in fostering an environment which is not conducive to incitement of terrorism, as well as in countering terrorist narratives.

This consultancy is to provide an expert advice on development of strategy and partnerships with civil society organizations and not-for-profit organizations, and on coordination, engagement, and mainstreaming activities with civil society organizations and not-for-profit organizations to implement a “whole-of-society” approach to CT and P/CVE initiatives.

Result of Service

The work of the consultant would help in preparing strategic guidance and technical material on civil society organizations and not-for-profit organizations, partnerships in CT/PVE-related areas, and it will contribute to fostering a common understanding of current trends, opportunities and challenges faced in cultivating partnerships with civil society organizations and not-for-profit organizations which are critical actors in addressing and prevention of terrorism and violent extremism.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Chief of EPS, the consultant would undertake the following responsibilities:
• Provide expertise and knowledge on best practices related to building partnerships with global, regional, national and local civil society organizations and not-for-profit organizations in CT/PVE area, including on mainstreaming of civil society engagement;
• Provide technical and expert advice on the implementation of UNOCT’s Civil Society Engagement Strategy to facilitate coherent, and structured communications and engagement with civil society actors including at the grass-roots level, in line with the UN Guidance Note on the Protection & Promotion of Civic Space;
• Provide strategic guidance and support to UNOCT programmes and field offices to value collaborations with civil society actors in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their initiatives, and to ensure those initiatives are relevant, sustainable and context-specific;
• Provide substantive inputs for the preparation of project documents, strategies, implementation plans, reports and other related written outputs as requested.

More specifically, it is expected from the consultant that she/he would:
• Contribute to strategies, frameworks, training, and tools on mainstreaming of effective engagement and partnerships with civil society organizations and not-for-profit organizations across UNOCT and other materials through the provision of expertise, technical inputs and advice on key strategic issues, growing trends and opportunities;
• Research technical issues related to scoping of risks and mitigation measures, due diligence and vetting of civil society actors, and conduct wider outreach and consultations with global, regional, national and local civil society organizations by using a variety of methods, where applicable;
• Provide expert guidance in creating and operationalizing modules and training materials including relevant communities of practice on UNOCT’s Connect & Learn Platform;
• Offer advice and technical expertise on the development of guiding principles and criteria for facilitating, mainstreaming, and enhancing civil society engagement and partnerships across the UNOCT and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities, including through the review process of UNOCT’s Civil Society Engagement Strategy and other collaborative initiatives such as the implementation of Action Plans between UNOCT and external partners;
• Maintain, mainstream, and enhance a database of information relating to civil society, relevant to the development and maintenance of partnerships as well as develop robust monitoring and evaluation guidelines;
• Provide strategic advice and assume a leading role towards organization and facilitation of events and sessions with civil society organizations and not-for-profit organizations; contribute towards advancing and facilitating new partnerships, through the provision of technical inputs, guidance and advice on key themes, priorities, action points and approaches.
• Develop M&E plans, work plans, and other relevant programming documents that will guide project implementation.
• Coordinate and lead kick off calls and introductory trainings for partners whenever needed.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a social science discipline such as international relations, public policy, political science, law, business administration, economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
At least 7 years of established expertise on civil society partnerships in counter-terrorism or speaking engagements on the subject at international or regional events and previous experience in moderating expert group meetings is required.
Experience in engagement with civil society organizations and networks plus is required.
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills; demonstrated ability to successfully work in a fast-paced environment within and across departments/functions/geographic locations, and develop positive relationships with locally and remote based staff

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Supervisor: Laila Ezzarqui, Chief of External Partnerships Section
Contract Duration: 1 October 2023 to 31 January 2024
Work Arrangement: Homebased
Travel is not applicable

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.