Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is in the Electoral Assistance Division in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) at UN Headquarters in New York. Under the overall supervision of the Director, the incumbent reports to the Team Lead of Cluster 1 (Country Support).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Participates in the discussion and formulation of political and technical strategies in the electoral field. • As desk officer, monitors and analyses electoral activities and political developments in assigned countries, primarily in Francophone African countries; assesses trends which might affect the political situation and the organization of electoral processes with a view to provide early warning advice to the Deputy Director and the Director, and recommends possible actions by the United Nations. • Leads or deputizes Needs Assessment Missions (NAMs) to evaluate Governments requests for electoral assistance, project formulation missions and/or expert advisory missions to the field. • Prepares analytical reports on electoral matters, drafts notes, background papers, talking points and other correspondence for senior UN officials, as required. • Meets regularly with counterparts in the DPPA, DPO, UNDP, and other departments, agencies and programmes of the UN System to discuss electoral related developments, and the implementation of UN electoral support in countries under review. • Oversees the implementation of electoral projects in countries under her/his responsibility. • Represents EAD at Desk-to-Desk dialogues with the African Union Commission (AUC) and other regional and subregional organizations as needed. • Serve as EAD’s focal point for the United Nations-AUC’s working group on elections and track the implementation of agreed recommendations. • Participates in policy discussions regarding electoral matters and democratization. • Briefs donors and other interested parties on UN electoral support and assist in resource mobilization as needed. • Carries out, in consultation with supervisors, administrative functions relating to the staffing, planning and budget of an electoral operation. • Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of unit’s strategic direction and ability to transform it into a results-oriented work programme. Ability to evaluate international political problems. Ability to work in the field providing electoral assistance. Knowledge of all aspects of electoral processes and their technical and political implications. Ability to manage and coordinate multileveled projects. 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. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in political science, international relations, law, public administration or related fields is required. A first-level degree in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in electoral assistance, including in advising an electoral management body, is required. A minimum of four (4) years of comparative experience in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes in multiple countries is required. Experience in electoral assistance in a field operation of the United Nations Common System (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN regional commissions, agencies, funds, and programmes) – or similar international organization is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 5 April 2025. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. 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. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31st July 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Angola,Belize,Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,Dominica,Equatorial Guinea,Grenada,Guinea-Bissau,Kiribati,Lao People’s Democratic Republic,Liechtenstein,Marshall Islands,Nauru,Palau,Papua New Guinea,Qatar,Sao Tome and Principe,Timor-Leste,Tuvalu,United Arab Emirates,Vanuatu,Andorra,Antigua and Barbuda,Bahrain,Brunei Darussalam,China,Cuba,Germany,Hungary,Indonesia,Israel,Japan,Kuwait,Libya,Malta,Micronesia (Federated States of),Monaco,Oman,Panama,Paraguay,Republic of Korea,Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Saudi Arabia,Singapore,Solomon Islands,Somalia,Turkmenistan,United States of America.

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.