Political Affairs Officer

The Political Affairs Officer is responsible for gathering and analyzing political information, supporting capacity-building initiatives for uniformed personnel in peacekeeping, and facilitating cooperation networks. The role involves monitoring political developments, supporting knowledge management, and maintaining relations with UN partners and Member States.

Responsibilities

• Gathers, selects and analyses information contained in communications and publications received from different sources, including the press.
• Keeps abreast of latest trends and developments on capacity-building for uniformed personnel deploying to peacekeeping, including with regards to knowledge management and institutional learning; and provides related inputs, including updates and analysis, to senior officials and colleagues.
• Monitors national and regional level political developments, identifies potential issues relevant to the area of assignment and provides related advice and analysis to colleagues and senior officials.
• Supports the establishment and operationalization of regional cooperation networks to promote collaboration on the preparation, financing, equipment, deployment and sustainment in the field of peacekeeping.
• Supports information sharing, knowledge management and change management initiatives on capacity-building in the preparation and deployment of uniformed personnel to peacekeeping.
• Maintains contacts and close relations with the UN system and external partners, including Member States' Permanent Missions and visiting delegations, as well as academia and research institutes specializing in peace and security issues.
• Provides technical and substantive back up in the implementation of the mandates of DPO, DPET, ITS and the LCM.
• Monitors actions related to the area of assignment taken by intergovernmental groups, UN organisations, government and non-governmental organizations.
• Classifies and stores in computerised databases information relating to the work conducted.
• Participates in fact-finding and other missions to countries within assigned area of responsibility.
• Participates in provision of secretariat services to Security Council, General Assembly, subsidiary organizations, negotiating bodies, conferences, meetings, and /or special missions.
• Prepares meetings of the SG/DSG/USG with officials from countries under the Organization's purview.
• Performs other related duties as required

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or other related area is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.
• Experience in knowledge management and research leading to publications in the field of capacity-building for uniformed personnel in peacekeeping; and related coordination with UN counterparts, Member States, academia or research institutes is required.
• Experience in engaging Member States on regional capacity-building and cooperation initiatives in the field of peacekeeping is required.
• At least three years working in one or more UN Peacekeeping Mission(s) or related international setting is required.
• Experience with leading, coordinating and communicating change management initiatives with diverse stakeholders is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• French is desirable at UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Political Analysis
• International Relations
• Conflict Resolution
• Disarmament
• Security Studies
• Development Management
• Capacity-Building Initiatives
• Knowledge Management
• Research and Publication
• Peacekeeping Operations
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Change Management
• Coordination with UN Agencies
• Regional Cooperation
• Political Information Gathering
• Multilateral Diplomacy
• Experience with peacekeeping operations
• Public Administration
• Law
• Communications Skills

Languages

English, French