Political Affairs Officer

The Political Affairs Officer will gather and analyze information related to the Question of Palestine, maintain knowledge of political developments, provide substantive support to the office's mandate, manage information systems including UNISPAL, and support coordination with UN sectors and international organizations. The role involves research, drafting publications, and supporting meetings and capacity-building activities within the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Gathers, selects and analyses information related to the Question of Palestine contained in communications and publications received from different sources, including the press.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of events relating to political issues, in general, and in particular as they affect the Question of Palestine.
• Keeps abreast of latest trends and developments in the Middle East and provides inputs on issues to senior officials and colleagues in the Secretariat.
• Provides technical and substantive back up in the implementation of the mandate of the office.
• Maintains contacts with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters.
• Plans and implements information management initiatives that typically impact large or multiple user groups, including document, data, web content and records management services and tools, training programmes for information lifecycle management, business intelligence dashboards, cross-cutting monitoring tools, web portals, as well as other emerging technological information and data management solutions including AI solutions.
• Co-manages, maintains and updates the online UN Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) and the website.
• Participates in the maintenance and management of systems for classifying, storing, archiving, analysing and transferring information.
• Collects and analyses information to determine its relevance and validity, identify and resolve gaps and/or inconsistencies, as well as assesses the reliability of sources and assess potential biases.
• Drafts mandated publications issued under the CEIRPP guidance and other relevant documentation and materials.
• Assists in preparation of standards, procedures, and best practices for information management; Produces and updates information products such as reports, charts and infographics.
• Researches, analyses and evaluates the development of new information management services and new applications of information technology (including AI) to information management, data management, web publishing, and archives and records management and makes recommendations for their deployment.
• Participates in provision of secretariat services to CEIRPP and its Bureau, including meetings at and away from Headquarters.
• Contribute to the preparation of meetings of the CEIRPP Bureau with SG/DSG/USG and with officials from countries under the Organization's purview.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, international relations, information systems, law, public administration or other related is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, conflict resolution or related area is required.
• Experience working with databases, websites, website management, and digital content platforms is required.
• Experience working on the issues of the Question of Palestine and the Middle East is desirable.

Skills

• Political Analysis
• Conflict Resolution
• International Relations
• Disarmament
• Database Management
• Website Management
• Digital Content Management
• Research
• Report Writing
• Information Systems Management
• UNISPAL System
• Meeting Support
• Capacity Building
• Political Science
• Law

Languages

English