Position Purpose

The Peace and Development Officer works under the direct supervision and guidance of the PDA, to provide substantive support in three main areas of activity, including:

• Assist with research, information-gathering, and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peace building and conflict prevention.
• Identify entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks.
• Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships, and M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation)

Duties and Responsibilities

1.) Assisting on research, information-gathering, and support analysis with a specific focus on supporting and promoting peace building and conflict prevention.

• Gather and process data and information relevant to the UN’s role and activities in Ghana and the sub-region as relevant, with a specific focus on supporting and promoting peace building, social cohesion, conflict prevention, and sustainable development
• Support the PDA in undertaking political, political economy, and/or conflict analysis, monitoring the situation in the country, and reporting of issues related to peace and security, including through analysis of local sources.
• Carry out and coordinate research on particular issues and thematic areas, in particular prevention, social cohesion, peace and security.

2.) Identify programming entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, women, and youth.

• Assist the PDA in identifying areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders related to social cohesion, dialogue, conflict prevention, and consensus-building; and contribute to the development of conflict-sensitive approaches.
• Under the guidance of the PDA, support the exploration of entry points with key national counterparts including the Government and civil society.
• Advise on mainstreaming conflict-sensitive approaches, including the provision of training UN Country Team staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention, and/or conflict-sensitive development.
• Undertake mappings and analysis of civil society actors, including youth, women, and marginalized groups, and their capacities for conflict prevention/ peacebuilding at the local and national level. This analysis will inform and provide support to the PDA and UNCT throughout the duration of the assignment.
• Support the PDA in their engagement with national and local stakeholders, focusing particularly on engaging with civil society actors at the local level and academia, to help link local initiatives to national-level institutions, structures, and processes. As well as reinforcing dialogue between government and civil society and/or people-to-people dialogues.

3.) Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

• Support the external coordination of existing partnerships between stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector, and the international community, including the UN system).
• In close collaboration with the PDA and the Joint Programme Secretariat, support monitoring and evaluation function, including collecting, processing, and analyzing data in the framework of peace and development teamwork workplan.
• Support knowledge management and sharing of good practices on conflict prevention and peacebuilding; ensure that stories and lessons learned are shared with the Joint Programme Secretariat, and respond to specific requests for information; and
• Perform an array of duties that support UN coordination and effective Peace and Development Team programme implementation. These may include assisting in organizing meetings and consultations, organizing and implementing consultation processes with national and international partners.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) with 2 years in political science, conflict resolution, peace studies, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences.
• Bachelor’s Degree with 4 additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of Master’s Degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization.
• Extensive experience in analysis, research and sound drafting skills.
• Experience in project/programme development, management
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming.
• In-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in (country/region), including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives. and awareness and familiarity of key actors and stakeholders across the political, economic, and development spheres alongside knowledge of government, civil society, and other non-state actors.

Language requirements (Required / Desired)

• Fluency in written and spoken Tui and English is required.

Location: Accra