Careers at United Nations

Responsibilities
The incumbent will primarily work in the region covered by ROSAF and will also serve as a resource person for other UNODC offices in Africa, facilitating the sharing of good practices throughout the continent and liaising with existing UNODC programmes at global and regional level (including the Youth4Impact Programme in the Regional Office for the Middle Est and North Africa (ROMENA)).Within assigned authority and in line with the cross-cutting commitment on youth empowerment of the UNODC Strategy 2021-2025 and with the Change Enabler on empowering children and youth of the UNODC Strategic Vision for Africa 2030, the Regional Advisor (Youth Programming and Mainstreaming) will be responsible for the following specific duties:

• Explore opportunities for developing new youth-focused projects and programmes in all UNODC mandate areas at country, sub-regional and regional level.
• Engage in mainstreaming youth empowerment and engagement across all projects and programmes implemented in the region, to include youth components or activities.
• In close coordination with the UNODC Youth Focal Point in HQ, develop tailored guidance, information and capacity building products focusing on meaningful youth engagement, youth programming and mainstreaming.
• Coordinate with youth-led and youth-focused organizations to co-develop youth-focused initiatives on the continent related to UNODC's mandate areas.
• Support the development of youth, peace and security actions and policies at national and regional levels related to UNODC's mandate areas.
• Provide advisory services to requesting Governments within the region for the formulation and implementation of effective youth-related policies and programmes.
• Promote and facilitate youth consultations in connection to the development of national/regional policies, strategies and programmes.
• Identify, prepare and contribute to the development of ideas, reform proposals, conduct training and prepare documents, in collaboration with UNODC field offices and headquarters.
• Provide substantive support to in-house processes to ensure a coherent and integrated technical cooperation approach, in close collaboration with UNODC field offices and the UNODC Youth Focal Point.
• Support youth-focused programmes across Africa and provide inputs on these initiatives to global UN reports. Liaise and cooperate regularly with officials from countries across Africa, taking advantage of multilingualism on the African continent.
• Liaise with relevant Member States’ representatives to support the development of regional and national programmes and strengthen national or regional cooperation with a particular focus on youth and young populations. Support requesting Member States to better protect their youth and societies from crime, violence, and drugs including a) enhancing legal-, policy- and institutional frameworks to effectively prevent crime, drug use and violence among Youth; b) improving the response of relevant sectoral systems and institutions to effectively respond to the needs of vulnerable and at-risk young men, young women, boys and girls and their families; and c) empowering young men, women, boys and girls and enhancing their awareness and resilience around drug use and associated health risks and crime, as well as all forms of violence and exploitation.
• Manage effective mobilization of resources for regional and national programmes.
• Seek appropriate partnerships with other organizations of the United Nations System in the development of regional and national programmes and related activities.
• Draft policy and programmatic documents.
• Organize and participate in meetings, workshops, study tours and seminars relating to pertinent UNODC mandates.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting, in particular, to facilitate global trends analysis relating to pertinent UNODC mandates.
• Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to UNODC mandated areas of work – the world drug problem, organized crime, corruption and economic crime, terrorism prevention, crime prevention and criminal justice. Has knowledge of development policy, technical cooperation and substantive work covered by UNODC’s mandates, as it relates to youth. Has demonstrated ability to perform, manage, fundraise and/or advise on the planning, development and management of operations. Has demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Has demonstrated ability to draft documents and produce reports/papers on integrated programmatic issues which synthesize information and data from diverse sources. Has knowledge of resources mobilization strategies. Is able to apply United Nations rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Has ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Education

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

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme development and implementation in areas related to the world drug problem, organized crime, corruption and economic crime, terrorism prevention, crime prevention and criminal justice is required.

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• The Deputy Security Adviser will report directly to the Chief Security Adviser. The position is presently located in Pretoria, South Africa and this duty station has been designated by the International Civil Service Commission as an "A" hardship and family duty station.

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Deputy Security Adviser may be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as Adviser to the Designated Official and/or Head of Mission, and to the United Nations Security Management System organizations on all security risk management matters, security policy and procedures.
• Serves as a member of the Security Management Team.
• Chairs the Security Cell, building consensus to ensure alignment and support for security operations and initiatives to best enable UN activities.
• Ensures forecasting of the evolving security environment and, the UN’s security and operational responses. Using analytical techniques and collaborative team research, supports planning and ensure awareness of the current trends to enhance or adjust security programmes.
• Ensures the development of inclusive risk management strategies and drives planning using situational awareness, critical thinking, and logic to detect and interpret early signals, emerging trends and analysis of multi-dimensional threats that may impact security. Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Ensures the preparation, review and implementation of security planning, security risk management documents and risk management-based security solutions through innovation and creativity. Provides written analysis of security trends and reporting of incidents. Participates in meetings, committees, and task forces, prepares papers on security issues, delivers briefings provides responses, as needed.
• Advises on, the inclusion of security in all stages of United Nations activities and programmes. Provides advice and support to line managers responsible for security. Enables the delivery of mandates and programmes through direct operational assistance.
• Oversees security-related projects, prioritizing work to meet deadlines and following defined processes, policies, procedures and guidance, fostering alignment with colleagues and across organizations.
• Monitors and contributes to activities that relate to the implementation and evaluation of preparedness and compliance; drives results that help support operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Enhances communication and trust through active collaboration, consultation and exchanges with UN system organizations and other stakeholders, for information sharing, coordination of responses, provision of security briefings, taking into account operational activities and risks.
• Collaborates closely with peers and colleagues, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and Host Government representatives.
• Strengthens awareness and capacity of personnel by supporting the development, updates and delivery of contextually relevant security training and advice.
• Ensures the conduct of security surveys and assessments, creatively leveraging tools and processes, identifying and recommending simple, reasonable, inclusive, effective and efficient security measures, including when there is incomplete, contradictory and/or fluid information.
• Ensures implementation and maintenance of a functioning Security Communication System.
• Ensures conduct of budget, finance and logistical planning for the security office and participation in relevant United Nations administration, finance, and logistics forums. Supports resource mobilization,
• Leads and manages the security team, anticipate human resources needs through workforce planning, assesses performance and support the development security personnel under his/her supervision.
• Ensures implementation of departmental approaches to mainstreaming gender, diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the work as well as ensuring the implementation of people-centered security risk management approaches considering specific threats or vulnerabilities of personnel and adapting practices and measures in support of diversity and inclusion.

Performs other functions as directed.

Competencies
Professionalism:

• Demonstrates respect and sensitivity towards diversity in all its forms, in all cultural, gender and religious settings. Takes responsibility for incorporating different perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Contributes to an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; places confidence in and builds trust with colleagues and stakeholders. Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, including self-awareness and contextual intelligence. Shows openness to learning and commitment to self-development. Identifies issues, researches, collects data, demonstrates situational awareness, conceptual analytical and evaluative skills and participates in the resolution of issues/problems demonstrating critical thinking, perceptiveness, judgement and decision-making. Demonstrates an ability to implement policies. Ability to make quick decisions in emergencies or when rapid response is needed. Communicates complex concepts effectively both verbally and in writing. 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. Shows ability to prioritize, manage, and implement multiple high-level projects in a timely manner, even in fast-changing contexts. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Takes ownership of accountability and supports strategies to ensure compliance with all security risk management decisions and regulations. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation:

• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Managing Performance:

• Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, political/social science, psychology, criminal justice, law, international relations, security management or a related field is required. A relevant first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree may be substituted with a diploma from a police or military education institution, college or academy obtained over a minimum of a three-year period.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, disarmament affairs, conflict resolution, crime or terrorism prevention, security, risk or disaster or emergency management and preparedness in the public or private sector areas responsible for responding to emergency situations that directly impact security is required.
• Experience in planning, design, implementation, or review of risk mitigation measures related to operations impacted by insecurity is desirable.
• Two (2) years of experience in field operations with regional responsibilities is desirable.
• International experience is desirable.
• Specialized experience in such areas as security programmes, risk assessments, or analysis is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN Official Language is desirable.

Closing Date: 11 August 2023