HEAD OF OFFICE, POLITICAL AFFAIRS (STRATEGIC PLANNING)

Organizational Context

The Head of Office, Political Affairs (Strategic Planning) is based in Bangui within the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), reporting to the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) through the Mission Chief of Staff. This role leads and advises on the strategic planning and implementation of MINUSCA’s consolidation process, ensuring a smooth, evidence-based handover of tasks to the CAR Government and UN Country Team.

Job Purpose

The Head of Office, Political Affairs (Strategic Planning) is responsible for leading, coordinating, and advising on the strategic planning and implementation of MINUSCA’s consolidation process. This involves ensuring a smooth, evidence-based, and nationally owned handover of tasks to the Government of the Central African Republic and/or the UN Country Team, in line with Security Council mandates. The role provides strategic advice to MINUSCA leadership for engagement with the host government on consolidation scenarios, risks, and opportunities, and supports structured dialogue with stakeholders. It formulates and oversees a comprehensive consolidation strategic plan, monitors performance, and leads integrated, evidence-based analysis to assess mandate delivery and mission impact. The position also coordinates analytical inputs for the Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council and prepares high-quality, data-driven reports for Mission leadership, while maintaining effective information management systems.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic advice to MINUSCA leadership on consolidation strategic planning, including scenarios, risks, and timelines for task handover to ensure national ownership. Support structured dialogue with the Host Government and stakeholders for collaborative planning. Formulate and oversee a comprehensive consolidation strategic plan, ensuring alignment with mandate and strategic guidance, and monitor performance against indicators. Lead integrated, evidence-based analysis using performance tools to assess mandate delivery and mission impact. Coordinate analytical inputs for the Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council on consolidation progress and handover plans. Track benchmarks, prepare assessments, and recommend strategies for advancing objectives. Ensure timely, high-quality reporting to Mission leadership and maintain effective information management systems. Develop and maintain relationships with authorities, leaders, civil society, and partners. Lead joint planning with UNCT and national counterparts, aligning with UN policies and strengthening coordination for a whole-of-UN approach. Oversee mission-wide consolidation strategies and drawdown options, ensuring coherence, risk analysis, and safeguarding peacebuilding gains. Coordinate with UN Country Team, regional organizations, and donors to align efforts with long-term peacebuilding. Support Host Government institutions in assuming responsibilities, identify capacity gaps, and recommend support measures. Assess and propose mitigation strategies for risks to peace and stability during consolidation.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, programme management, project management, or strategic planning is required. Experience in strategic planning, mission strategic planning, and inter-agency coordination in a conflict or post-conflict setting is essential. Extensive experience in outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice, and reporting is also required. Experience with strategic planning tools like UMOJA or CPAS is necessary. Experience in a UN field operation or comparable international organization is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Conscientiousness, Efficiency, Persistence, Calmness under stress, Strong diplomatic, negotiation, and communication skills, Teamwork, Leadership, Empowerment, Proactivity, Relationship building, Conflict resolution, Driving change, Judgement, Decision-making, Information management, Analysis, Reporting, Strategic planning, Inter-agency coordination, Outreach, Facilitation.

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