Political Affairs Officer
Organizational Context
This role is within the Americas Division of the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) in New York. The department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions, while DPPA serves as a centre of excellence for UN Peace Operations. The Political Affairs Officer will report to a Senior Political Affairs Officer, contributing to the department's focus on conflict prevention, peacemaking, and sustaining peace.
Job Purpose
The Political Affairs Officer in the Americas Division will manage and coordinate monitoring, research, and analysis of peace and security developments in Latin America and the Caribbean. This role is crucial for informing policy formulation, strategy development, and decision-making, including identifying emerging trends through data analytics. The officer will lead the development and implementation of strategies for early warning, conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding. Responsibilities include coordinating a wide range of communications, supporting strategic communications, and integrating rights-based, gender, WPS, YPS, environmental, and climate security perspectives into recommendations. The role also involves leading programmatic activities, supervising administrative processes, and fostering relationships with diverse stakeholders to advance peace and security objectives in the region.
Responsibilities
Manage and coordinate monitoring, research, and analysis of peace and security developments in Latin America and the Caribbean to inform policy and strategy. Coordinate diverse communications, including analytical reports, briefing notes, and correspondence. Lead the development and implementation of strategies for early warning, conflict prevention, disarmament, mediation, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. Support strategic communications through drafting speeches, press releases, and publications. Supervise the integration of rights-based, gender, WPS, YPS, environmental, and climate security perspectives into policy and operational recommendations. Lead the planning and coordination of programmatic activities, including inter-agency mechanisms, mediation support, capacity building, and field missions. Supervise budgeting, project implementation, reporting, administrative, and recruitment processes. Establish and maintain working relationships with UN partners, international organizations, host governments, and civil society stakeholders.
Work Experience
Extensive experience in political analysis and conflict prevention within Latin America and the Caribbean is required. Experience working with legislative bodies, Member States, and delegations in an international organization is necessary. Experience integrating gender perspectives and vulnerable group inclusion into political analysis, policy, or mediation efforts is required. Field experience with the UN or other international organizations in peace and security is also required.
Skills
Political analysis, conflict prevention, policy development, strategic advice, communication (written and verbal), relationship building, research, data analytics, mediation, peacebuilding, gender integration, project management, supervision.