Political Affairs Assistant
Organizational Context
This position is within the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), specifically in the Joint Analysis and Reporting Section located in Kabul. The Political Affairs Assistant supports the section's work and reports to a senior Political Affairs Officer, contributing to the mission's operational effectiveness.
Job Purpose
The Political Affairs Assistant plays a crucial role in supporting the Joint Analysis and Reporting Section of UNAMA in Kabul. The primary purpose of this role is to receive, process, and maintain information from diverse sources, including governmental and non-governmental actors, to stay informed on political and security issues. The assistant is responsible for preparing various reports, briefing notes, and summaries, monitoring developments, updating databases, and assisting with data analysis and presentation. This role also involves outreach to Afghan interlocutors to build contact networks and supports the creation of informational materials, ultimately contributing to informed decision-making and knowledge management within the mission.
Responsibilities
The Political Affairs Assistant is responsible for processing communications and publications from various sources, including governmental and non-governmental actors, and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of political and security events. Key duties include assisting in the preparation of drafts, routine reports, briefing notes, and talking points. The role involves summarizing articles, drafting correspondence, and producing daily situation reports. The assistant will monitor political and security developments, update relevant databases, and conduct outreach to Afghan interlocutors to establish contact networks. Furthermore, responsibilities include assisting with data collection, analysis, and the preparation of presentations and reports for information sharing, query response, knowledge management, planning, and decision-making. Updating information materials like web pages and brochures is also part of the role.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in areas like political science, international relations, legal/paralegal work, disarmament, security management, or conflict resolution is required. This requirement is reduced to three years for candidates with a university degree in a relevant field. Experience in analyzing political and security issues specific to Afghanistan and the region is essential. Experience with open-source research tools and providing political advice is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, Communication (speaking and writing effectively, active listening, tailoring communication), Technological awareness (understanding and applying technology).