Secretary, Women, Youth, Peace & Security WG - West Africa & Sahel

Organizational Context

The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) is a political mission focused on preventive diplomacy, mediation, and peacebuilding. It collaborates with regional partners to address threats like terrorism and organized crime, and supports good governance and human rights. UNOWAS leads the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel. It hosts and coordinates the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS), a platform for dialogue and best practices on UNSCR 1325.

Job Purpose

This role serves as the Secretary for the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS), hosted by UNOWAS. The purpose is to support the coordination, implementation, monitoring, and follow-up of the Working Group's activities and annual workplans. This involves facilitating dialogue, sharing experiences, and promoting best practices among UN entities, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. The role contributes to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the region by supporting the development and implementation of regional action plans and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

Responsibilities

The UN Volunteer will support the implementation of the Working Group's annual activities regionally and nationally. Key duties include organizing and facilitating member meetings, producing and disseminating a semi-annual newsletter, and managing the Working Group's website and social media presence. The role involves maintaining communication with country-level focal points, conducting an annual research study on a selected theme, and drafting meeting reports and analytical papers. Additionally, the volunteer will prepare information notes, update contact databases, and support the monitoring and reporting of the annual workplan. This requires strong research, analytical, drafting, and coordination skills, with a focus on gender mainstreaming and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of professional experience is required, with at least one year focused on gender mainstreaming or Women, Peace and Security issues in West Africa and the Sahel. Experience working with regional organizations, civil society networks, or UN entities on these issues is desirable. Experience in research, coordination, stakeholder engagement, and report writing is highly valued. Previous volunteer experience or cross-cultural exposure is also considered an asset.

Skills

Essential skills include professionalism, strong communication, planning and organizing, and technological awareness. The role requires demonstrated knowledge of political issues, women's rights, and gender equality in West Africa and the Sahel, with proven expertise in gender mainstreaming and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. A solid understanding of peace and security issues, regional frameworks, and socio-political dynamics is crucial. The ability to conduct research, analyze information, draft reports, and coordinate multi-stakeholder initiatives is also vital. Commitment to continuous learning, integrity, creativity, respect for diversity, and teamwork are core values.

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