Provincial Peaceful Elections Officer
Organizational Context
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global leader in international development, dedicated to building better lives and protecting the planet for 60 years across 170 countries. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), UNDP partners with the government and civil society to foster inclusive growth, effective governance, and sustainable development. The 2024-2028 Country Programme focuses on Gender Equality, Governance, Peace and Social Cohesion, Climate and Environment, and Sustainable Economic Transformation, with a specific emphasis on promoting peaceful elections and strengthening democratic institutions.
Job Purpose
This role supports the "Support to Peaceful Elections in PNG (SPE)" initiative, a joint UN project convened by UNDP, in anticipation of the 2027 Parliamentary elections. The initiative aims to address critical gaps in electoral processes, particularly at the provincial level, and to mitigate electoral violence. The Provincial Peaceful Elections Officer will provide crucial technical support to provincial election managers and stakeholders, focusing on election preparations in identified hotspots for disputes. The role involves coordinating with local leaders, civil society, and government bodies to ensure smoother election preparations, monitor progress, and contribute to a more peaceful and credible electoral process in Papua New Guinea.
Responsibilities
The Provincial Peaceful Elections Officer will provide technical support to Provincial Elections Managers and regional electoral stakeholders, focusing on election preparations in areas prone to disputes. This includes offering logistical and technical assistance to Provincial Elections Steering Committees and supporting election preparation activities such as information distribution, civic education, and operational planning. The role involves coordinating with community leaders, ward counsellors, district representatives, civil society, and faith-based actors. The officer will monitor election preparations, prepare regular briefings for UN and UNDP Senior Management and the Peaceful Elections Situation Room, and coordinate provincial activities with UN Women and OHCHR. Additionally, the role supports partnership management with key electoral stakeholders like the PNG Electoral Commission and the Registry of Political Parties, assists in monitoring project indicators, and contributes to drafting donor reports and communications materials.
Work Experience
A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience is required in democratic governance, elections, institutional strengthening, international development, or human rights. Experience in electoral assistance, including logistics, operations, or electoral system reform, is beneficial. Previous experience in fragile and conflict-affected settings, institutional capacity building, or working with the UN system is considered an advantage.
Skills
Key competencies include accountability, adaptability, flexibility, integrity, professionalism, respect for diversity, and teamwork. Essential skills involve knowledge management, research, reporting, project management, programme development, strategy formulation, and a strong understanding of governance and elections.