Peacebuilding and Recovery Advisor, Yaounde, Cameroon

Peacebuilding and Recovery Advisor, Yaounde, Cameroon

Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme

Country: Cameroon

City: Yaoundé, Cameroon

Office: UNDP in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Grade: P-5

Closing date: Friday, 2 October 2020

Job ID: 32626

Practice Area – Job Family: Crisis Prevention and Recovery – DEVELOPMENT

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 02/10/2020

Duty Station: Yaounde, Cameroon

Education & Work Experience: I-Master’s Level Degree – 10 year(s) experience

Languages: English, French

Grade: P5

Vacancy Type: TA International

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Crisis Prevention & Recovery

Contract Duration: 364 days

Background

Cameroon is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 26 million (World Population Review, 2019). Located along the Atlantic Ocean, it shares its borders with Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria. Two of its border regions with Nigeria – the North West (NW) and the South West (SW) – are Anglophone, while the rest of the country is Francophone.

Cameroon has enjoyed decades of stability in a fragile region. Today it is battling Boko Haram in the North, dealing with an influx of refugees from the CAR in the East—and, most devastatingly, faced with the Anglophone crisis in the West. English speakers, who make up about a fifth of Cameroon’s population, have complained for years about discrimination in education, law and economic opportunities held by the Francophone majority (AFP, 2019). The socio-political crisis began in October 2016 in the Anglophone NW and SW regions. First lawyers went on strike against the erosion of the English-style common-law system. Teachers then joined the protests, pointing out, among other things, the designation of French-only speakers in classrooms (The Economist, 2019).

The social unrest mutated into armed conflict at the end of 2017. In the last two years, the crisis has forcibly displaced a large part of the population either internally or to Nigeria. Numerous cases of human rights abuses including sexual violence and discrimination against women have been widely reported. Seven non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are currently in positions of strength in most rural areas. The security forces reacted, and since mid-2018 have inflicted casualties on the separatists. However, they have not regained full control over rural areas nor prevented repeated separatist attacks in major towns of the NW and SW (International Crisis Group, 2019).

As a result of the crisis, several public services have been severely damaged – if not completely destroyed – depriving thousands of people the right to access basic social services, including health, education and other basic administrative services necessary for their well-being. Inadequate public services and lack of economic opportunities, as well as the shutdown of many

schools, have made youth from the two affected regions subject to recruitment into NSAGs.

The Prime Minister launched the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD) in 2020, as a component of the National Development Plan (NDP) that was articulated to reduce the effects of the crisis on populations of the North-West and South-West regions. At the request of the Government of Cameroon, the PPRD will address the immediate needs of the affected populations of the NW and SW regions.

The goal of the PPRD is to:

Strengthen social cohesion

Rehabilitate essential infrastructure;

Revitalize the local economy.

In order to address the needs of people in NW/SW in an integrated and coordinated way, the

PPRD’s priority interventions ensure that sectoral and sub-sectoral needs are considered in relation

to each other.

UNDP was designed as the Government of Cameroon’s strategic partner for the implementation of the PPRD. UNDP will focus on the first leg of the programme related to recovery interventions. Reconstruction and Development will be undertaken in a subsequent phase. The recovery, reconstruction and development activities are guided by national policy frameworks and priorities set out in the NDP to ensure coherence and consistency of policy across the Cameroonian territory.

UNDP has an extensive experience of supporting recovery in various crisis contexts in the world and also recognizes that its interpretation of the concept has been different in different contexts. For UNDP, recovery aims to establish sustainable economic growth and human development while addressing the factors that could lead to a recurrence of conflict. Recovery is not about restoring pre-conflict economic or institutional arrangements. It is about transformation.

Recovery is important is to reverse some of the effects of the conflict, to generate incomes and to improve social services for the long-suffering populations. In the short to medium term some hardship can be alleviated by aid, but ultimately local actors must generate their own resources to meet the bulk of their population’s needs. This requires economic recovery and growth.

UNDP Recovery Programme in the Northwest and Southwest will prioritize human, social and local economic aspects of recovery (2 to 3 years). Reconstruction and Development will be undertaken in subsequent phases (within a 10-year time frame). UNDP is already engaged in recovery in the Far North, and through the small grant mechanisms in the Northwest and Southwest.

UNDP Recovery Programme is based on a set of principles of engagement and will be implemented according to its mandate, rules, and regulations and based on impartiality. In addition, UNDP will follow several Principles of Engagement, namely:

ensure that all stakeholders of the programme are vetted and that resources are not allocated to former and potential Human Rights violators;

A people-centered and vulnerability-based approach to select the most vulnerable communities, and step-by-step approach initially targeting accessible areas before moving to more sensitive areas;

Ensure local ownership, triangulation of information and deconflicting of activities;

Coordinate to reduce duplications or gaps, identify pitfalls and build on synergies;

Mitigate political instrumentalization.

In promoting Recovery in the Northwest and Southwest, UNDP will work closely with and support the capacity reinforcement of civil society organisations with which UNDP has a long-standing partnership since the beginning of its Early Recovery activities in 2016, and faith-based organisations. UNDP will contribute to boost the local economy through the selection of local contractors. UNDP will also partner with UN Agencies.

The conflict in the Northwest and Southwest has caused large-scale damage, spurred a humanitarian crisis and exacerbated existing social tensions. The populations urgently need to receive humanitarian assistance and to recover from both the conflict and neglect. The needs and vulnerabilities of the affected populations must be addressed beyond immediate humanitarian action through time-critical actions that can alleviate the crisis and mitigate its impact, helping people to get back on their feet through recovery assistance and reducing the dependency on humanitarian aid. UNDP Recovery Programme’s proposed inception phase will cover three programmatic outputs:

1. Strengthen social cohesion

UNDP focus will be placed on distributing standard packages of materials and tools to the populations to enable them to repair or rebuild their homes; capacity building workshops; establishment of internal mediators and peace networks; and psychosocial support.

2. Rehabilitate social services

UNDP will work with local organisations and local contractors and focus on mobilising materials and equipment for community-based social services such as primary health care or education.

3. Strengthen local economy

UNDP will focus on providing technical and managerial support; farming equipment; markets repairs; income-generating activities; vocational training; micro-grants as start-up capital for beneficiaries’ joint-ventures.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of UNDP Resident Representative in Cameroon, the Peacebuilding and Recovery Advisor acts as a senior advisor on all aspects of peacebuilding and recovery in NWSW regions.

The Peacebuilding and Recovery Advisor develops the strategies and approaches allowing for the implementation of UNDP crisis programmatic interventions in Cameroon and works in close collaboration with Government officials, other UN Agencies, INGOs, UNDP HQ, technical advisors and experts, multilateral and bilateral donors, recovery influencers and civil society to strategically position UNDP in UN peacebuilding and recovery approaches, and to implement UNDP’s Recovery program.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Advises on strategic issues related to UNDP conflict prevention, peacebuilding, Recovery and resilience interventions

Lead UNDP Risk Mitigation strategy

Lead the development of strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for recovery and resilience

Provide strategic policy advisory services and facilitate knowledge and capacity building on peacebuilding and recovery issues

Ensures sound strategic direction of UNDP interventions in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, recovery and resilience focusing on the following:

Conduct a thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the immediate response context, including a gender analysis and provision of strategic advice to CO Management

Support joint analysis with Government, UNCT and UNDP’s main partners in Cameroon including but not limited to the EU, World Bank and bilateral partners;

Identify strategic opportunities and potential conflict-sensitive recovery program areas of cooperation, including opportunities for joint programming with UN agencies and other development partners (IFIs, INGOs etc.).

Ensure that UNDPs response if conflict sensitive, inclusive and supports a human rights based approach;

Ensure coordination of UNDP recovery program with other program activities of UN Agencies and NGOs and capitalizes on synergies where possible.

Ensure mainstreaming of cross-cutting UN/UNDP priorities in recovery programs, in particular environment, gender, human rights and disaster risk reduction

Ensure that conflict prevention and peace building are mainstreamed into the UNDP Country Program, Recovery Program, Stabilization Window, and other relevant programming frameworks

Lead the development of relevant strategies to ensure the effective programmatic and operational interface and complementarities within a humanitarian, recovery and peacebuilding nexus, and where necessary, the development or exit and hand-over strategies as part of the UN approach on Internally Displaced People.

Lead UNDP’s engagement in the Cameroon Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Task Force

Lead UNDP Risk Mitigation strategy related to the implementation of UNDP programs in crisis contexts

Lead UNDP Risk Management Unit supporting risk management approaches through the development of a Crisis Response Dashboard (CRD), due diligence and information sharing aiming to improve programme planning and implementation, informed decision making, respect of UNDP principles of engagement and open dialogue regarding risk management challenges.

Tags advisory services architect atlantic ocean central africa change management communities of practice conflict prevention diaspora disaster risk disaster risk reduction displacement durable solutions early recovery economic aspects economic growth economist gender analysis human development human rights humanitarian assistance internally displaced knowledge management knowledge sharing peace building peacebuilding peacekeeping operations political science primary health care programme planning psychosocial public administration public services reconstruction refugees reintegration resource mobilization resources mobilization rights based risk management rural areas sexual violence skills development social sciences social services vocational training

Lead UNDP’s engagement in the Risk Mitigation Working Group aiming at identifying and assessing factors that could affect the success of activities in North-West and South-West, analyze risks that could be faced and identify mitigation measures.

Ensure coordination with national and regional counterparts, and other stakeholders, so that common direction is developed and maintained regarding the implementation of the Recovery Program in a conflict sensitive manner to the crisis challenges and contribute to peace building.

Engage in a dialogue with the NSAGs leading factions of the Diaspora to demystify UNDP Recovery Program for the crisis affected populations in Northwest and Southwest, create a space for recovery and gain access.

Ensure consultations with and support UNDP Recovery Influencers reaching out to communities and NSAGs in the field.

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for the peacebuilding, Recovery and resilience Programmes, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development and implementation of partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve conflict prevention, peacebuilding, recovery and resilience outcomes.

Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, recovery influencers and civil society, national women’s and youth’s networks, etc.

Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, recovery needs and donors’ priorities.

Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.

Ensures provision of strategic advisory services, capacity building and facilitation of knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

Advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of the conflict prevention, peacebuilding and recovery effort.

Provision of policy and strategic advice to Government on development and implementation of conflict prevention, recovery and resilience policies and strategies.

Identification, sharing and application of international best practices and lessons on peacebuilding and recovery related issues relevant to the country’s recovery needs and goals.

Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Capacity building for country office staff (program and operations)

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall success of UNDP’s recovery effort in support of national goals.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards

Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example

Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead formulation of strategies, strategic planning and mobilize resources

Ability to conduct negotiations with state and non-state national and international actors

Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Summary of Critical Competencies for Immediate Response Situations:

Possess a comprehensive set of competencies enabling immediately

taking on the challenging strategic advisory role – strategic, integrity,

results orientation, teamwork, good inter-personal skills, well developed

communication skills, sound judgment, analytical skills, flexibility,

proactive engagement, innovation, risk management, gender and

culturally sensitive, ability to work under pressure and demonstrates

high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in international development, Business

Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences,

Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

At least 10 years field experience, a significant part of which would be

from countries in crisis.

Extensive experience at the national or international level in providing

management advisory services, hands-on experience in negotiations,

recovery, conflict prevention/peace building strategies, and establishing

inter-relationships among international organizations and national

governments.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages,

experience in handling of web-based management systems (Atlas).

Knowledge and experience of humanitarian coordination and response

mechanisms and humanitarian development peace nexus.

Knowledge and understanding of crisis prevention, preparedness,

response and recovery; resilience; stabilisation; transition; etc.);

international crisis response architecture (including humanitarian

system; peacekeeping operations; special political missions; etc.);

gender equality in the context of programming in humanitarian and early

recovery settings) and relevant policy and tools

Experience with recovery, conflict prevention, peace building, durable

solutions for communities affected by displacement, reintegration and

conflict sensitive development.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in French and English is required.