Mediation and Identity-based Conflict Resolution Consultant

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations launched by the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Turkey, responds to a broad consensus across nations, cultures and religions that all societies are interdependent, bound together in their development and security. The Alliance seeks to forge collective political will and to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against such a consensus. The Alliance hopes to contribute to a coalescing global movement which, reflecting the will of the vast majority of people, rejects extremism in any society.

• Provide technical expertise and advice on the conduct and design of cultural and religious mediation and conflict resolution in religious and cultural context as well as facilitate dialogue processes when requested;
• Provide process expertise for the design, planning and management of pre-negotiation, negotiation and implementation frameworks, including national dialogue processes and post-agreement follow-up mechanisms in identity-based conflicts. This expertise should include methods and mechanisms for promoting the inclusion of women, civil society and Track II actors, in relevant processes when applicable;
• Participate in the mediation, facilitation and dialogue process, and contribute to the drafting of the relevant sections of peace agreements in cultural and religious-based contexts
• Provide support in organizing, planning and facilitating training seminars for the religious and cultural mediation team, parties or others on inclusive mediation, facilitation and dialogue;
• Produce operational guidance notes and related training materials on inclusive mediation, facilitation and dialogue;
• Prepare periodic reports and relevant thematic briefings for the UNAOC team involved in religious and cultural mediation efforts;
• Draft reports for the UNAOC on mediation and conflict resolution that has a cultural and religious context as requested;
• Provide support in research and coordination of lessons learned reviews of best practices in the area of expertise;
• Research thematic and comparative briefings to support ongoing or planned cultural and religious mediation efforts;

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in Political Science, International Relations, Law, Social Sciences or related area is required.

A bachelor’s Degree may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree with 2 years of additional experience.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in religious and cultural  mediation and confliction resolution required.
• Expertise in research, gender and religious and cultural mediation, multilateral affairs is desirable.
• Expertise in designing programs on international mediation, conflict resolution in religious and cultural contexts, required. 
• Expertise in conducting workshops on cultural and religious mediation and conflict resolution in conflict zones, desired.
• Expertise in conducting workshops on cultural and religious mediation and conflict resolution in conflict zones, desired.
• Experience in writing research papers/studies, desired.
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly with diverse groups, desired.
• Experience in intercultural and interfaith issues, desired.
• Background of teaching large groups is desirable; desired.
• Proven track record of working in conflict zones in Africa especially in West Africa, Sahel and Central African Republic, desired.
• Excellent knowledge of international conflicts, United Nations work on mediation and conflict resolution, required.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required.

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement  (IICA)

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC)

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.