The current conflict in Darfur has undermined livelihood coping strategies, leaving millions reliant on humanitarian assistance. For the past several years, the international community has focused on life-saving interventions; creating dependencies and disempowering communities. Many humanitarian and development actors have however now recognized the need and opportunities to incorporate a longer-term or more enabling perspective into their support package whilst meeting urgent humanitarian needs. To that end, in 2011, UNDP introduced livelihoods and economic recovery interventions to its existing activities in Darfur, focusing on the promotion of sustainable and integrated livelihood and economic recovery, peace building and social cohesion, employment creation and capacity development collectively known as the Darfur Livelihoods Recovery Programme (DLRP).
The DLRP consists of four inter-connected and mutually reinforcing components, each addressing key shortcomings in Darfurian communities to sustain humanitarian gains and to ensure transition to recovery and development. In 2011-2013, the programme set a strong foundation for strengthening resilience and rebuilding livelihoods through the implementation of four components:

• Pro-Poor Value Chain Integration for Peace and Early Recovery;
• Youth Volunteers Rebuilding Darfur;
• Darfur Community Recovery for Coexistence (DCRC);
• Recovery and Livelihoods Post Return Package.

The Darfur Community Recovery for Coexistence (DCRC) project aims at enhancing community-based, bottom-up approach to the stabilization, consolidation of local peace and the facilitation of equitable and sustainable growth. The project is being funded by the Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund (DCPSF) which supports initiatives that promote the restoration of trust and confidence between communities and paving the way for early recovery and recovery. The overall objective of the DCRC project is to facilitate dialogue for coexistence and reconciliation between the different groups including: 1) IDP host communities, 2) IDP communities and 3) communities of return. Specifically, DCRC aims to develop the ability and willingness of communities to initiate and nurture their own peace building processes by enhancing the capacity of traditional leaders in the IDP host communities, IDP camps and villages of IDP origin.  The project is designed to open and sustain direct communication channels for cooperation between IDPs and host communities. DCRC establishes, capacitate and work with a number of Peace and Development Councils (PDCs) as the main structure for preventing, mediating communal conflicts, for reducing tensions and galvanizing communal relationships.

Organizational Context:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. The UNDP operates in 166 countries, working with people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.

UNDP’s focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of:

• Democratic Governance
• Poverty Reduction
• Crisis Prevention and Recovery
• Environment and Energy
• HIV/AIDS

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all its activities, it encourages the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women. UNDP focuses on key development issues, providing measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial policy proposals. In all its operations, UNDP well-coordinated and inclusive approach seeks to ensure the most effective use of UN and international resources.

Summary of Key Functions:

The Field Project Associate will provide technical and operational support for the implementation of the Darfur Community Recovery for Coexistence (DCRC) project and provide monitoring support to other Livelihoods Projects in Central Darfur State. Under the overall technical oversight of the DLRP Programme Manager and the direct supervision of the DCRC National Project Manager, the Project Associate t will be undertaking the following tasks:

1. Support the Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of  the DCRC project focusing on the following:

• Conduct  community mobilization, sensitization and awareness creation activities in  selected villages;
• Provide support for organizing workshops on Conflict Management;
• Provide capacity building support to the established Peace Development Councils (PDCs);
• Organize series of consultations with community leaders and members to draft constitutions and by-laws for the established Peace and Development Councils (PDCs);
• Work with PDCs to draft a public outreach strategy for the Councils;
• Work with the committees to prepare and implement annual plans for the PDCs;
• Organize regular community meetings between the IDPs and the host communities in Mukjar and Kubum, Bindisi  Localities;
• Gather Socio economic data of selected  localities in the Central Dafur State;
• Provide support for organizing a regional PDC conference;
• Ensure synergies between the DCRC project and the other livelihoods projects and as well as linkage with other UNDP projects in the state;
• Organize joint monitoring visits with UN agencies, Government counterparts and Implementing partners for site visits, assessments  and data collection;
• Monitor and provide support to DCRC and Value Chain implementing partners;
• Identify and document success stories and best practices in the monitoring process;
• Provide inputs for annual work plans, proposal development and progress reports;
• Organize meetings and workshops for the state and local level Peace Building and Reconciliation mechanisms;
• Map out the state level peace building actors and develop engagement plans;
• Provide periodic reports on activities performed to the project manager on timely basis.

          2- Participate in coordination and strategic partnership focusing on the following:

• Ensure the project is closely linked and coordinated with other conflict resolution mechanisms and institutions within the state;
• Foster strong working relations with  UN agencies, humanitarian actors and government authorities within the state;
• Attend relevant coordination meetings and relevant technical forums with bearing on DCRC;
• Ensure cordial relations with to implementing partners;
• Provide support for organizing State Technical Coordination Committee (STCC) meetings within the state.
• Any other activities as requested by the Project manager and or DLRP Programme Manager.

Impact of Results

• The DCRC Project  is effectively implemented, monitored and coordinated; contributing to peace and coexistence in the Darfur region;
• Effective support provided  to develop the capacity of relevant Peace and Development Councils (PDCs), State Government institutions and communities to help them prevent and mediate conflicts, consolidate and peace throughout the region;
• Partnerships with National NGOs, Government institutions improved;
• Competencies and Critical Success Factors.

Integrity and professionalism:

• Demonstrate expertise in an area related to peace building, mediation/reconciliation, post conflict reconstruction ;
• Ability to work independently, personal initiative and ability to take ownership;
• Willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality;
• Ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially;
• Responsive and client-oriented.

 Accountability:

• Mature and responsible;
• Ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

Planning and organizing:

• Effective organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work;
• Ability to work under pressure, tight deadlines, and to handle multiple priorities.

Teamwork and respect for diversity:

• Ability to establish and maintain lasting partnerships and relationships;
• Ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
• Good interpersonal skills.

.Communication:

• Good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports;
• Ability to coordinate with other UN organizations, I/NGOs and government counterparts
• Good presentation and training skills; 
• Capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups.

Education:

Minimum Secondary education with training in development, conflict management or a related field. A degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Conflict Management or any other related field an advantage.

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years experience in Conflict Management, Peace Building and/or Reconstruction projects  in conflict and post-conflict settings;
• Good understanding of community-based reconciliation and conflict mediation mechanisms;
• Proven capacity in working with local communities especially community mobilization, sensitization and participation;
• Experience in facilitating consultations, workshops and grass-roots engagements.
• Knowledge and understanding of the conflicts dynamics in Darfur;
• Capacity to work closely and effectively with government ministries and officials
• Demonstrated sensitivity to political components of peace building.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in s Arabic is an advantage.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Women Candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Notice
UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing fee at any stage of the recruitment.