UNDP Re-integration Specialist Vacancies || UN Jobs in Juba

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) are central to the success of the evolving peace process in South Sudan. As evidence from previous attempts at DDR in South Sudan will attest, it is a complex process, with interconnected political, military, security, humanitarian, and socio-economic dimensions. Article 2.2.3.5 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) states that, all forces shall be screened and classified according to known military criteria followed for recruitment for the army, police, national security, and other services. Ineligible individuals shall be referred to DDR. The DDR program will run through the transitional period.  The objective is to address the post-conflict security challenges that arise from ex-combatants being left without livelihoods or support networks, other than their former comrades, during the critical transition period from conflict to peace and development. DDR seeks to support the ex-combatants’ economic and social reintegration, so that they can become stakeholders in peace.

Findings of the survey conducted by the Bureau for Community Security and Arms Control in South Sudan in 2017 concluded that the proliferation of illegal firearms and light weapon among the civilian population was one of the factors contributing to inter-communal violence, including poverty, conflict over natural resources, external interference, and the absence of effective law enforcement. In addition, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) within the country has also led to numerous ineffective, violent disarmament campaigns that have resulted in a loss of life.

South Sudan has developed a national legal framework for arms control and civilian weapon ownership. The Firearms Act was passed in 2016 and is complemented by the Firearms Regulations published in 2017. There is also a small arms and light weapons policy. A three-year roadmap for implementing the Firearms Act that prioritized 21 actions were also developed but not implemented.

In 2020, the Ministry of Interior launched a Voluntary Civilian Disarmament Strategy (VCDS) to be implemented by the Bureau of Community Security and Small Arms Control (BCSSAC). A process of promulgation by BCSSAC of the strategy across South Sudan’s ten states and three administrative areas began in 2021 that included the participation of a broad cross-section of national, state, local and traditional officials, and authorities; women; youth, including cattle camp youth; religious leaders; as well as civil society and media representatives.

The strategy is now being piloted in Lakes state where the Government has started collecting arms. The BCSSAC will begin to sensitize the disarmed youth to disarm the mind. The opportunity of alternative livelihoods will be provided including reintegration process. Furthermore, the BCSSAC together with the Ministry of Interior will be supported in the management of collected arms.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the DDR Programme of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) within the framework of the R-ARCSS, which was signed in September 2018. DDR is also a key component for implementing of a broader Security Sector Reform (SSR) process. It continues to be one of the critical priorities of the Republic of South Sudan National Development Strategy (2018-2021).

It is against this backdrop; UNDP seeks to recruit a Reintegration Specialist who will work in the    Peace and Community Cohesion program (PaCC). The purpose of the Reintegration Specialist is to provide strategic advice to the Leadership of the DDR Commission and the Bureau of Community Security and Small Arm Control (BCSSAC) on reintegration of former combatants, Special Needs Groups (Children and Women associated with Armed Forces and Groups (CAAFG, WAAFG), ex-combatants with disabilities) together with other conflict-affected groups such as youth at risks, disarmed civilian, SGBV survivors and other related aspects under their institutional mandates. The position also supports the implementation of the Civilian Voluntary Disarmament Strategy in line with the Firearms Act 2016.

Position Purpose

• Provide technical and advisory support towards reintegration of former combatants, and special needs groups
• Provide technical and Advisory support towards voluntary civilian disarmament; reintegration of disarmed youth and groups and stockpile management of collected arms
• Strengthen synergy, collaboration, and due diligence in the implementation of the various community violence reduction approaches by different actors.

Provide technical and advisory support towards reintegration of former combatants, and special needs groups:

• Manage the preparation, planning and implementation, at the state and national levels, of the reintegration component of the DDR programme.
• Provide value-added advice to the national DDR Commission in the design and conceptualization of community reintegration packages for ex-combatants.
• Oversee the training of a team of national officers and case workers to enable them to undertake information and counselling of ex-combatants, as well as referral to implementing partners, trade associations and selected private sector entities
• Liaise with UN, NGO, private and public sector reintegration, and livelihoods actors to gather labor market information, identify synergies and program activities suitable for reintegration of the former combatants.
• Facilitate the engagement between the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration Commissions, the Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms control and international partners and national actors.
• Support the conceptualisation and design of new projects in support of community violence reduction

Provide technical and Advisory support towards voluntary civilian disarmament; reintegration of disarmed youth and groups and stockpile management of collected arms:

• Provide technical support to the implementation of the community violence reductions efforts with a special focus on implementation of the Voluntary Civilian Disarmament strategy (2020).
•  Undertake public awareness on the impact of small arms and light weapon (SALW) and advocacy on the need to address SALW
• Continually reviews disarmament programme strategy and implementation through relevant documents and reports; and conducts field missions to assess the performance of established disarmament programmes.
• Manage social and economic programs that provide communities with alternatives to illegal ownership and use of firearms.
• Provide technical support to the stockpile management of collected arms including documentation, marking of collected arms.

Strengthen synergy, collaboration, and due diligence in the implementation of the various community violence reduction approaches by different actors:

• Provide technical support to the implementation of the community violence reductions efforts with a special focus on implementation of the Voluntary Civilian Disarmament strategy (2020).
•  Undertake public awareness on the impact of small arms and light weapon (SALW) and advocacy on the need to address SALW
• Continually reviews disarmament programme strategy and implementation through relevant documents and reports; and conducts field missions to assess the performance of established disarmament programmes.
• Manage social and economic programs that provide communities with alternatives to illegal ownership and use of firearms.
• Provide technical support to the stockpile management of collected arms including documentation, marking of collected arms.

• Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

• Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business management – Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

2030 Agenda: People – Gender: gender mainstreaming

2030 Agenda: Peace- Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions: Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion.

2030 Agenda: Peace- Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions: Conflict Prevention

2030 Agenda: Peace- Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions: Dialogue, Mediation and Reconciliation

2030 Agenda: Peace- Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions: Rehabilitation and Reintegration.

• Master’s degree in economics, political science, sociology, international relations, anthropology, public administration, development studies or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree with 2 additional years of qualifying experience in relevant field may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.