The protracted political, development and humanitarian context in South Sudan calls for further integration between the different components of the international aid architecture to ensure joined-up approaches to common challenges across the humanitarian, development and peace Nexus. Such integration will help to create synergies and complementarities in planning, programming and analysis not just between the Agencies Funds and Programmes (AFPs) but also with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The need for joined-up approaches is particularly crucial for analysis and risk management to ensure a shared contextual analysis and approach to risks. A significant amount of information and analysis already exists within UNMISS and AFPs however there is no single-entry point for risk management across the Nexus. The recent Peer-to-Peer review of the humanitarian operation in South Sudan proposed the establishment of a Risk Management Unit within the office of the DSRSG/RC/HC to allow for a common narrative for joint analysis, programming, implementation, and M&E.

Within delegated authority and reporting to the D1 Head of the Integrated Office, and under the wider leadership of the DSRSG/RC/HC, the Senior Risk management and Conflict Analysis Officer (P5) will be responsible for comprehensive and complementary risk analysis and assessment with a focus on peacebuilding, humanitarian and development sectors. The Senior Risk Management and Conflict Analysis Officer will lead setting up of the Risk Management Unit (RMU) within the Integrated Office and will coordinate and lead contextual and risk analysis utilizing data from multiple sources including the AFPs, in a complementary manner to UNMISS. The Senior Risk Management and Conflict Analysis Officer will establish a robust risk management platformfor planning collective action across the peace, humanitarian and development Nexus. The Senior Risk Management and Conflict Analysis Officer will work closely with the context analysts of the AFPs and serve as the coordinating unit for all risk management of the AFPs and INGOs/NGOs to ensure that all risks affecting the delivery of development and humanitarian action are mitigated including decisions around strategic partnerships and financing. The unit will ensure collaboration with UNMISS Strategic Planning Unit (SPU), Field Offices, and other UNMISS Units such as JOC and JMAC for a coordinated approach to risk analysis and transition planning. The incumbent will supervise four international personnel and support capacity building on risk management including for external partners.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The position is located at the Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC for South Sudan and reports directly to the D1 Head of Integrated Office under the overall leadership of the DSRSG/RC/HC.

Under the overall guidance of the D1 Head of Integrated Office under the overall leadership of the DSRSG/RC/HC. the Senior Risk management and Conflict Analysis Officer will be responsible for comprehensive and complementary risk analysis and assessment with a focus on peacebuilding, humanitarian and development sectors. The Senior Risk Management Officer will lead setting up of the Risk Management Unit (RMU) within the Integrated Office and will coordinate and lead contextual and risk analysis utilizing data from multiple sources including the AFPs, in a complementary manner to UNMISS.

Knowledge Management and best practices to support global policy on risk management: 

• Establishes a Risk Management Unit to support contextual analysis utilizing data from multiple sources in close collaboration with key actors such as UNMISS and AFPs to inform programming and service delivery.
• Advises on capacity building of national stakeholders on matters related to risk management.
• Promotes information sharing and joint analysis across the humanitarian, peace and development stakeholders through briefings and information products.
• Ensures the development of protocols, procedures, and techniques on information and system protection in close coordination with relevant UNMISS and AFP counterparts.
• Develops lessons learned and best practice products, based on the implementation of the risk management strategy, in close coordination with the AFPs and UNMISS Best Practice Officer in the Office of the Chief of Staff.
• Serves as a resource person and supports organizing and conducting risk capacity building to promote a risk culture across the organization.

Support UN’s Transitioning Plans:

• Supports UN transition planning and processes in South Sudan, in close coordination with the Transition Taskforce, UNMISS Strategic Planning Unit and planning focal points across the AFPs, including real time monitoring of risks associated with the transition at all stages from planning to eventual transition.
• Provides options to mitigate risks with regards to UN transitions planning, considering Mission mandated tasks and UNCT capacities, as well as financing and donor engagement.
• In close coordination with the taskforce on Transitions Planning led by the DSRSG/RC/HC, provides risk analyses and supports development of early transition planning (transition roadmaps), identifying gaps, national capacities, as well as opportunities into account.
• Advises senior leadership on the way forward to deal with risk in UN transitions.
• Creates a collection of best practices and lessons learned in UN transitions planning processes in South Sudan to be shared, as relevant, with other missions.

Supervision of the RMU personnel: 

• The incumbent of the post will supervise/manage four RMU international staff (P4, 2x P3 and P2).
• Supervises their performance, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Ensures the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Political Science, International Relations, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Management or Development, or related field is required.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, coordination, conflict resolution or related area is required.
• Experience in risk analysis and management, as well as in coordinating multi-stakeholder planning processes in conflict or post-conflict settings is required.
• Experience in working in partnership environment across a wide range of stakeholders is required.
• Experience in a field operation within the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.
• Experience of managing teams/staff is desirable.
• Experience in developing risk frameworks, coordinating risk measurement models and undertaking risk assessments is desirable.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English.
• Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
• 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 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
• 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

People Management Competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies: 

Partnership management: Relationship management

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Partnership management: Emerging partnerships

• Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships

Partnership management: Multi- stakeholder engagement and funding

• Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms

Partnership management: Resource mobilization

• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Partnership management: Strategic engagement

• Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high- level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives