Posting Title: POLITICAL AFFAIRS ASSISTANT, G5

Job Code Title: POLITICAL AFFAIRS ASSISTANT

Department/Office: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

Duty Station: JALALABAD

Posting Period: 20 July 2023 – 23 August 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Political Affairs-UNAMA-214370-R-Jalalabad (R)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organisational Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Jalalabad Field Office, Jalalabad. The Political Affairs Assistant reports to the Political Affairs Officer.

Responsibilities

•  Receives and processes information contained in communications and publications from different sources, including from regional governmental and non-governmental counterparts; maintains up-to-date knowledge of events relating to political issues in a specified area or subject matter.
•  Assist with preparing drafts, briefing notes, background papers and talking points.
•  Assists in preparing summaries of articles from a wide variety of sources and drafts a variety of correspondence and reports, in particular daily situation reports.
•  Monitors political, socio-economic, and other politically relevant developments in an assigned area.
•  Updates information in the databases that track information relevant to the assigned area.
•  Undertakes outreach to relevant Afghan interlocutors, including minority communities, to develop effective contact networks at the direction of the Political Affairs Officer.
•  Keeps abreast of UN policies, including those related to Political Affairs work and takes part in Political Affairs trainings.
•  Interprets from English into Pashto and vice-versa as well as English into Dari and vice-versa during meetings; Translate documents from English into Pashto and vice-versa as well as English into Dari and vice-versa.
•  Updates relevant databases as requires.
•  Performs other related duties as required.

CompetenciesProfessionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible related work experience in political science, international relations, legal/paralegal, disarmament, security development management, conflict resolution or related work with international organizations/nongovernment organizations, and civil society organizations or working as a civil servant is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 3 years for candidates who possess a first level university degree or higher in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or humanities. Experience with political analysis, reporting as well as with political/security database entry tasks is desirable. Experience with interpretation and translation of documents is desirable. A university degree in law, political science, international relations, social sciences, or humanities is desirable. Post-secondary training in political affairs/social work related is desirable.

LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in oral and written Pashto and Dari is required.

AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special NoticeThis position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.