Local Level Peacebuilding Coordinator

Background

The UNDP Peace Building Project in Lebanon has addressed, since 2006, the root causes of conflict by promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, and social cohesion through inclusive, community-based initiatives. It has empowered civil society and local actors to take active roles in fostering peace, promoting dialogue, and ensuring a more effective bottom-up approach to peacebuilding. In 2013, and in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and Lebanon’s growing socio-political and economic challenges, the project shifted focus to enhancing civil peace, fostering dialogue, and building trust and consensus among diverse actors. The project has worked to nurture partnerships between civil society and local government actors, promote collective memory, and integrate peacebuilding concepts into both formal and non-formal educational frameworks. It has also engaged traditional and alternative media to promote balanced reporting, manage diversity, and reduce bias, thereby addressing one of the critical drivers of social fragmentation.

Today, as Lebanon continues to face unprecedented internal and external challenges, the UNDP Peace Building Project remains a critical platform for promoting civil peace and resilience. By fostering dialogue, empowering marginalized voices, promoting good governance practices and addressing structural inequalities, the project aims to lay the foundation for a more inclusive and stable Lebanon. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, the Local Peace Building Coordinator- will support with the project implementation of “Local Level Output” through supporting local communities in preventing and managing crises and enhancing social stability and local development. This includes several activities aiming at developing and implementing Peacebuilding Initiatives/ Processes through participatory approach to enhance social cohesion and local preparedness and development. This participatory approach involves forming local Peace committees that unite municipalities and community members to collaboratively address challenges, promote social stability and development at the local level. He/she will work in close collaboration with project staff and project partners and will maintain close communication over operational issues as well as strategic opportunities arising from project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Local Level Peacebuilding Coordinator will perform the following functions:

a)  Coordinate and Support Project Planning and Implementation 

• Conduct introductory meetings with partner municipalities, secure buy-ins, and ensure administrative and logistics requirements for launching and implementing the processes in the targeted communities.
• Assist in organizing and planning meetings by developing work plans and corresponding budgets with clearly stated milestones, participate in the development, updating, and  monitoring of work plans and budgets.
• Provide technical support through designing and implementing activities agreed within the work plan, facilitate meetings, and support local level conflict mechanisms.
• Follow-up on daily activities related to the local level output implemented in the targeted communities.
• Monitor and follow up on the work of different implementing partners and consultants in various locations.
• Ensure the timeliness of submission and the quality of goods and services procured for the project.

b)  Ensure Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building

• Identify and build relationships with local actors through profiling of communities targeted by the project and build relationships with main local actors.
• Strengthen the role of mukhtars, municipal officials, and other local level actors in conflict mitigation through established local peace committees.
• Regularly follow up with members of the established local peace committees, including local authorities and local actors, and continue coordination efforts beyond the conclusion of the process timeframe.

c)  Support Coordination and Strengthen Communication Efforts

• Organize workshops and training events, field visits, meetings related to the establishment of local peace committees.
• Conduct thematic consultations with municipalities, mukhtars, and local actors.
• Participate in coordination meetings and ensure proper synergies and collaboration within UNDP projects and with other partners.
• Prepare project progress and final reports against set targets and indicators.

d)  Support Monitoring and Evaluation of Project Activities

• Monitor project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budget plans.
• Support, monitor, and evaluate activities undertaken with partners, particularly at the local level.

e) Strengthen Knowledge Management and Build Capacity

• Prepare ToRs for required inputs with expert technical support as required.
• Organize briefings on internal procedures for project staff and support other capacity-building activities.
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice, compile and systematize project knowledge, products, and tools, and distribute them widely to partners.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will be working under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager of the Peace Building Project.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:	LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously:	LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility:	LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination:	LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:	LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:	LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies :

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Ethics	Ethical Implications of Policy Development	Consult on the ethical implications within all policy development and standard setting.
Ethics	UN policy knowledge - ethics	Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity.
Business Management	Partnership management	Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Communications	Advocacy strategy and implementation	Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
Procurement	Contract management.	Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
Business Management	Risk Management	Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks
Business Management	Change Management	Initiate, design and ensure successful implementation of organizational change; prepare and support individuals and teams in implementing change

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements	Secondary Education is required; or University degree(Bachelor’s degree) in social science, sociology, political science, peace building, or any relevant related field will be given due consideration but not a requirement.
Min. years of relevant Work experience	Minimum 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of progressive relevant experience in project coordination including execution and monitoring of results.
Required skills	Professional experience around peacebuilding, conflict analysis and conflict management;  Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	Previous experience with the UN, UNV, NGOs or international organization(s) is an asset.  Experience in quality assurance and report writing  Experience working with local level authorities and actors, public institutions and civil society organizations.  Strong work experience in the fields of dealing with the past[MB1]
Required Language(s)	Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is an asset
Professional Certificates	Not Applicable

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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