Under the auspices of the UN Inter-agency Framework Team for Preventive Action, the United Nations is partnering with the European Commission with the objective of building the UN’s capacity to respond effectively to requests from particular countries to enhance national capacities for the peaceful and inclusive management of land and natural resources, so as to minimize risks that may result in violent outcomes or impeded the achievement of the MDGs and other national development goals. These activities center on the development of common tools and approaches at UNHQ, with technical input from both the field and HQ levels.

Many developing countries currently face complex and urgent challenges relating to the sustainable use of their natural resources and the allocation of natural wealth, which have, in many cases, stalled development or precipitated internal, occasionally violent, conflict. In such countries, institutions for the management of conflicts over land, water and other natural resources are weak or unable to perform this task effectively. In virtually all conflict and post-conflict situations, such institutions are damaged or non-existent. In post-conflict situations such as Liberia, Sudan, DRC, and Sierra Leone, internal tensions persist over the allocation of natural wealth or the use of natural resources well after peace agreements. Even in countries that have not faced extensive violent conflict – Bolivia, Chad, Nigeria, Kenya and Fiji being examples —tensions over the use of land and water or the apportioning of oil or minerals continue to impede development and have the potential to lead to violence and instability. In addition, UN agencies with specific mandates to address land, water, and natural resource management have not been sufficiently resourced, or able to work effectively together, in many pre- or post-conflict situations.

The partnership will develop and assist the UN and EC in-country to apply practical tools, policy guidance and an institutional framework to address critical challenges pertaining to land and natural resource conflicts. This will include developing an institutional framework and capacities for UN responses to requests for assistance with the management of land and natural resource-related conflicts; skills development of national institutions on the management conflicts related to land and natural resources.

The project on ?Strengthening Capacities for the Consensual and Sustainable Management of Land and Natural Resources? has three outputs:

1. To develop practical tools and policy guidance on critical challenges pertaining to land and natural resource conflicts, including the development of ?entry points? for addressing such conflicts, and facilitate their application by relevant UN staff
2. To develop institutional frameworks for ensuring effective and prompt responses to land and natural resource-related conflicts
3. To facilitate national counterparts to acquire skills pertaining to the management of land and natural resource conflicts and applied on a sustained basis by relevant UN and national staff in a number of selected countries
   Reporting to the Executive Secretary of the Framework Team, the Programme Specialist will be responsible for supporting the participating UN agencies/departments to achieve the project outputs.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Manages the execution of the project on ?"Strengthening Capacities for the Consensual and Sustainable Management of Land and Natural Resources"
• Promotes coordination and partnership building among the participating UN agencies / departments
• Provides technical guidance to the participating UN agencies / departments to achieve the project outputs
• Supports resource mobilization

1. Manages the execution of the project on “Strengthening Capacities for the Consensual and Sustainable Management of Land and Natural Resources", focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development of projects and a project work plan in collaboration with the participant UN agencies and departments, ensuring the timely delivery of the project outputs
• Ensuring that the project products are of adequate and consistent technical and professional quality and style
• Development and maintenance of a system for project monitoring and reporting
• Organization of and participation in regular meetings of the Standing Committee to ensure proper guidance and orientation for the project
• Management of the recruitment of consultants through liaison with the Human Resources unit
• Accurate and up-to-date financial and narrative reports to the Standing Committee, the Co-chairs and the EC on a monthly basis and an end-of-project report to the EC

2. Promotes coordination and partnership building among the participating UN agencies/departments, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Promotion of collaborative working relations among the participating UN agencies/departments in the framework of this project
• Relationships built with other initiatives engaged in similar areas of work (both within and outside the UN and the EC and synergies in these efforts established
• Collaboration in resource mobilization efforts in support of the project on natural resources management

3. Provides technical guidance to the participating UN agencies/departments to achieve the project outputs, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Substantive technical guidance provided to the participating UN agencies / departments
  to achieve project outputs
• Development of a common methodology and approach for the preparation of the Guidance Notes and related training modules, in partnership with the participating UN agencies and departments
• Effective support to the participating UN agencies / departments in the development concept notes for the Guidance Notes and training modules, as well as related terms of reference for consultants
• Identification of relevant experts and institutions that could be engaged in a network/roster on land and natural resource management
• Support to four pilot countries on natural resources management
• Close collaboration with experts and institutions on the development of guidance notes and strategic note, including drafting on substantive issues, as required
• Substantive backstopping for the design and delivery of the thematic expert workshops.
• Technical feedback on the various drafts of the Guidance Notes and related training modules, in close collaboration with the participating UN agencies and departments

4. Supports resource mobilization for the EU project on Natural Resources and Conflict focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Interest of stakeholders increased and links into other funding sources sought
• Funds raised, applied and accounted for with respect to outcomes and impact

Impact of Results
The key results of the EC-UN project will strengthen the ability of national stakeholders and the UN and other international counterparts to analyze, prevent and resolve disputes over land, water and natural resources, minimize destructive tensions or conflict over natural resources, and develop sustainable solutions to achieve peace.

Functional Competencies:
BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Level 2: Identifying and building partnerships

• Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments
• Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved

PROMOTING ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Level 2: Developing tools and mechanisms

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms

JOB KNOWLEDGE/ TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:
Level 2: In-depth knowledge of the Subject-matter 

• Understands more advanced aspects of crisis prevention and recovery especially in the area of natural resource management and conflict prevention, as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of crisis prevention and recovery and seeks
  to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

CLIENT ORIENTATION
Level 2: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
• Keeps the client informed of problems or delays in the provision of services

Core Competencies:
Ethics & Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity
Is familiar with and acts in accordance with the standard of conduct for international civil servants, ethics and UN/UNDP values

Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment Understands the structure and hierarchy of UN/UNDP, process flows throughout the organization, products and services, their measures of effectiveness, and perceptions of clients

Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring: Self-development, initiative-taking.  Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action

Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work.  Works collaboratively with team members sharing information openly and displaying cultural awareness and sensitivity

Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.  Uses tact and sensitivity when delivering sensitive information or resolving delicate issues

Self Management & Emotional Intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control Fosters a positive outlook and maintains focus during period of stress and heavy work load, inspiring and guiding others towards goal achievement

Conflict Management/Negotiating & Resolving Disagreements: Managing conflict Remains calm, composed and patient, regardless of his/her own state of mind in the face of conflict

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others
Actively seeks learning opportunities, adopting best practices created by others

Appropriate and Transparent Decision-making: Informed and transparent decision making.  Makes decisions within his/her own span of control, recognizes issues requiring more advanced judgment and refers them to the appropriate level

Education:

• A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in natural resources management, environmental management, international relations or international development.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience including at least 3 years field experience in project management / development related to natural resource management and/or conflict prevention, especially in crisis or post-conflict settings
• Substantive and technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: land and conflict; natural wealth sharing; climate change and resource scarcity; natural resource management in post-conflict situations
• Experience working for public international organizations and particularly with UN agencies. Previous experience in developing practical tools and training curriculum
• Successful experience in establishing and managing donor relations including resource mobilization
• Established networks with organizations and institutions relevant to conflict prevention and/or natural resource management.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required.
• Working knowledge of other UN official language is an asset