Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 15 Mar 2016
Background:
The Joint Peace Fund (JPF) is being established as a multi-donor fund to support national efforts to achieve a final and lasting settlement of ethnic armed conflict in Myanmar. In working towards this goal, the JPF will be a key mechanism to deliver coordinated international financial and technical assistance to the Myanmar peace process. A Technical Secretariat, operated by the Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS), is being established to support the JPF.
NIS is a Norwegian-registered, non-profit foundation engaged in stabilisation and reconciliation initiatives in conflict and post-conflict areas. NIS has been working in Myanmar since 2013 and also administers and provides technical support to the Peace Support Fund (PSF) in Myanmar. NIS also supports peace and reconciliation activities in Mali, Somalia, and the Central African Republic and continues to expand its operations into other transitional zones.
Essential Functions:
The Senior Advisor – Peace Architecture will join the Technical Secretariat during the JPF’s inception phase and contribute to the early establishment of the fund. The focus of the role will be to lead a small team of specialists in developing, supporting and overseeing a portfolio of projects in support of Myanmar’s peace architecture in the context of a rapidly evolving and complex peace process.
The Senior Advisor – Peace Architecture will ensure that the projects within the portfolio apply international best practice approaches to supporting a peace process, including ensuring the projects support a nationally derived peace process and reflect both ‘top down’ and ‘bottom up’ elements. The Senior Advisor will need to be adept at establishing and nurturing relationships across a broad range of national and international stakeholders and be responsive to their needs and demands, whilst being mindful of the mandate and criteria of the JPF.
Working in close collaboration with other key members of the JPF, the Senior Advisor – Peace Architecture will contribute to the JPF as a learning organization, based on strong feedback mechanisms, to enable responsive and flexible programming in a dynamic transitional context. The Senior Advisor – Peace Architecture will also be responsible within their portfolio for ensuring efficient data management and effective communication of results, including in visual formats in collaboration with the M&E and communications teams.
Main Responsibilities:
• Lead on the assessment, appraisal and development of proposals relating to the peace architecture programme stream within the JPF Secretariat (defined as including but not limited to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signed in October 2015).
• Support the (Deputy)/Director in maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including parties to the peace process, JPF donors and civil society representatives.
• Contribute to the refinement of emerging systems that support effective development and appraisal of proposals relating to peace architecture.
• Establish and oversee a portfolio of projects relating to supporting Myanmar’s peace architecture.
• Ensure the JPF is meeting or exceeding international best practice in its support of the Myanmar peace architecture and contribute to the JPF’s learning culture.
• In overseeing a portfolio of projects related to supporting Myanmar’s peace architecture, ensure that timely decisions on any responsive or corrective action are made in a consultative and evidence-based manner and are implemented efficiently and effectively.
• Identify and respond to expressions of demand and/or need for technical assistance as it relates to supporting the peace architecture programme stream in a timely manner, with clearly demarcated responsibilities that are based on the participatory and equity principles of the JPF.
• Work closely with JPF personnel across programmatic streams (peacebuilding and research & innovation) and supporting streams (M&E and communication).
• Work closely with JPF personnel to embed inclusion and conflict sensitivity into all systems, strategies and approaches and projects.
• In consultation with the (Deputy)/Director, establish the peace architecture team including appointing and supervising key staff, providing regular feedback and undertaking performance reviews.
• Ensure feedback from stakeholders and from JPF projects feeds into the continuous improvement of the peace architecture component of the JPF.
• Contribute to the overall establishment and development of the JPF.
• At all times, support the (Deputy)/Director in matters related to peace architecture programme area.
• Carry out other duties of temporary or permanent character within the organisation when necessary.
Required qualifications:
• Masters degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Management or equivalent.
• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in peace and conflict working for international organisations, donor agencies and/or INGOs.
• Minimum 5 years of specific experience in a transitional environment.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and liaison skills and demonstrated experience in working with a range of national and international stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of best-practice support to peace processes and initiatives, particularly as they relate to supporting the peace architecture
• Demonstrably strong programme, project technical, financial management and oversight with strong experience in responding to donor requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships in a complex and rapidly changing context.
• Must be executive and hands-on in establishing, documenting and deploying the peace architecture component commensurate with the size and scope of the JPF.
• Must be an excellent team player.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Written and spoken fluency in English essential.
• Understanding of Myanmar context is highly regarded.
• Understanding of post-2015 goals and visual communication tools are well regarded.
• Suitably qualified national and international candidates are encouraged to apply.
How to apply:
An application comprising a CV/resume and a covering letter outlining relevant experience and qualifications must be sent to ds@jointpeacefund.org, with the position title and the reference PCAH-019 in the subject line. Applications must include a minimum of 3 referees.