UNOPS supports
partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the
efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian
and development projects. Mandated as a
central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project
management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of
governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
New York
Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as
other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral
partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure
management, and procurement management
Sustainable
Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding,
humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the
following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support
Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It
provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and
managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are
headquartered in New York. The SDC has a
footprint of approximately 125 countries.
UNOPS has
signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement the activities for the
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
United Nations
Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative of the Secretary-General of
the United Nations, which responds to a broad consensus across nations,
cultures and religions that all societies are interdependent, bound together in
their development and security, and in their environmental, economic and
financial well-being. The Alliance seeks to forge collective political will and
to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to
overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against
such a consensus. UNAOC hopes to contribute to a coalescing global movement
which, reflecting the will of the vast majority of people, rejects extremism in
any society.
The complex,
demanding dialogue of civilizations, cultures, and religions is necessary,
possible, and fruitful. It is a critical tool against isolation, mistrust, and
confrontation and it is also the most powerful incentive for understanding, and
tolerance. History has shown that dialogue is not a simple process, but that if
we fail to teach and cultivate it, the situation can give way to a monologue or
to mutism, which is conducive to conflict and violent extremism.
The United
Nations Alliance of Civilizations was created to serve as a soft-power
political tool of the United Nations Secretary-General for conflict prevention
and conflict resolution. It is a coalition against extremist forces; a movement
to advance mutual respect for cultures, traditions and religious beliefs, and a
platform to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions,
misperceptions, and polarization. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
was intended to promote collective action in society as a means of addressing
the threats that emerge from the hostile perceptions that foment violence,
overcoming cultural and social barriers, reducing tensions and improving
relations between societies and communities with diverse cultural and religious
backgrounds, and combatting violent extremism.
During its more
than fifteen years of existence, UNAOC has pioneered a range of approaches and
activities across its four priority areas namely, Youth, Education, Media and
Migration. The impact of many of its projects on the ground has been
significant and measurable particularly those implemented with civil society
organizations (CSOs) and youth-led organizations. Nonetheless, the context of
the current global challenges is more complex than ever before. The
multidimensional nature of the scope of today’s conflicts requires a new approach
to conflict resolution and conflict prevention. Around the world, there has
been a rising wave of violent extremism conducive to terrorism, growing
intolerance, hate speech, xenophobia and discrimination, posing a threat to
international peace and security. These new approaches are reflected in the
UNAOC Action Plan 2019-2023. It builds on and develops existing UNAOC
programming activities and suggests new focus areas that strengthen the
Alliance’ ability to fulfill its mandate in a more effective and measurable
way. The Plan further suggests new approaches for institutional development and
political advocacy that should provide a viable framework for the way we
respond to the current global challenges. Institutionally, the plan re-affirms
the important role played by all stakeholders, including state and non-state
actors, in developing and implementing national plans and regional strategies
to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the mainstay of the
Alliance. The framework aims to expand and consolidate the global scope of
UNAOC in Africa, Asia, Europe, MENA and Latin America.
This is a position in UNOPS for supporting the
implementation of UNAOC. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of
UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.
Guided by the principle that youth are key actors to achieve peace and prevent violent extremism, as stated in the UN Security Council Resolutions 2250 and 2419 and the United Nations Secretary General’s Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism, UNAOC develops educational programming to enhance the ability of young civil society leaders to foster mutual respect, understanding and long-term positive relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions. One of those initiatives is Young Peacebuilders which is a peace education programme that UNAOC implements in different regions of the world to offer peace competence development to young civil society leaders. Learning objectives include, among others:
● Learn about other cultures and worldviews within and beyond the group to foster intercultural cohesion and collaboration.
● Learn about negative stereotypes and how to critically analyze them to reduce their prevalence.
● Understand different perspectives in identity-based conflict and gain tools to develop solutions at local, national and regional level and transform conflicts peacefully.
● Identify push and pull factors creating conditions conducive to violent extremism.
● Develop competences to use different forms of media or expressive arts as a way to create alternative narratives, reduce polarization and promote social inclusion.
● Reflect on how to increase meaningful youth engagement in their region.
● Learn how to successfully design and run a project.
The aim is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice, social exclusion and polarization (both within and between their communities and countries) in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies in their communities and globally.
Programme components:
● Part 1: online phase (2 months). Participants access the course through an online collaborative platform provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and other trainers facilitate the first few modules of the curriculum, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other prior to their first in-person meeting. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts, engage in discussion and start reflecting on their individual and joint action.
● Part 2: face-to-face workshop (1 week). All participants travel to complete an intense in-person training, including field visits. They also work on their own action plans.
● Part 3: implementation phase (3/4 months). Participants stay connected through the online platform, improve their action plans and report on the implementation of their interventions. This part consolidates the network and follow-up mechanisms, ensuring the members of the group continue to support each other after the end of the programme.
● Part 4: final symposium (1 day). Participants are invited to participate in a symposium in a still to be determined country in the target region during which they share their experience, lessons learned, achievements and recommendations with a broader audience of practitioners, policy makers, media and the general public. They also engage with this audience on topics related to intercultural dialogue, peace and security.
UNAOC plans to implement YPB in different regions of the world to grow and strengthen the global movement of young peacebuilders. The first edition took place in West Africa and the second edition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Currently we are finalizing the 3rd edition of Young Peacebuilders, also taking place in the MENA region. The end date is September 30, 2021. As part of the project agreement, the donor requested to conduct an independent evaluation of this edition of Young Peacebuilders. UNAOC is seeking a consultant to lead that evaluation, and to respond to the following questions:
- Did the participants of the Young Peacebuilders Programme in the MENA region enhance their peacebuilding skills?
- How did the programme contribute to that?
- Based on the design, implementation and impact of the programme, what recommendations do you have for the next editions of Young Peacebuilders?
The evaluation must contain the following criteria: Relevance, Efficacy, Efficiency, Gender, Impact, and Sustainability.
The incumbent, responsible for evaluating the project, will work remotely and tentatively start on October 1, 2022. Evaluation of qualified candidates will include an assessment exercise, which will be followed by a competency-based interview. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.