Peace & Development Specialist – Togo Consultancy

Background
Togo has repeatedly experienced political unrest over the past decades. Dialogue between Togolese stakeholders resulted in the signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in August 2006. The Government’s efforts on implementation of some of the reforms recommended in the Agreement facilitated the organization of parliamentary elections in October 2007, the presidential elections of 4 March 2010 and 25 April 2015, as well as the legislative election of 25 July 2013. The generally peaceful conduct of these elections was seen as a satisfactory indication of efforts towards rebuilding capacities and social cohesion to pave the way for political dialogue, peace, democracy and the rule of law, allowing the country to move away from a long period of instability. A framework for dialogue and consultation was established in 2009 and a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (CVJR) created and mandated to shed light on various human rights violations. The Commission submitted its final report in 2012. A new structure, the High Commission on Reconciliation and National Unity (HCCRUN) was setup in 2014 to promote national reconciliation and implement the recommendations contained in the report of the CVJR.

However, despite the progress achieved, the political process remains fragile and if not addressed through comprehensive actions strengthening national capacity for conflict prevention and mediation, and the establishment of a sustained peace infrastructure, the progress achieved could easily be lost. In the first half of 2017, the political situation in Togo was rather calm, and various structures created by the Government (National Committee of Reflections on Constitutional and Institutional Reforms, National Committee for Monitoring Decentralization and the High Authority for Prevention and Combating Corruption and Related Offenses) to address some key issues of the country’s political and institutional had launched implementation of their respective mandates, though rejected by main opposition parties and some civil society groups.

Fresh political tensions between the presidential majority led by the ruling “Union pour la République” (UNIR) party, and the opposition in Togo which erupted on 19 August 2017 following a protest organized by the Parti National Panafricain (PNP) in Lomé and four other cities demanding the political and institutional reforms recommended by the CVJR report since 2012, are continuing. A coalition of 14 main opposition parties, subsequently joined by civil society groups took to the streets in Lomé, Sokodé and other major cities, notably Bafilo in Kara region and Mango in the Savanes region, demanding radical changes, notably the full reinstatement of the 1992 Constitution. In an attempt to address the opposition’s demands, the Government introduced a draft bill to amend Articles 52, 59 and 60 of the Togolese Constitution of 1992, to inter alia limit the presidential tenure to a maximum of two five-year terms, and introduce a two-round voting system. However, the draft bill omitted a crucial provision, included in the 1992 Constitution, which prevents a President from serving more than two terms in office under any circumstance(s). The opposition denounced this omission and launched protests demanding inter alia the retroactive implementation of the amendments. The protests escalated in September 2017, and led to clashes between protesters and security forces. Opposition parties have vowed to continue their protest campaign until the reforms demanded are adopted. Meanwhile, preparations for inter-Togolese dialogue, facilitated by regional leaders, with the technical support of the United Nations are underway.

Togo is thus at very important stage of its history. These political tensions, coupled with social tensions (civil servants and workers’ demand for better wages, teachers’ claims for better working conditions, rising fuel prices). Upcoming political events such as local and legislative elections in 2018 could also trigger instability. The potential for conflict is thus ever present, and was exacerbated with every election over the years.

Meanwhile, following its creation in January 2017, the National Council for Monitoring of Decentralization (CNSD) initiated various measures towards for local government reforms. The adoption by the National Assembly of a law on the creation of municipalities on 23 June 2017 was a major step in this regard. Following the workshop on decentralization in December 2016, the government announced the holding of local elections within a 15 to 18-month timeframe, from December 2016. However, the specific date of these elections has not yet been announced. The adoption by the National Assembly of the above-mentioned law on the creation of municipalities signaled a new impetus and prospects that the elections would be organized within the indicated timeframe.

The human rights situation has been marked by the disproportionate response of security and defense forces to incidents during public demonstrations, resulting in multiple deaths and significant damage to public and private property remains a concern. In February 2017, a protester was shot dead and several people were wounded following the intervention of the police to disperse protesters demonstrating against rising fuel prices. In June 2017, a student rally was quickly dispersed by the police on the grounds that it was “unauthorized”. There have been several arrests following the political tensions that erupted in country in August 2017. About 12 persons have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces since the tensions that erupted in August 2017, including a 9-year-old boy and two members of security forces. Hundreds were injured.

The Peace and Development Advisor (PDA) will undertake initiatives that would bolster Togo’s national, institutional and civil society capacities for conflict analysis and conflict-sensitive programming to address emerging development and humanitarian issues underlying the ongoing crisis in the country, as well as to consolidate peace.

Duties and Responsibilities

While the nature of the PDA role varies according to country context, the four broad functions of the position which are relevant for Togo:

1. Provide strategic and analytical support to the UN leadership at country level – the Resident Coordinator/ Resident Representative (RC\RR) in his/her relations with high-level government officials, academia, civil society including women’s networks, and with the wider political and civic leadership, and to UNOWAS;
2. Identify areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders, and support to the RC/RR and UNCT in the preparation of the UN response to government requests, related to social cohesion, violent extremism, dialogue, democratic reform, conflict prevention, peacebuilding or other relevant field, including on areas related to gendered dimensions of peacebuilding and SCR 1325;
3. Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key national stakeholders, women’s networks, regional and international actors and development partners;
4. Strengthen capacity of UNDP and UNCT to undertake conflict analysis, mainstream conflict sensitivity in regular programming, ensuring that gendered dimensions are reflected in both analysis and programming.

Provide strategic and operational support to the RC/RR on conflict analysis and prevention, and assist in his/her relations with government officials, academia, civil society, including women’s and youth networks, and with the wider political and civic leadership:

• Provide continuous analysis to RC and UNCT on political developments and conflict dynamics, with a view to identifying appropriate ‘entry points’ for conflict prevention and peace building, and recommending appropriate strategic responses for the UN system, ensuring gendered dimensions of conflict are captured in both analytical efforts and reflected in UNCT programming initiatives;
• Organize, develop, and implement community and national-level initiatives to strengthen confidence in local development capacities, including through the promotion of local and national capacities for conflict prevention, resolution and dialogue.

Identify areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders, and support to RC/RR in the preparation of the UN response to government requests, related to building national capacity for conflict prevention:

• Provide technical advice related to peace-promoting activities, including with a view to supporting transparent and accountable government governance systems,
• Support the design and implementation of activities to enhance Togo’s national, institutional and civil society capacities for consensus-building, leadership, and democratic processes, and related to peace-promoting activities;
• Undertake necessary activities to build/strengthen/apply/sustain national capacities/ institutions/ processes to prevent crisis and mainstream conflict prevention interventions throughout the work of UN agencies at country level;

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key national stakeholders, regional and international actors and development partners;

• Establish and maintain networks and strategic partnerships for peace building related strategies and initiatives;
• Liaise closely with national, regional, and local stakeholders from Government and civil society, including women’s networks, faith-based groups, traditional leaders, and key international actors to identify entry points, foster dialogue and strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships on conflict prevention, reconciliation and confidence-building initiatives;
• Maintain close liaison with relevant donors and other actors supporting UNDP’s peace building efforts;
• Support UN efforts to mobilize resources for conflict prevention and sustaining peace initiatives;
• Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Headquarters including relevant focal points at UNDP/RBA and UN/DPA, including UNOWAS.

Provide strategic and technical support to UNDP and other UNCT members with regard to conflict prevention programming and work to strengthen their capacity to undertake conflict analysis and mainstream conflict sensitivity in regular programming:

• Provide guidance and support the design and implementation of strategy for identifying entry points for mainstreaming of conflict prevention and conflict sensitivity in the UNCT, including within the framework of common country planning processes (UNDAF, CPD, etc.);
• Support an integrated programmatic approach across the UNCT in the context of SDG 16 – Peace Justice and Strong Institutions;
• Conduct training for UNCT staff and key national partners on conflict analysis, conflict prevention and/or conflict-sensitive development, ensuring that the gendered dimensions of conflict are adequately reflected through analysis produced and meaningfully addressed through programmatic efforts;
• Provide analytical and strategic advice to UNCT; Support the UNCT in making programmatic linkages with the analysis provided.

Competencies

• Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work: Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them
• Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers
• People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction Level 4: Models independent thinking and action
• Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others
• Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx and hiring managers are encouraged to familiarize themselves for more information

Social Cohesion:

• Knowledge of methods and experience of supporting communities to achieve greater inclusiveness, more civic participation and creating opportunities for upward mobility Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
• Peacebuilding and Reconciliation: Ability to support peace processes to facilitate recovery and development Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
• Conflict-Sensitive Programming: Ability to use methods and tools to monitor conflict triggers and determine impact of various dynamics in conflict-prone situations Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
• Political Economy Analysis: Knowledge of the interaction of political and economic processes in a society; including distribution of power and wealth between groups and individuals, and the processes that create, sustain and transform these relationships over time, and how these dyanmics both affect, and are affected by, UNDP’s development support Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
• Knowledge Management: Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
• Relationship Management: Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
• Resource Mobilization: Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in political science, sociology, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences. In lieu of an Advanced degree, a Bachelor university degree with additional years of experience.

Experience:

• At least 7 to years of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, policy, and strategy development, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization;
• Extensive experience in research and project development;
• A proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience and track record of engagement with senior levels of government, United Nations, and donors;
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming;
• Experience in gender mainstreaming is desired;
• Sound knowledge of and extensive experience in (country/region), including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives, is an advantage.

Language:

• Fluent written and spoken English and French are required.

Tagged as: Togo