Researcher (Conventional Weapons Programme)

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institution within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems.

UNIDIR’s Conventional Weapons Programme develops ideas and actions to prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of the unregulated proliferation and misuse of conventional arms and ammunition. Through this work, it lays the foundations for peace, security and sustainable development. The programme undertakes action-oriented field research and convenes multi-stakeholder dialogues to provide advisory support and practical tools for addressing the uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of conventional arms and ammunition. 

The selected Researcher will play a key role in supporting the programme’s work on armed violence prevention and weapons and ammunition management (WAM) in West and Central Africa, as part of the “Lomé Initiative”, which aims to strengthen armed violence prevention in the region. S/he will work in close cooperation with the initiative’s other implementing partners, the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and the Government of Switzerland. Over two years, the initiative will support national partners in advancing integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM; develop a training module on integrated approaches; foster regional dialogue in West Africa; initiate a process on integrated approaches in Central Africa; and engage in policy processes.

Responsibilities

Within the Conventional Weapons Programme and under the supervision of the Head of Programme, the Researcher will be responsible for the following duties:

Lead support to national partners in operationalizing integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM in West Africa:

• Substantively prepare and facilitate kick-off, concluding and substantive workshops in up to four partner countries in West Africa on strategic entry points for implementing integrated approaches, including by providing request-based technical advice in close cooperation with partner countries.

• Establish and maintain a network of local, national and regional WAM and prevention stakeholders in partner countries.

• Substantively prepare and facilitate one roundtable to disseminate relevant research products on WAM and armed violence prevention in up to three additional countries in West Africa.

• Draw up concise and analytical summaries of facilitated workshops and review input papers.

Support the work of an expert group on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Support the substantive preparations of an expert group, composed of West and Central African stakeholders and tasked with developing a training curriculum on integrated approaches.

• Provide technical inputs to the expert group and attend virtual and in-person workshops.

• Review the developed training curriculum.

• Draft a concise internal lessons-learned report on the training curriculum development process.

Support regional dialogue in West Africa on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Contribute substantively to the preparation and facilitation of a regional dialogue in West Africa and deliver expert presentations.

• Support effective communication with participants, as necessary.

Coordinate research and dialogue in Central Africa on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Coordinate and provide technical advice on integrated approaches to national data collectors in Central African countries, and supervise the data collection process.

• Support the substantive preparation and lead the conduct of research missions to up to four Central African countries, including by conducting semi-structured interviews with a range of stakeholders and supporting communication with relevant stakeholders.

• Review internal background notes prepared by national data collectors and ensure quality assurance, together with other UNIDIR experts.

• Review and provide technical inputs to input papers.

• Support the substantive preparation and facilitation of a regional dialogue in Central Africa and deliver expert presentations, as necessary.

• Support engagement outreach with key regional and national stakeholders in Central Africa, as necessary, to inform about the research activities and seek political support.

Engage in policy outreach and dissemination of research findings on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Participate in and deliver expert presentations in policy engagement events at regional, continental and international levels, as requested.

Schedule of the proposed work 

A workplan for the duration of the contract will be established within the first two weeks of the contract. The Researcher will have regular communication with the Head of Programme, in order to set assignments within the workplan and monitor progress. S/he will inform the Head of Programme if there are any issues concerning meeting agreed deliverables and deadlines.

Competencies

The Researcher is required to demonstrate the core values of the United Nations: Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity. In addition, s/he will demonstrate the following competences:

• Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; ability to take ownership and demonstrate a willingness to accept responsibilities; ability to apply good judgment, exercise a fair degree of autonomy and personal initiative, including to work independently within established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; knowledge of relevant stakeholders in the fields of disarmament and arms control, peacebuilding, international security, peace or defence economics; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; able to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect their own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates an appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Travel

The Researcher will be required to travel during the course of this assignment. Dates and locations will be determined during implementation of relevant projects. S/he must complete the UN course BSAFE (online) and other mandatory UN trainings.

Qualifications and experience

Education

• Advanced university degree in international affairs, political science, disarmament and arms control, peace studies, international security or a related field is required for this post.

Experience

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in the prevention of violent extremism, armed violence prevention, conventional arms control and/or peace and security in West Africa and/or Central Africa is required;

• Demonstrable experience of conducting and analysing semi-structured interviews on sensitive security issues in West Africa and/or Central Africa is required;

• A proven track record of drafting written outputs and producing policy-relevant publications is required;

• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue processes and in advising local and national stakeholders is required;

• Experience of conducting research on the links between conventional arms control and the prevention of armed violence or on root causes of armed violence is required;

• Experience working in or with, and building strong relationships with, international and regional organizations, national government institutions in West African and/or Central African States, specialized NGOs, think-tanks and/or academic institutions in the fields of conventional arms control, armed violence prevention and/or peace and security is required;

• Knowledge of gender issues or experience with gender mainstreaming in a field relevant to the position is desirable.

Language

Fluency in English and French (both written and oral) is required.

Copyright

UNIDIR retains copyright of all documents and the ownership of the intellectual property resulting from all work carried out under this contract. The Researcher warrants that any written work will be original work or that where s/he incorporates copyright material from another source, copyright permission for its use will be obtained. Written output(s) may be attributed to the Researcher.