SRO-EA Consultant on Interlinkages between Development, Peace and Security, Human Rights and Humanitarian Support at United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA): (Deadline 18 October 2021)

WORK LOCATIONHome Based and Kigali

EXPECTED DURATIONThe assignment is expected to be delivered within a period of 1 month, from October to November 2021. Subject to the acceptance of the deliverables by ECA, the consultant shall be paid a maximum of US$ 7,000 (Seven thousand United States Dollars), for the entire duration of the assignment (1 month).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESBACKGROUND
While inter-state armed and violent conflicts have significantly diminished in Africa, conflict still persists in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa. There are also protracted armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Sudan. The United Nations has peacekeeping missions in these countries. This has resulted in refugee situations and displacement of unprecedented levels. This phenomenon affects growth and development, and has a very clear human cost. Uganda and Ethiopia hosted more than half of the 3.8 million refugees in the sub-region and 66 percent of refugees originated from DR Congo, Somalia and South Sudan. Environmental conditions have also exacerbated the situation. Worth noting is that some of the countries in the region serve as source and host countries simultaneously.

Conflicts due to diminishing scarce resources including grazing land and water are not uncommon in the region, resulting in displacement and humanitarian crises, as is evident in the Horn of Africa. Attacks by extremist groups continue to fuel displacement in many African countries and exacerbate inter-community tensions. Conflict over natural resources such as precious stones and minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and oil South Sudan have also triggered some of the worst violence and largest waves of displacement in the region.

Both the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Africa Union Agenda 2063 strongly recognize the principles of “inclusiveness” and “leaving no one behind”. Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies embodies this principle in a fundamental way. Most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 goals are also relevant to conflict prevention peace and security. Thus, peace and security is both a driver and outcome of a steady accumulation of actions towards the attainment of the SDGs and the AU Agenda 2063 goals. Without addressing the nexus between human rights, development, humanitarian, peace and security pillars, Eastern Africa risks erosion of gains made thus far in addressing peace. The intergovernmental authority on development (IGAD) work on conflict prevention, management and resolution through its focus on peace, security and politics, needs to give impetus to its early warning mechanisms.

Eastern Africa’s Response
Within Eastern Africa, we see RECs adopting different approaches to conflict. IGAD recently reviewed its draft Protocol on Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution while the EAC Conflict Management Act (2012) continue to guide its conflict resolution efforts. For Eastern Africa, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and other initiatives, particularly the AU Horn of Africa initiative are central to the development, peace and security initiatives. They have contributed to initiatives for the promotion of democracy and conflict management, including peace-making and peacekeeping in Burundi, the DRC, Somalia and South Sudan. The AU themes of 2019 and 2020, “the Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”, and “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development”, respectively, are efforts towards ending conflicts and achieving lasting peace and sustainable development on the continent. The need for comprehensive responses to protracted crises is clear given the increase in climate related disasters, the increase in conflict related humanitarian needs (80% of all appeals), with an unprecedented 79.5 million displaced people worldwide as of the end of 2019 .

The nexus of human rights and peace and security is important. To be able to find durable solutions to conflicts human rights must be guaranteed, and in order to safeguard human rights, violent conflicts must be kept at bay. Contemporary human rights research and policy-making are concerned with a wide spectrum of programmes focusing on civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights and also with a number of principles that can influence all programmes regardless of their goals.
Furthermore, the United Nations Secretary General and the African Union Commission Chairperson have made a commitment to work together towards the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in recognition of the nexus between peace and security, human rights and development. The two principals have signed the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security (the Peace and Security Framework) and the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the Development Framework.) They are expected to sign the Joint Human Rights Framework soon. Additionally, there exists an MOU between the UN and the AU on Humanitarian Action.

Justification

Against the foregoing, Sub-Regional for Eastern Africa Office of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (SRO-EA), seeks to organize an AEGM during its annual statutory Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) to interrogate interlinkages between development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian pillars.

DESCRIPTION OF TASKS
The execution of the assignment will be informed by primary data and information obtained through a questionnaire survey, interviews and insights obtained during the session during the ICSOE on the interlinkages between development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian support. Specific tasks to be undertaken by the consultant include but are not limited to the following:

– Launch a survey to capture better understanding of interlinkages between development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian support;
– Conduct stakeholder interviews with selected RECs;
– Make a presentation on the interlinkages study findings during the SRO-EA ICSOE;
– Produce the meeting report;
– Revise the study based on feedback from the SRO-EA ICSOE.

QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIAL SKILLS

Competency: The consultant must possess excellent drafting abilities and have proven abilities to prepare reports in a clear, concise and compelling manner. He/she should be able to interact, with senior officials and other stakeholders and individuals.
Skills: The consultant shall have a good and demonstrable record for publishing in disciplines relevant to the assignment. Ability to make presentations to high level officials is an advantage.
Academic Qualifications: Masters Degree, MBA or equivalent in political science, economics, development economics/studies, sustainable development, peace and conflict studies, International relations, human rights, or related discipline is required.
Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in policy development, sustainable development, development work, and multilateral peace and security in Africa is required. Experience in the normative and/ or operational work of the United Nations Development System in Africa is highly desirable
Language: The consultant shall be fluent in written and spoken English or French. Good working knowledge of the other language is desirable.

NO FEE

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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