Org. Setting and Reporting

The Head of Office, Political Affairs (Strategic Planning) will lead, coordinate, and advise on the strategic planning and implementation of MINUSCA’s consolidation process, ensuring a smooth, evidence-based, and nationally owned handover of tasks to the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and/or the UN Country Team, in line with Security Council mandates and timelines. Deliverables as per Para 48 of SCR 2800 (2025) • Consolidation strategic planning framework and roadmap aligned with CAR Government priorities. • Regular progress reports and risk assessments. • Draft of the Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council (by 15 September 2026). • Recommendations for capacity-building and sustainability of handover. This position is located in the Office of the Mission Chief of Staff within the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central Africa Republic (MINUSCA). The incumbent will be based in Bangui and will report to the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) through the Mission Chief of Staff (CoS).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Head of Office, Political Affairs (Strategic Planning) will be responsible for the following duties: Consolidation Strategy & Host Country Engagement Provide strategic advice to MINUSCA leadership for engagement with the host Government, on consolidation strategic planning scenarios, risks, and opportunities, advising on priorities, feasibility, sequencing, and timelines for task handover to ensure national ownership. Support structured dialogue led by the SRSG with the Host Government and stakeholder engagement to support collaborative consolidation strategic planning initiatives. Formulate and oversee a comprehensive consolidation strategic plan, ensuring alignment with mandate, the political strategy (2023-2028), and SRSG’s strategic guidance; monitor and report on performance against indicators, including mandated reporting to the General Assembly. Strategic Planning, Analysis & Reporting Lead integrated, evidence-based analysis using UMOJA, CPAS and other performance tools to assess mandate delivery, mission impact, and evolving conditions. Coordinate analytical inputs and strategic planning elements for the Secretary-General’s mandated report to the Security Council, detailing consolidation strategic planning progress, handover plans, and adjustment strategies. Track progress on consolidation strategic planning benchmarks, prepare periodic assessments, and provide recommendations on strategies, policies, and measures to advance mandated objectives. Ensure timely, high-quality data-driven reporting to Mission leadership on developments and emerging issues; manage preparation of analytical reports, situation reports, briefing notes, and contextual information materials. Prepare comprehensive reports and monitor progress through performance management Maintain effective information management systems to guarantee accessibility and utility of data for decision-making. Planning, Coordination and Facilitation Develop and maintain productive relationships with the authorities, political and community leaders, civil society actors, the UN family and other national and international partners on coordination and policy matters. Provide leadership in joint planning with UNCT and national counterparts, aligning with UN consolidation strategic planning policies, and strengthening coordination mechanisms to support a whole-of-UN approach to sustainable peace consolidation. Oversee the design of mission-wide consolidation strategic planning strategies and drawdown options, ensuring coherence across mission pillars, robust risk analysis, and safeguarding gains in peacebuilding and institutional capacity. Coordinate with UN Country Team, regional organizations, and donors to align consolidation strategic planning efforts with long-term peacebuilding and development objectives. Capacity Building & Institutional Support Support Host Government institutions in assuming responsibilities for governance, security, and service delivery. Identify capacity gaps and recommend targeted support measures to strengthen national institutions. Assess risks that could undermine peace and stability during consolidation strategic planning and propose mitigation strategies. Ensure consolidation plans safeguard long-term stabilization objectives and national priorities. Provide good offices on behalf of the SRSG, as appropriate, and perform other duties as requested by CoS/SRSG.

Competencies

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements. 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 Communication: Strong diplomatic, negotiation, and communication skills. 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 the 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 own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, social science, economics, law, public administration, or a related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, programme management, project management, strategic planning, or a related field is required. Experience in strategic planning, mission strategic planning, and inter-agency coordination in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required. Extensive experience in outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice and reporting is required. Experience using evidence-based - strategic planning tools such as UMOJA Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Performance Management, the Comprehensive Performance Assessment System (CPAS), or comparable performance management tools is required. Experience working in or in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international or non-governmental organization is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.