Mali is part of Sahel region and marked by fragility accentuated by multifaceted crises (governance and rule of law, security and humanitarian). This fragility is due amongst others to a deficit of resilience (vulnerability to internal and external shocks); a lack of sustained investment (economic, social and infrastructural); and a governance deficit (financial, institutional, territorial).
Since the signing of the agreement for peace and national reconciliation in May 2015, the development context in Mali has dramatically changed with a rapid deterioration of the security situation in the northern region with its gradual impact in the central regions of Mopti and Segou. Indeed, despite the combined efforts of the government and its partners, the Algiers Agreement did not put an end to the armed conflict, it rather engendered a total reconfiguration of the conflict by changing the nature of it and displacing the conflict to the center of Mali, in the Macina and in the cross-border area of Liptako -Gourma (Burkina, Mali and Niger).  
While conflict in the Centre regions initially were resource driven, in recent years the violence has taken on an ethnic and intra-communal nature.   The spread of conflict in these densely populated areas has led to massive displacement of people and killings that sometimes target communities and civilians. Conflict-related violence has reached an unprecedented level of severity in the Mopti region with more than 600 civilians killed in various attacks since the beginning of 2019. The number of internally displaced persons fleeing the violence almost quadrupled in the Mopti and Ségou regions between May 2018 and May 2019, from 18,000 to 70,000, representing 58 per cent of the total number of internally displaced persons in the country which is about 120,000. These conflicts have led to the dysfunction and/or cessation, in places, of basic social services such as education and health care and negatively impacted livelihoods of the local population.
Several other challenges, including the impact of climate change, the lack of political dialogue and inclusive governance, growing social tensions, the perception of marginalization and exclusion, the weakness of the education system and the advance of religious conservatism are the deep causes that crystallize the Malian conflict.  Weak state administration, erosion in justice systems, worsening crime, corruption and general impunity are significant challenges to rights, security and inclusion.
The 2015 peace agreement explicitly recognized the importance of addressing the various causes of the conflict, including weak responses to people’s expectations and aspirations and provides opportunities for security, humanitarian and development actors to respond in an integrated and coherent manner to strengthen stabilisation, recovery and peace in the country.  
UNDP along with other development partners, including MINUSMA remain committed to support the Government, local authorities, in the country’s efforts to restore the state authority, strengthen rule of law and sustain peace through social cohesion, national reconciliation, empowering vulnerable groups, especially women and young people and the implementation of the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.
With the current UNDP Country Programme for Mali ending in December 2019, the Country Office is in the midst of finalizing its new Country cooperation framework for 2020-2024. This framework will be aligned to the Government’s priorities expressed in the new National Development Plan (CREDD 2019-2024) and aims to provide strategic responses in the areas of democratic governance, conflict prevention, economic growth, adaptation to climate change and inclusive sustainable development in line with the UNDP 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.  
Over the next five years, UNDP Mali intends to provide specific and innovative responses to support the Government of Mali in this critical period, accompanying the peacebuilding process and operationalizing the “Humanitarian–Development-Peace nexus” to towards sustainable recovery and development. The new Programme aims to contribute to the emergence of a Malian society where citizens regain confidence in their institutions, live in an environment of peace, resilient to crises and enjoy the fruits of inclusive growth and fundamental rights. Given the regional dimension of the crisis in the Sahel, UNDP will strengthen its cross-border approach in the implementation of the program and particularly in the Liptako Gourma region (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso).
Against this background, UNDP Mali is seeking suitable candidates for the position of Crisis Prevention and Recovery (CPR) Advisor (P5). Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme).  The CPR Advisor , acts as a senior advisor to CO Management on all aspects of peace, humanitarian and resilience. The Advisor leads UNDP’s involvement including via leading strategic and programmatic orientation in the areas of conflict prevention, reconciliation, social cohesion and livelihoods with the overall objective to strengthen resilience of the population and address the drivers of instability. The Advisor as focal point will contribute to the UN Integrated Support for the Sahel (UNISS) with focus on Liptako Gourma Facility and cross-border collaboration with Niger and Burkina Faso.
The Advisor ensures that UNDP plays its integrator role in crisis and fragility. S/he works in close collaboration with Government officials, MINUSMA, UN Agencies, UNDP Global Policy Network, development partners and civil society to strategically position UNDP in conflict prevention and resilience. The Advisor on behalf of UNDP will also lead efforts to operationalize the New Way of Working in Mali and represent UNDP in related technical groups and coordination bodies.

As a senior member of the CO management team, ensures sound strategic direction of UNDP interventions in stabilisation and resilience focusing on the following:

• Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the immediate response context, including a gender analysis and provision of strategic advice to CO Management;
• Support joint analysis with the Government and UNDP main partners in fragile and post conflict areas, including but not limited to the EU, World Bank and bilateral partners;
• Identification of strategic opportunities and potential conflict prevention (including infrastructure for peace), stabilisation, and resilience areas of cooperation, including opportunities for joint programming with UN agencies and other development partners;
• Ensures alignment and coordination of projects related to the crisis with other project activities of the CO as well as those of UN Agencies and capitalizes on synergies where possible;
• Ensures mainstreaming of cross-cutting UN/UNDP priorities in conflict prevention, stabilisation, humanitarian and resilience projects, in particular environment, gender, human rights and disaster risk reduction;
• Ensure that women’s needs, and priorities are integrated into conflict prevention and resilience programming;
• Champion the operationalization of the New Way of Working it the national and local level through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus and the localization agenda;

Ensures effective management of the conflict prevention and resilience project portfolio and supervision of the project teams achieving the following results:

• Oversight of PBF programmes and its strategic management to include guidance and management of project team and strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the crisis-related projects in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations
• Design and formulation of new stabilization and resilience projects, in support of the implementation of the Country Programme Document.
• Ensure the conflict prevention and resilience portfolio of the CO is coherently aligned on sustaining peace approach and support the priorities outlined in different strategic documents (UNSDCF, ISF, etc.)
• Effective response to operational issues, using existing POPP modalities to fast track recruitments and procurements and solving operational bottlenecks in a timely manner.
• Effective monitoring continuous analysis of the programme environment.
• Ensure regular contact with the Peacebuilding Support Office on the implementation of PBF-funded projects and provide monthly reports on status of implementation;

Establishes and maintains strategic partnerships and resource mobilization for projects in stabilisation and Resilience

• Development and implementation of partnerships and resources mobilization strategies to achieve stabilisation and resilience outcomes.
• Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, MINUSMA, development partners, IFI, government institutions, private sector, civil society, women’s civil society groups and national women’s machineries, etc.
• Determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on the ISF, UNISS, UNSDCF and/or HRP and outcomes of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus discussions.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.

Ensures provision of top quality and strategic advisory services, capacity building and facilitation of knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of stabilisation and resilience effort.
• Provision of top-quality policy and strategic advice to Government on development and implementation of conflict prevention and resiliency policies and strategies.
• Identification, sharing and application of international best practices and lessons on resilience related issues relevant to the country’s needs and goals.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Capacity building for country office staff (programme and operations).

Innovation

• Transforms and Inspires Actions : Level 6: Exercises stakeholder-centered design approaches for office / programme / division

Leadership

• Inspires organization to take on new challenges, reach higher performance :Level 6: Ensures teams are resourced for success  and empowered to deliver

People Management

• Creates culture of ownership Guides substantive specialists : Level 6: Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity

Communication

• Represents organization, inspires, influences and changes intractable position : Level 6: Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen

Delivery

• Creates new opportunities for work : Level 6: Accepts accountability for the outcomes of programme delivery and facilitates improvement and innovation in the delivery of products and services

Emergency response and coordination

• Ability to lead organizational response to emergency situations : Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Recovery support and implementation

• Ability to support and implement mechanisms, processes, resources in response to disaster/crisis : Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Crisis Policy and Tools

• Ability to develop and implement methods and tools for crisis situations :Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Strategic Planning  

• Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission :Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Trends and Emerging Areas Analytics

• Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiatives to bring into policy and programme design Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Partnerships

• Ability to manage engagement with other agencies, donors and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Representation

• Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues): Level 6: Integrate & Empower: Leads integral work of teams utilizing expertise, vision, problem-solving capability, and collaborative energy in professional area of expertise

Education:

• A Master’s degree, preferably in international development, international affairs, business administration, development economics, or other relevant field

Experience:

• At least 10 years field experience, with a minimum 5 years international experience in countries facing situation of protracted crisis and fragility;
• Extensive experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of prevention and resilience strategies and projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments.
• Knowledge and understanding of crisis prevention, preparedness, response and recovery; resilience; stabilisation; transition; etc.); international crisis response architecture (including humanitarian system; peacekeeping operations; special political missions; etc.); gender equality in the context of programming in humanitarian and early recovery settings) and relevant policy and tools
• Proven ability to coordinate crisis response with UN entities, including knowledge of UN policies and procedures on crisis response and complex emergencies, as well as related management of information;
• Experience in conflict and resilience programming
• Experience working in a crisis context as part of UN Management highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluent and proficient in English and French.

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UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension