The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. The vision of UNIDIR is a stable and more secure world in which States and people are protected from threats of arms-related violence. The role of UNIDIR is to support Member States, the United Nations and policy and research communities in advancing ideas and actions that contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. UNIDIR is based in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict (MEAC) Project seeks to understand how and why people exit armed groups, disarm, and fully and sustainable transition into civilian life. MEAC’s work advances UNIDIR’s mandate, particularly with regard to enhancing the international community’s knowledge of micro-disarmament and the interventions that promote it.

The objective of this position is to coordinate MEAC’s research tools across different case studies, including advancing MEAC’s ability to design and contextualize surveys, adjust skip logic, ensure consistency across surveys in different countries, work with local researchers to transfer translations, contribute to enumerator training and other tools, ensure all tools are publishable, and support analysis where necessary.

Responsibilities

Within UNIDIR’s MEAC Project, the Associate Project Coordinator will perform the following duties under the supervision of MEAC’s Head of Project.

• Design surveys (in multiple languages) in google sheets;
• Work with the survey programmer to ensure skip logic is working correctly in SurveyCTO;
• Work with local researchers to ensure translations are updated correctly;
• Review and test surveys on a tablet and phone to ensure that the surveys run properly and trouble shoot potential issues (e.g., translations, skip logic);
• Troubleshoot specific problems with surveys as identified;
• Contribute to updating training modules for local research teams;
• Contribute to mainstreaming questions across different case studies;
• Contribute to contextualization and operationalization guides;
• Design the MEAC publishable toolkit and the accompanying training modules;
• Contribute to research, data analysis, and literature reviews, including published outputs such as findings reports;
• Coordinate with different parts of the MEAC team (e.g., substantive country leads, data scientists, and data managers) to streamline workflows and ensure complementarity.

Schedule for the Proposed Work

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

Performance Indicators

The Associate Project Coordinator will be evaluated at the end of the contract. Performance indicators include:

• Assignments are completed on time and to the satisfaction of the Head of Project.
• Engagement is professional, team oriented, and positive.
• Active participation in the activities of Institute.
• The Associate Project Coordinator demonstrates the core values of the UN and the core competencies described below in the discharge of their duties.

The Associate Project Coordinator is always to demonstrate the core values of the United Nations: Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity.

In addition, in this role, the Associate Project Coordinator will demonstrate the following competences:

• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in international affairs/security, political science, international law, peace studies, conflict studies or 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.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years’ of progressively responsible experience in action research related to conflict, policy, and interventions.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with UN partners on matters related to conflict, non-state armed groups, reintegration, and peacebuilding.
• Specific experience with survey and research tool design, including the use of SurveyCTO.
• Proven experience in coordinating with local research teams.
• A track record in conducting conflict-sensitive and gender-sensitive policy research and analysis and experience in the process of reviewing and revising project outputs is required.
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate in English – both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and produce outputs on tight deadlines.
• Computer competency, including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), is required.
• Knowledge of gender issues or experience with gender mainstreaming in a field relevant to the position is desirable.

Language

For this assignment, fluency in English is required.

Assessment

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

Travel

Occasional travel might be required for this role. The Associate Project Coordinator must complete the UN course BSAFE (online) and provide UNIDIR with a certificate of completion.

Copyright

UNIDIR retains copyright of all documents and the ownership of the intellectual property resulting from all work carried out under this contract. The Associate Project Coordinator warrants that any written work will be original works 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 Associate Project Coordinator.

How to apply

The applicant should submit:

• A cover letter
• A CV, or PDF of a UN Personal History Profile (PHP) created via Inspira
• Name and contact details of three references.

Applications should be sent as email attachments, with the subject line “Application: MEAC Associate Project Coordinator” to E-Mail schreiben. No applications will be accepted by post. Deadline for submission of applications is 22 December, 2023. Closing date is midnight Geneva time.

Please note

Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you move forward in the process, you may be contacted for further assessment.

UNIDIR promotes the core values of the United Nations: Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity.

UNIDIR is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.