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Violent conflict has surged in recent years. In 2025, 65 state-based conflicts were recorded across 35 countries, the highest number in nearly 80 years. While the complex relationship between conflict, security and development is increasingly understood, international assistance and investment in conflict prevention have remained relatively low. At the same time, approaches to preventing conflict have been refined considerably, as policy and practice on peacebuilding have evolved – and the UN, its Member States and other partners are increasingly looking to prevention as a critical strategy for sustaining peace and nurturing development. Conflict prevention is increasingly recognized as a rational and cost-effective strategy for countries at risk of violence and for the international community.
To ensure that PDAs are better equipped and empowered to deliver on their mandates, the Joint Programme has established ‘Peace, Development and Peacebuilding Fund teams’ in a number of contexts, where a national Peace and Development Officer provides reinforced capacity to the PDA’s engagement in support of the RCO (Resident Coordinator’s Office) and UNCT in the area of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. In Somalia, the Joint Programme and the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office (PBPSO) deploy the Peace and Development and Peacebuilding Fund Advisor (PD/PBFA), to whom the Peace and Development Officer (PDO) will report.
Operationally, the PDO supports the PD/PBFA in enhancing coherence across UN entities, government counterparts, civil society, and development partners to deliver unified results. To support robust governance, the PDO assists the Advisor in servicing local mechanisms such as the PBF Joint Steering Committee, helping to ensure that all PBF allocations are catalytic, conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive, and grounded in regular political economy and conflict analysis. The PDO further contributes to the Advisor’s efforts to build strategic partnerships with donors, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and alternative financing mechanisms to scale up successful initiatives, in close collaboration with the Somalia Joint Fund Secretariat.
Somalia has made notable progress in state-building and reform momentum over the past decade, including the milestone achievement of the Completion Point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative in December 2023, and the launching of a new National Transformation Plan (NTP) in early 2025, which sets out the authorities’ medium-term reform priorities, including enhancing governance, economic diversification, human capital development, and environmental resilience.
But Somalia continues to face multi-faceted challenges, including contestation around electoral and constitutional processes; challenged relations between Federal and some State governments; the presence of non-state armed actors; and cyclical climate shocks exacerbated by insecurity that cause recurrent humanitarian crises. The political Mission UNTMIS (previously UNSOM), present in the country since 2013, is in the process of drawing down, with a planned exit by 31 October 2026, and transition of responsibilities to the Federal Government of Somalia, UN Country Team (UNCT), and other partners.
The new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, launched in June 2026, is aligned with the NTP priorities, as well as with the UNTMIS transition roadmaps. Following the mission’s departure, the UNCT must ensure that peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity are infused across its programming in the new Cooperation Framework. In 2026, Somalia applied for renewed eligibility for the Peace Building Fund (PBF), based on a strong history of prior engagement. The Government counterpart to the PBF is the Federal Ministry of Interior, Federalism and Reconciliation (MoIFAR), which launched a National Reconciliation Framework for Conflict Resolution and Prevention in 2023.
The Peace and Development Officer works under the direct supervision of the PD/PBFA, to provide substantive support in three main areas of activity, including:
- Assist with research, information-gathering, and analysis with specific focus on supporting and promoting peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
- Identify programming entry-points and support inclusive and conflict-sensitive approaches in efforts to build national capacities for conflict prevention, particularly with regard to civil society, including women’s and youth networks.
- Provide technical support for coordination, partnerships, and monitoring and evaluation.
Education:
- An Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Conflict Resolution, Peace Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Human Rights, International Relations, Economics, Law, Public Administration, or other related social sciences is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
Minimum of two (2) years (with master’s degree) or four (4) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in conflict analysis, strategy development, development and/or conflict prevention in a governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization is required.
- Extensive experience in analysis, research and sound drafting skills is an asset.
- Minimum of one (1) year of experience in project/programme development, management is highly desirable.
- Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming is desirable.
In-depth knowledge of and extensive experience in Somalia, including in dialogue and conflict prevention initiatives. Awareness and familiarity with key actors and stakeholders across the political, economic, and development spheres, alongside knowledge of government, civil society, and other non-state actors, is desirable.
Language requirements (Required / Desired)
- Fluency in written and spoken Somali and English is required.
- Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
Other
- Qualified female candidates are especially encouraged to apply
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