GPPAC Advocacy Liaison Officer to the United Nations

The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, (GPPAC), and the World Federalist Movement / Institute for Global Policy, (WFM-IGP), are looking for an Advocacy Liaison Officer to the United Nations.

Starting date: August 1^st, 2013
Location: WFM-IGP Office in New York
Deadline for applications: May 24^th 2013

The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) is a worldwide network of civil society organizations working on the prevention of violent conflict. The GPPAC Foundation in The Hague fulfills the task of Global Secretariat for GPPAC.

GPPAC was established in 2003 in response to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's 2001 report on the Prevention of Armed Conflict, in which he urged civil society to organize its role in this field. GPPAC builds on decades of prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding work throughout the world and is organized through fifteen regional networks, each of which has developed an agenda to reflect regional principles and priorities, feeding into an overall Global Action Agenda and supported by a Strategic Plan for 2011-2015.

GPPAC is currently pursuing thematic work in the field of Preventive Action, Human Security, Dialogue & Mediation and Peace Education and has programs on Policy and Advocacy, Public Outreach and Network Strengthening. For more information see:www.gppac.net or www.peaceportal.org.

GPPAC is developing an international advocacy infrastructure aimed at closely monitoring the work of key international organizations, follow up relevant debates and identify entry points to provide the inputs of civil society in the development of conflict prevention and peacebuilding policies. GPPAC has established an advocacy presence in New York thanks to its collaboration with the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP).

GPPAC and WFM-IGP are currently looking for and Advocacy Liaison Officer to the United Nations. The position is based in New York. Under overall supervision of GPPAC Program Manager for Policy and Advocacy and WFM-IGP Director of Programs, the Liaison officer responsibilities include:

Advocacy Support

• Participate as necessary in lobbying efforts.
• Represent GPPAC as needed in meetings with other civil society groups, UN officials, Member States and other stakeholders.
• Work on the monitoring of the UN Peacebuilding architecture, including a joint project on the UN Peacebuilding Commission, as well as other GPPAC/WFM-IGP project activities on a daily basis.
• Provide a key stable contact for GPPAC in New York/UN Headquarters.
• Provide policy and other analysis of developments at UN Headquarters, related to peacebuilding, conflict prevention, gender and other related matters, as needed.

Communications and media support

• Maintain the Together for a Better Peace project website (betterpeace.org) and regularly contribute to the GPPAC website and Portal.
• Contribute to the drafting of articles, opinion pieces and other media related products.
• Keep staff, partners, and other constituencies informed of activities, including a weekly update of the liaison's activities and issues being monitored at the UN. 
• Prepare and distribute communications-related materials, as needed.

Logistical/Planning Support

• GPPAC visits: Support in planning and arranging logistics, note-taking and report/minutes drafting.
• Meetings, conference calls for GPPAC and other related groups: support planning, work on agenda setting, arrange meetings, note-taking and report/minutes drafting.

Administrative support.

• Contribute to donor reporting..
• Maintain related files as needed.
• Any other administrative tasks as needed.

Applicant Profile

 Strategic thinker with previous experience in advocacy and lobbying, sensitive to practitioners' needs while able to deal with the complexity of the UN system.  Good analytical and communication skills (written and oral), comfortable in working across different cultures and committed to the values of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.  Education: University Bachelor's degree (Masters degree preferred) in the field of international relations, public policy, conflict prevention, peace, development studies or similar.  Work Experience: Two to five years of relevant work experience, including experience in a civil society environment, ideally with experience in civil society networking, preferably work experience in a conflict area.  Languages: Fluent in English and preferably also other languages (French and Arabic will be specially valued).  Skills: outstanding communication and listening skills within complex organizational and cross-cultural environments, able to maintain a professional network of appropriate contacts, shows initiative, accurate, proven writing and editing skills, strong project management skills, knowledge of the UN system and how UN policies are developed.  Terms Full-Time, with benefits; Compensation is commensurate with experience and salary history ($45K to $55K). 

How to Apply

 Interested candidates should send: A Curriculum Vitae;A Cover Letter stating your interest in this position, GPPAC and WFM-IGP;Three references (name, title, affiliation and phone number);Information on authorization to work in the United States (citizen, permanent resident, Practical Training, etc.).   Email your complete application to Ms. Jelena Pia-Comella, jobs@wfm-igp.org  Please label the subject line according to this structure: GPPAC UN Liaison, last name, first name.  Deadline: May 24, 2013.   WFM-IGP and GPPAC are equal opportunity employers, strongly committed to hiring and retaining a diverse and internationally representative staff. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.