ABC Liaison Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations, addressing global challenges through collective action. The UN operates in various sectors, including humanitarian aid, development, and human rights, with a presence in nearly every country around the world. The organization employs thousands of staff members and collaborates with numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governmental bodies to achieve its goals. The UN is committed to fostering sustainable development and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly in conflict-affected areas like South Sudan.

Job Overview:
The ABC Liaison Officer position is crucial in supporting the Area-Based Coordination (ABC) model in South Sudan, particularly in the context of escalating humanitarian needs and complex socio-political challenges. The officer will work closely with the ABC Coordination Officer and various stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, and local government authorities, to facilitate effective communication and coordination. The role involves implementing community-based approaches to prioritize programming and ensuring that local-level plans align with broader humanitarian, development, and peace initiatives. The officer will also be responsible for monitoring progress against agreed-upon indicators and contributing to the visibility of UN efforts in the region. This position is essential for driving coherent action across the peace, development, and humanitarian pillars, ultimately aiming to improve the lives of affected populations in South Sudan.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The ABC Liaison Officer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the implementation and follow-up of the Area-Based Coordination model, ensuring alignment with joint plan commitments and sectoral priorities.
• Providing liaison support to the ABC Coordinator and subnational stakeholders, facilitating effective communication and issue resolution among local government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and community representatives.
• Organizing and facilitating regular coordination meetings, ensuring proper documentation and timely follow-up on action points.
• Monitoring local developments and providing regular updates on risks, challenges, and opportunities to the ABC Coordinator and relevant UNCT/HCT structures.
• Supporting the integration of humanitarian, development, and peace initiatives, ensuring coherence across sectors and partners.
• Coordinating field-level follow-up on agreements made at national-level coordination platforms, including support for joint missions and data collection.
• Assisting in the preparation of field-level briefing notes, reports, and talking points that reflect local realities.
• Contributing to communications products that highlight UN efforts and community-level impacts.
• Ensuring timely sharing of information between local actors and the broader coordination architecture, promoting two-way communication.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in development studies, international relations, public administration, or a related field. A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in coordination, development, or humanitarian programming is required. Experience working with UN agencies, NGOs, or government institutions in South Sudan is essential. Familiarity with area-based approaches, the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus, and durable solutions is desirable. Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills are required, along with the ability to work independently and manage complex tasks. A commitment to gender equality and conflict sensitivity is also desirable.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree, specifically a master's degree or higher, in fields such as development studies, international relations, public administration, or other related disciplines. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of humanitarian and development work in a challenging context like South Sudan.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in coordination, development, or humanitarian programming. This experience should ideally include working with UN agencies, NGOs, or government institutions in South Sudan, which is critical for understanding the local context and operational dynamics. Familiarity with area-based approaches and the HDP Nexus is also beneficial, as it aligns with the objectives of the position.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but English is the primary language of communication within the UN and is essential for effective coordination and reporting.

Additional Notes:
This position is specifically for South Sudanese nationals only, emphasizing the UN's commitment to local capacity building and employment. The role is expected to last for a duration of 3 months, and it is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process.