Durable Solutions Analyst – Programme Management & Operations

The two-year conflict in Northern Ethiopia has triggered a major humanitarian crisis in Afar, Amhara and Tigray. The toll from the war has been enormous: significant loss of lives; more than 2.6 million IDPs needing humanitarian assistance; large-scale damage to infrastructure and services, estimated by the Government at USD 20 billion; and profound adverse effects on development, hamstringing Ethiopia’s ambitious economic and governance reform programmes. 

On 2 November 2022, in Pretoria, an Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities was signed between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GoE) and the TPLF. Led by the AU, the Peace Agreement has ended active combat in Northern Ethiopia and raised hope for a gradual restoration of services and humanitarian operations in the region. This wide-ranging agreement committed, among other things, to an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities, the restoration of federal authority in Tigray, the creation of an interim administration pending regional elections, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants (XCs), resumption of unhindered humanitarian access, the restoration of essential services, reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returning refugees, transitional justice, social cohesion and reconciliation, and recovery and reconstruction.

It is in this context that UNDP has developed a ‘Peace Support Programme/Facility (PSP/F)’ nested within the Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) but focused on urgent actions over the next 24 months to stabilize conditions, restore a sense of normalcy and deliver a first peace dividend to conflict-impacted populations. The strategic goal of the PSP/F is to contribute toward an irreversible peace process in Northern Ethiopia (Afar, Amhara and Tigray).  This will be pursued through an actionable set of measures that can build trust between communities and legitimate Ethiopian authorities and lay the foundations for recovery, peacebuilding, and sustainable development, founded upon country leadership and ownership.

Working within the broader framework of 3RF, the PSP/F will focus on the following windows: 

 Window 1:  Local Governance, Human Rights and Social Cohesion

Window 2:  Basic Social Services (health, nutrition, education, WASH, protection)

Window 3:  Economic Revival (enterprises and agriculture, demining)

Window 4:  Demobilization and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants 

Window 5:   Solutions to Internal Displacement

Many regions in Ethiopia have been challenged by large scale displacement due to natural hazards, conflict[1] and impacts of climate change, with approximately 4.7 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in the country. In Northern Ethiopia alone, more than 2.4 million people were internally displaced in 2021-2022 due to conflict. Returning of IDP to their place of origin have recently been recorded in parts of Amhara, Afar, Tigray following COHA, as well as in Somali and other regions, seeking for durable solutions. Ethiopia is designated as a priority country for the implementation of the June 2022 United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement.

There are real opportunities to facilitate solutions, going beyond treating internal displacement as only a humanitarian problem and recognizing it as a priority for development, peace, and climate action, working towards nationally and locally owned solutions ensuring that IDPs, along with other members of the local community, are protected and supported and empowered as rights-holding citizens and residents of their country. Adopting a more integrated approach will require concerted efforts from across the UN system. Recently an IDP proclamation was drafted and is expected to be presented to the parliament and adopted in the future. The IDP law will solidify Ethiopia’s national strategy and policy on IDP solutions. 

Building on its strengths and expertise, UNDP aims to contribute towards a more predictable and systematic development solutions approach to address internal displacement in Ethiopia. With the SDG Decade of Action, adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees and the UN Secretary-General Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, UNDP is increasing its engagement and programming on inclusive and gender-responsive development solutions to internal displacement by accelerating and scaling up innovative and successful initiatives. Through working with governments in the most affected locations and communities to strengthen regional, national and local solutions for displaced populations as well as host communities; UNDP’s strategy on development solutions to forced displacement is based on four strategic pillars/inputs:

1. Promoting a development approach to solutions 
2. Integrated prevention and solutions programming 
3. Focused development solutions financing.
4. Extended engagement and partnerships 

The five pathways to ending internal displacement focus on strengthening governance institutions, boosting socio-economic integration through access to jobs and services, restoring security, enhancing participation, and building social cohesion. UNDP will also work closely with partners on solutions to internal displacement. 

In this regard, the Durable/Development Solutions Analyst –will work under the PSP/F contributing towards the analytical work as well as program and operations of development solutions for IDPs in the PSP project target areas. The DS analyst will report to the IDP unit and under the direct supervision of the head of programs of the PSP Facility. The analyst is expected to work in close collaboration with wide range of stakeholders including government and local communities in the generation of information, analysis towards supporting UNDP’s sustainable solutions to internal displacement. The required qualifications and experiences are described in the sections below.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Data, Analysis and Use of Evidence for Solutions

• Assist Durable Solutions Working Groups (DSWG) both at Federal and regional levels in provision of analytical work
• Support PSP team and DSWGs in developing tools, methods, instruments for Durable Solutions analysis for informed action planning 
• Based on lessons from the Durable Solutions Initiative and other relevant solutions efforts in Ethiopia, support the consolidation of DS efforts in the perspective of HDP nexus. 
• Lead in developing a methodology to ensure collected data feed into the Durable Solutions indicator framework.
• Support the DSWG to use data to inform strategic decision-making on Durable Solutions and peacebuilding.
• Conduct and maintain an information landscape through assessments, data system development, stakeholders mapping, compilation of initiatives and policies to support the coordination of solutions efforts.
• Set up user-friendly platform where DS monitoring data can be accessed and monitored. 

Policy Support and Coordination

• Active engagement in coordinating solutions to IDP reintegration in collaboration with regional governments and within the humanitarian coordination system and other platforms. 
• Support the DSWG members in data collection efforts of in order to ensure aligned and shared evidence based joint programming and policy advocacy, and for application of Durable Solutions' best practices and frameworks in the context of Ethiopia.
• Strengthen the DSWG to support government in its ability to undertake solutions to end displacement.
• Participate/support/engage in frequent Coordination meetings around data and evidence for Durable Solutions.
• Identify and engage with key government stakeholders on measuring progress towards Durable Solutions on regional and national level.
• Consolidate and maintain an effective coordination platform for data harmonization.
• Identify relevant stakeholders and partners and ensure their sustained buy-in.
• Ensure adherence of UNDP-supported work to safeguards: HACT, ESS, human rights, ‘leaving no one behind’, and ‘doing no harm’, updates risks and risk mitigation, to inform future plans and progress on  implementation.
• Forge close and practical working relationships with the humanitarian cluster system to ensure that HDP nexus issues are addressed on the ground,
• Ensures that approaches to gender equality are integrated into all aspects of planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. 

Capacity Building of Regional Governments on solutions tools, methodologies, data and analysis

• Support regional government to have the right capacity to integrate IDPs into the longer-term RRR program through coordination with the Regional Recovery and Reconstruction Office.
• Lead in designing and organizing capacity building events that will ensure data producers and users, including the authorities, community representatives and CSOs on how they feed into solutions frameworks.
• Support capacity building on data anonymization and safe and ethical data sharing
• Support development/dissemination and communication of materials (fact sheets, websites, briefing portal) on Durable Solutions measures 

Program planning, implementation, and operational support

• Oversee/lead the development of the methodology and data collection tools of the profiling exercise, including the facilitation of technical development workshops.
• Ensures efficient coordination of programmes/projects including planning processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP country office and consistency with UNSDCF and CPD priorities.
• Ensures promotion of joint programming and planning opportunities. Oversees project implementation through close monitoring of results. Ensures effective application of RBM tools, management of scorecard targets and other benchmarks.
• Ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the programme by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations. 
• Mitigates potential risks and impacts associated with the programme operations (e.g. logistical, security etc.) by proactively designing reduction measures in collaboration with the Security Advisor
• Ensure that UNDP rules and regulations concerning finance, procurement and human resources are adhered to. 
• Provide technical support to UNDP’s programming for the North, including design of program documents and supporting resource mobilization efforts. 
• Ensure appropriate recording and accounting documentation as required by UNDP and preparation of required financial reports. 
• Facilitate transparent financial management of the programme that is able to stand up to regular audits and evaluation. 

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting, communication and visibility of UNDP’s work on DS

• Capture in-country lessons learnt and allow for interoperability of resulting data.
• Along with the M&E team of the PSP, ensure the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of Durable Solutions and proper documentation of the work of UNDP on Solutions to IDPs and communicate that to the Hub in Nairobi as well as to HQ as needed.
• Establish frequent communication with JIPS and inform about the progress, challenges, opportunities, and support needs of the CO.
• Participate in frequent discussions and debriefing moments with JIPS and other UN agencies in particular with IOM on data and analytics.
• Ensure key achievements of the IDP component are incorporated and reported in the bigger PSP framework.
• Development of core list of Durable Solutions indicators to be used for monitoring of progress towards Durable Solutions, in order to inform programming and policy.
• Support the design of indicator frameworks that will allow monitoring of communities’ progress towards solutions.
• Ensure progress towards Durable Solutions is effectively monitored through the consolidation of data from different organizations and shared with all stakeholders (including local authorities).

Support in translating observations from monitoring of Durable Solutions into policy and program recommendations.

Institutional Arrangement and Reporting Lines 

The Displacement Solutions Analyst will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Displacement Solutions Specialist and work closely with the Peace Support director. 
 

Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management – Results  Based Management:   Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management – Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Development – UNDP Representation: Ability to represent UNDP and share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission, and work with various constituencies

2030 Agenda: peace – Conflict prevention, peacebuilding and response institutions: Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion; Conflict Analysis and conflict sensitivity; Peacebuilding and Reconciliation; Rehabilitation and Reintegration; Restoration of local government capacity (post-crisis); National and sub-national capacities for planning, financing, coordination and crisis management; Sustaining Peace (including financing) peace building and transitions

2030 Agenda: Prosperity – Recovery solutions and human mobility: Area Based Development; Economic Transition in post-crisis settings; Jobs and Livelihoods; Forced Displacement Incl. durable solutions; Reintegration (Refugees/IDPs); Women's Economic Empowerment

2030 Agenda: engagement and effectiveness – Crisis, fragility policy and engagement: Data/ Analytics for early warning and crisis management; Humanitarian-Development Peace (HDP) Nexus; Recovery and Peace Building Assessments