Regional Technical Senior Specialist - Conflict at FEWS NET

Responsibilities 

The main responsibilities of the RTSS-Conflict include, but are not limited to:    

Conflict Analysis  

• Provide early warning analysis of conflict in FEWS NET’s presence countries within the region in alignment with guidance provided by the S/C Advisor.   
• Support the technical development of the DST’s conflict analysis sector, including improving the team’s ability to understand, communicate, and interpret conflict events, and supporting the development of conflict scenarios, related assumptions, and projections of likely future conflict situations in FEWS NET geographies as relevant.  
• Regularly review the consistency and accuracy of conflict projections and other conflict-related forecasting in the DST’s analysis and incorporate associated learning into sector methods, processes, and products.   
• Review and provide guidance and inputs on conflict trajectories for countries within the region as a critical input to the Food Security Outlook and Food Security Outlook Update reports in collaboration with regional and country-level technical specialists to ensure alignment between conflict, livelihoods, agroclimatology and markets and trade forecasts.  
• Monitor, assess, and analyze conflict and related social, political, and/or economic events that are likely to have an impact on the trajectory or intensity of conflict for integration into conflict forecasts where relevant.  Under the direction of the S/C Advisor, helping establish and/or maintain systematic, timely, high-quality, and efficient data and information collection and management processes in relation to conflict. Supporting the collection, organization, and storage of primary and secondary conflict-related data and information for submission to the FEWS NET Hub and the USG.   
• Develop a strong subject matter expertise on political and conflict dynamics throughout the geographic focus areas of the EWT.  
• Support the S/C Advisor in meeting expectations on timely delivery of conflict analyses, which include, but are not limited to: responding to urgent questions within one day of request and providing briefings within one week of request.  
• Under the direction of the S/C Advisor, regularly engage with the other mechanisms of FEWS NET and regional network partners to ensure the integration of available conflict-related analyses into the DST’s regular and ad hoc analyses and products and to support the project’s continued development of conflict analysis approaches, tools, products and guidance.  
• Contribute to the FEWS NET DST’s decision support efforts to identify as early as possible potential or emerging conflict-related crises. The RTSS-Conflict will be expected to demonstrate the ability to respond quickly to sudden increases and decreases in analysis needs globally, under the direction of the S/C advisor, re-orienting work plans and initiating new lines of monitoring and reporting outside of traditional areas of coverage. 

Regional representation  

• Liaise with USG staff as requested and as directed by the S/C Advisor.  
• Supervise a team consisting of select country-level conflict specialists.  
• In collaboration with the Knowledge Management, Communication and Capacity Development (KMCCD) Senior Specialist and the Regional Network Development and Communications (RNDC) Senior Specialist, support capacity development efforts related to conflict and acute food insecurity for FEWS NET staff, through the development and/or delivery of select training materials on conflict analysis and reporting, including through one-on-one mentoring, small-group trainings, and information dissemination. 
• Under the supervision of the S/C Advisor, and in collaboration with the RTL, supporting the design, execution, and monitoring of annual work plan activities that relate to the Conflict sector.   
• Assist the RTL in carrying out a predetermined set of technical, management, and representational functions of the regional office, upon request and in coordination with the S/C Advisor.  
• As needed, for limited periods of time, and with the agreement of the RTL, the S/C Advisor and the senior management team (SMT), the RTSS-Conflict may be expected to serve as acting-RTL.   

Qualifications 

• At least 5 years of relevant experience (with a master’s degree), or at least 6 years of relevant experience (with a bachelor’s degree). Relevant work experience includes humanitarian and/or development work, in particular food security, conflict analysis, conflict-related data collection, mapping, monitoring, analysis and/or reporting.  
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET is required. An advanced university degree (master's degree or higher) in a discipline relevant to the work of the conflict sector is preferred, including but not limited to Peace/Conflict Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Security/Strategic Studies, International Development, Economics/Developmental Economics, Public Policy, or region/area-specific Studies.   
• In-depth knowledge of conflict-affected geographies, preferably in a humanitarian context, with demonstrated experience conducting trend analysis and tracking conflict and/or security events is required.  
• Familiarity with/working knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection, management, and analysis is required.  
• Ability to leverage and synthesize information from in-country networks, media reports, social media, and paid information sources to assess the drivers of conflict and violence and triangulate trends is required.  
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, and lead presentations, training courses, and effective meetings is required.  
• Strong knowledge of MS Office applications, including Outlook, Word, and Excel is required   
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team is required.  
• Demonstrated ability to behave in a manner that invokes independent thinking, good judgment, and respect for others is required.  
• Ability to solve complex technical, managerial, and/or operational problems and evaluate options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge is highly preferred.  
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required; other local language skills relevant to the region are desirable.