Duties and Responsibilities The UNSOM/IESG has been mandated by UNSCR 2567 (2022), UNSCR 2705 (2023) and UNSCR 2753 (2024) to support and prepare for national and subnational elections in Somalia within agreed timelines. The Somali government is currently reviewing the Constitution, which will pave the way for a roadmap to the 2026/2027 elections. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has recently been established and a new electoral framework has been adopted by Parliament. To effectively fulfil its mandate at both the national and Federal Member States (FMS) levels, the IESG is recruiting a Senior Advisor to support its capacity-building activities. The Senior Advisor will provide technical advice, conduct capacity-building trainings and workshops for new NIEBC staff on election administration related components including voter registration and district elections as agreed upon with the NIEBC. The Senior Advisor will also contribute to the induction of the new electoral staff to support voter registration and universal elections in Somalia. The Senior Advisor will work closely with stakeholders including CSOs, Members of Parliament, and the NIEBC at national and subnational level. He/she will be expected to work under the direct supervision of IESG s Senior Electoral Officer Operations and will be guided by the UN framework and strategy on electoral assistance to Somalia.
Qualifications/special skills Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Development studies, Education, International Affairs, Public Policy, Public Administration, Communication, Social Studies or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in providing institutional advice is required Experience working as a senior resource person or expert interacting at a senior level with Electoral Commissioners is required Experience in advising national authorities on electoral matters is desirable. Experience working in post-conflict settings at a senior electoral management level is desirable. Excellent knowledge of Somali electoral administration is desirable.
Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English, (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Somali language is desirable.
