Political Affairs Officer – Great Lakes Region

About the role

The Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary‑General for the Great Lakes Region is seeking a Political Affairs Officer to support the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries. Based in Nairobi, the incumbent will work closely with senior staff to provide strategic political analysis and contribute to regional peace‑building efforts.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor and analyse political, security, humanitarian and human‑rights developments in assigned countries and across the Great Lakes region.
• Produce forward‑looking analytical assessments and strategic recommendations for senior management.
• Participate in mediation, peace‑building, demobilisation, reintegration, conflict‑prevention and post‑conflict rehabilitation activities.
• Integrate rights‑based, gender‑sensitive, and conflict‑prevention perspectives into policy and operational planning.
• Prepare briefing notes, talking points, reports and other correspondence for the Head of Mission and senior officials.
• Provide guidance and advice on political affairs to intergovernmental bodies and partner organisations.

Required profile

• Strong analytical and writing skills with experience in political and security analysis.
• Good understanding of the political dynamics of the Great Lakes region, including the DRC.
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver timely, high‑quality assessments.
• Experience in multilateral environments and familiarity with UN processes is advantageous.

Required skills

• Analytical writing and report preparation.
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination.
• Incorporation of gender and human‑rights perspectives into analysis.