View all jobs
GSFS Haiti-Chief of the Political Affairs Unit-P5-Port au Prince, Haiti
Port au Prince, HaitiPosition Title: Chief of the Political Affairs Unit in the Office of the Special Representative
Receiving Agency: Gang Suppression Force Secretariat Haiti
P Level: P5
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 18 months (Until Sep, 2027)
Language: French and English fluency required. Familiarity with Haitian Creole an asset.
Background
On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.
The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)
The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.
The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.
The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF)
Career Experience
The Chief of Political Affairs Unit shall have: a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in political science, international relations, law, conflict resolution or related area;; experience in strategic planning and management at the regional or sub-regional level in an international context;
An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree) in political science, international relations, law, public administration, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Languages
Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.
Responsibilities of the Chief of Political Affairs Unit
The Chief Political Affairs reports to the SR and is based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Chief performs a key role in advising the SR and senior mission leadership on political aspects of the GSF mandate and on broader political affairs in Haiti relevant to mandate implementation, including provision of periodic assessments to the SR and the GSF’s senior leadership and maintaining continuous situational awareness of the GSF’s political environment. In particular:
• Identifies and analyses political developments and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of the GSF mandate; assesses implications and makes recommendations to the SR and senior management on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of political concern and to advance mandated objectives.
• Prepares summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes, options papers, and quarterly reports of the SR to the SGP and/or the UN Security Council; prepares and reviews contextual information materials, such as background notes and political profiles; manages databases and other tools designed to ensure accessibility and utility of information.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with national authorities, political leaders and civil society actors, UN (particularly BINUH) and OAS entities, and other national and international partners on political affairss matters; consults and cooperates with partners to develop strategies and plans of action to address political challenges, in pursuit of mandated objectives; monitors, evaluates and reports on implementation of political objectives in mandate implementation; provides good offices on behalf of the SR, as appropriate.
• Develops and manages the programme of work of the Political Affairs unit, including through support to GSF planning and budgetary processes; supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff, and participates in the selection of new staff.
The Chief Political Affairs Unit shall be responsible during GSF start-up and thereafter, for the following tasks:
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.
Receiving Agency: Gang Suppression Force Secretariat Haiti
P Level: P5
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 18 months (Until Sep, 2027)
Language: French and English fluency required. Familiarity with Haitian Creole an asset.
Background
On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.
The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH)
The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.
The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.
The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF)
Career Experience
The Chief of Political Affairs Unit shall have: a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in political science, international relations, law, conflict resolution or related area;; experience in strategic planning and management at the regional or sub-regional level in an international context;
An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree) in political science, international relations, law, public administration, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Languages
Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.
Responsibilities of the Chief of Political Affairs Unit
The Chief Political Affairs reports to the SR and is based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Chief performs a key role in advising the SR and senior mission leadership on political aspects of the GSF mandate and on broader political affairs in Haiti relevant to mandate implementation, including provision of periodic assessments to the SR and the GSF’s senior leadership and maintaining continuous situational awareness of the GSF’s political environment. In particular:
• Identifies and analyses political developments and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of the GSF mandate; assesses implications and makes recommendations to the SR and senior management on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of political concern and to advance mandated objectives.
• Prepares summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes, options papers, and quarterly reports of the SR to the SGP and/or the UN Security Council; prepares and reviews contextual information materials, such as background notes and political profiles; manages databases and other tools designed to ensure accessibility and utility of information.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with national authorities, political leaders and civil society actors, UN (particularly BINUH) and OAS entities, and other national and international partners on political affairss matters; consults and cooperates with partners to develop strategies and plans of action to address political challenges, in pursuit of mandated objectives; monitors, evaluates and reports on implementation of political objectives in mandate implementation; provides good offices on behalf of the SR, as appropriate.
• Develops and manages the programme of work of the Political Affairs unit, including through support to GSF planning and budgetary processes; supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff, and participates in the selection of new staff.
The Chief Political Affairs Unit shall be responsible during GSF start-up and thereafter, for the following tasks:
- Produce the Political Affairs unit work plan for approval by the CoS.
- At the direction of the CoS, overseeing the recruitment of Political Affairs unit staff members. As a matter of priority, locally recruit a P3 Political Affairs Officer fluent in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen).
- Oversee the day-to-day work of the Political Affairs Unit.
- Provide unit data and function related information as requested to inform the GSF budget submission and review process.
- Identify emerging issues pertaining to the GSF mandate, analyze implications and make recommendations to the SR on possible strategies and measures.
- Formulate political affairs strategies, developing direction for political work and proposing policy directives and a plan of action for immediate and long range positioning toward identified challenges.
- Lead the production of high-quality political analysis ensuring this is shared with designated senior GSF leadership and joint GSF structures.
- Assist the Chief Strategic Communications to develop the GSF Strategic Communications Synchronization plan. Subsequently assist to implementation it across the GSF ensuring it is the authoritative tool for coordinating information effects across all GSF components.
- Provide political analysis and other substantive contributions to the GSF mission planning process and to inform Joint Intelligence Analysis Unit products and the GSF Strategic Communications Synchronization plan.
- Working with the Chief Strategic Communications, advise and enable disciplined messaging and role clarity in coordination with BINUH, to ensure that official communications remain aligned with the GSF mandate, respect institutional division of labour, and avoid mission creep, reputational risk, or unintended political signaling.
- Establish information and analysis sharing, and regular consultation mechanisms with BINUH political affairs.
- Guided by the SR, identify the GSF priority political information requirements and establish collection efforts to meet these.
- Guided by the SR, establish, and continuously review and expand, a network of political contacts within Haiti, the region and beyond.
- Prepare, in coordination with the Chief Joint Mission Planning and with input from other unit heads and Force Headquarters, the periodic reports of the SR to the SGP members and UN Security Council on the implementation of UNSCR 2793, including reference to the strategy and metrics for measuring GSF success including timebound objectives, with benchmarks towards an end-state.
- Be prepared to advise or otherwise support local level gang mediation as appropriate, including preparation toward any higher-level mediation effort.
- Ensure handover notes are produced by unit staff members to ensure institutional knowledge is passed from outgoing to incoming staff.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.