Provincial Peaceful Elections Specialist

Host entity: UNDP

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Administration, Project management, programme development, strategy, Knowledge management, research, reporting

Application deadline: 11/09/2026

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ lead agency on international development, working for 60 years in 170 countries and territories to help people build better lives while protecting the planet. For 60 years, it has supported countries to make progress on the issues and institutions that matter most to their people, aiming to achieve Prosperity for All, Effective Governance, a Healthy Planet and Resilience to Crisis.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a Pacific nation of incredible cultural and environmental diversity. It is known for its coral reef, dense rainforest, mountain peaks in the Highlands region and active volcanoes, as well a vast tapestry of indigenous cultures that is often cited as the home of over 800 languages. In 2025, the country celebrated its 50th anniversary since independence, amidst celebration as well as reflection on its future trajectory. UNDP in PNG is a longstanding partner to sustainable human development in the Pacific island nation, with efforts to build the country’s capacity to promote inclusive, pro-poor growth, effective governance, and sustainable and resilient development. The 2024-2028 Country Programme includes four key pillars of support to the Government of PNG, civil society and the people of PNG – (1) Gender Equality, (2) Governance, Peace and Social Cohesion, (3) Climate and Environment, and (4) Sustainable Economic Transformation.

To achieve Pillars 1 and 2, the Governance, Peace and Gender Portfolio of the Country Office leads a range of national and area-based projects including work on women’s political participation, parliamentary development and peaceful elections, anti-corruption, transparency and accountability, tackling gender-based and sorcery-accusation-related violence, conflict resolution through political negotiations, insider mediation and community peace and resilience in conflict-affected regions such as the Highlands and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The Portfolio also works as an incubator of cross-cutting governance and rights issues including emerging work on business and human rights, environmental justice, climate-induced conflict drivers, and civil society strengthening. In so doing, the Governance Portfolio programme team works to support the achievement of the ambitions established in PNG’s Vision 2050 and other established peace and development goals.

Assignment context

National elections have been held in Papua New Guinea at regular intervals since independence in 1975. The quality of those elections, however, has declined over recent years. The level of electoral violence, particularly in the Highlands region, are a growing concern for both the national government and its international development partners. The persistent malapportionment of electoral constituencies has created glaring infringements of the right to equal representation. Gaps in adequate and timely financing for the elections have been filled, sometimes at the last minute, by Papua New Guinea’s international development partners, while the remaining gaps and delays have simply compromised the quality and credibility of the elections, thereby compromising the legitimacy of the elected governments.

The United Nations has played a limited direct role in previous elections in the country, mainly in the areas of coordination of international observers and supporting the preparation of cadres of women candidates, though it has played an increasingly important role in promoting a peaceful environment for recent elections, primarily with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund. According to the United Nations’ Electoral Needs Assessment Mission (NAM), which visited the country in April 2023, and project design consultations undertaken in 2025, there appears to be broad cross-party acceptance of UN electoral assistance and the need for the upcoming elections to be transparent and inclusive.

In anticipation of the upcoming Parliamentary elections in 2027 in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and in response to a request from the Government of Papua New Guinea in 2022, the United Nations in PNG is initiating a new electoral support joint initiative, “Support to Peaceful Elections in PNG (SPE), convened by UNDP and implemented in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Women. Alongside assistance to the PNG Elections Commission (at the national level) by the Australian Electoral Commission, the New Zealand Electoral Commission, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the new UN initiative seeks to address critical gaps, especially in relation to the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) at provincial level (alongside provincial electoral advisory bodies) and to other key institutions for mitigating violence and resolving disputes in the electoral sphere such as the Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates Commission (IPPCC), the security forces, the Courts, and the Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG).

Task description

The development of SPE PNG (2026-2027) follows the report of the UN Electoral Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) conducted in April 2023 following the request for technical assistance from the Government of Papua New Guinea. The project has been developed taking into con-sideration the recommendations outlined by the NAM to ensure the UN can continue to support the electoral process in Papua New Guinea. In line with the NAM recommendations, the new project is centered around three main strategic areas:

· Outcome 1 – Peace: Reduced tensions and disputes regarding the electoral process through the establishment or strengthening of mechanisms contributing to conflict prevention and mitigation.

· Outcome 2 – Inclusion: Improved participation, representation and empowerment of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, isolated populations, and other historically marginalized groups through activities intended to foster participation and ownership of the electoral processes and increase operational know-how to ensure the safety and sustainability of inclusive participation.

· Outcome 3 – Capacity: Strengthening the capacity and preparedness of the PNGEC – particularly at the provincial level - the security forces, the IPPCC, and other key stakeholders to effectively administer the electoral processes in a credible manner through procurement support and technical assistance, with the latter focused on areas that will help decrease the need for future assistance.

Under the direct supervision of Chief Technical Adviser, Support to Peaceful Elections Project, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

o Provide technical support to Provincial Elections Managers and other provincial and regional electoral stakeholders (including e.g. Provincial Administrations) in elections preparations, with a focus on priority hotspots for elections disputes. This may include:

§ Logistical and technical support to Provincial Elections Steering Committees

§ Election preparation support to Provincial Elections Managers (including information distribution planning, civic education and awareness planning, operational planning and coordination

§ Coordination with community and traditional leaders, ward counsellors and district representatives, civil society and faith-based actors

o Monitor elections preparations and prepare regular briefings for the United Nations and UNDP Senior Management

o Prepare regular briefings for Peaceful Elections Situation Room and other monitoring initiatives

o Provide coordination support for provincial activities with Participating United Nations Organizations of the Support to Peaceful Elections joint project (UN Women and UN Human Rights (OHCHR)) as well as coordination with other UN programme teams on the ground as needed

o Support partnership management with key electoral stakeholders (such as the PNG Electoral Commission, the Registry of Political Parties, Provincial Administrations, relevant provincial offices of Government of PNG Departments etc.)

o Support to project indicator monitoring

o Drafting donor reports and communications materials

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

· Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

· Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

· Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;

· Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

· Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;

· Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Skills and experience

· Minimum 3 - 5 years of relevant and diversified professional experience in the area of democratic governance, elections, institutional strengthening, international development, hu-man rights.

· Previous experience in electoral assistance, including logistics and operations and/or electoral system reform

· Previous experience in fragile and conflict-affected settings is an advantage

· Able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of people within UNDP, Governments, donors, and UN agencies.

· Strong drafting, report-writing skills and oral communication skills

· Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and complex environment

· Previous experience in institutional capacity building.

· Previous experience working with the United Nations System and delivering United Nations mandate or work in development context.

· Previous experience in the Pacific region is an advantage

Competencies and values

☐ Accountability

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility

☐ Building Trust

☐ Client Orientation

☐ Commitment and Motivation

☐ Commitment to Continuous Learning

☐ Communication

☐ Creativity

☐ Empowering Others

☐ Ethics and Values

☒ Integrity

☐ Judgement and Decision-making

☐ Knowledge Sharing

☐ Leadership

☒ Managing Performance

☐ Planning and Organizing

☒ Professionalism

☒ Respect for Diversity

☐ Self-Management

☐ Technological Awareness

☐ Vision

☒ Working in Teams

Living conditions

MOUNT HAGEN CATEGORY E


The Highlands of Papua New Guinea is a mountainous region made up of seven provinces and an estimated 4.57 million people, the most densely populated region in the country (UN 2023). The region experiences a considerable deficit in a range of development outcomes – for example childhood mortality is highest in the Highlands region – and is home to 43 per cent

of the total displaced population (UN 2023). Within PNG, the Highlands Figure 1. Programming area of Highlands Joint Programme Phase 2 provinces are considered most at risk for violence that would result in displaced and affected populations with humanitarian needs. Hela, Southern Highlands, and Enga provinces are considered very high risk based on historical precedence (UN 2023). Since 2021, the security landscape of PNG has been shaped by clashes among tribes and clans in the Highlands region, which have sparked widespread instability. The United Nations is represented by eight agencies that work across the region on livelihoods, health, education, child wellbeing, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management and humanitarian response. primarily based in a newly established UN joint office at Mara Haus in Mount Hagen.


The Highlands region is known to have relatively higher security risks compared to other parts of the country. It is important to note that the security situation can vary in different areas within the Highlands. The Highlands have a history of tribal conflicts and disputes over land, resources, and political power. These conflicts can sometimes escalate into violent clashes between different ethnic groups, resulting in casualties and property damage. The Highlands region, particularly the major towns like Mt. Hagen and Goroka, has a relatively higher crime rates compared to other towns in the Highlands region. Crime incidents can include street crime such as robbery, theft, and assault. It is advisable to take precautions such as avoiding walking alone at night and keeping valuable belongings secure. Police presence and resources can be insufficient in some areas, making it challenging to effectively address security threats. The Highlands region is known for its rugged terrain, poor road infrastructure and limited transportation options. This can pose risks to travelers, especially during adverse weather conditions and ensure reliable transportation and arrangements before embarking on any journey. Political tensions and social issues can sometimes lead to protests, demonstrations, and civil unrest in the Highlands regions. These events can potentially turn violent and disrupt public safety and transportation services.

WEWAK CATEGORY E

Wewak, the capital of East Sepik Province, is a key administrative and service center in northern Papua New Guinea. The province faces significant development challenges, including limited access to basic services, poor infrastructure, climate-related risks and vulnerability to flooding and other natural disasters. UN agencies support programmes in health, education, child protection, livelihoods, gender equality, disaster risk management and humanitarian response.

The security environment requires heightened awareness due to crime, robbery, theft and occasional community or land-related disputes. Political tensions and local grievances may also result in demonstrations, roadblocks or disruptions. Security conditions can change quickly, particularly outside Wewak.

The province's rugged terrain, poor road infrastructure and frequent heavy rainfall and flooding can make travel challenging, particularly to remote communities. Reliable transportation, communication and journey management arrangements are therefore essential.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.