Development Coordination Officer, Crisis Management, P4

Org. Setting and Reporting

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. Under the overall management of the ASG for Development Coordination through the DCO Surge Manager, and under the guidance of the Regional Director and DCO HQ Directors, the Development Coordination Officer will provide Resident Coordination Offices (RCO) management expertise, strategic and operational guidance and support to enable effective inter-agency collaboration, programming and coordination to deliver on development results in crisis contexts, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The Development Coordination Officer will be a global Resident Coordinator System (RCS) roving capacity pre-positioned at the regional level for rapid deployment to RCOs and UN Country Teams in the event of a significant development. The incumbent will support RCOs by strengthening coordination, analysis and reporting capacities, including contributions to crisis related reporting, in support of the implementation of the UNSDCF and other RCS corporate priorities. The Development Coordination Officer works in close collaboration with the Regional Director, Resident Coordinator and UNCT members, programme and operations teams of the agencies, UNDCO staff and government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society. The Development Coordination Officer may be requested to perform the function of Head of RCO a.i. as needed. The Development Coordination Officer is expected to undertake frequent deployments to RCOs (up to three months each time) and travel within short notice (up to 5 days) to provide surge capacity support to priority crisis-affected RCOs in a specific region or globally, as required.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Development Coordination Officer will be responsible of the following duties: Summary of Functions: 1. Provides strategic guidance to the RC and UN Country Team (UNCT) on effective, quality, and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in priority countries identified for surge support. 2. Facilitates the initiation, establishment and coordination of external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the new generation UNSDCF. 3. Coordinates and supports roll-out and implementation of the efficiency agenda (Business Operations Strategy, Common Premises and Local Shared Service Centers/Common Back-Office). 4. Manages and directs knowledge management and capacity development activities in and outside the UN System. 5. Leads overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures. Description of Functions: 1. Provides strategic guidance to the RC and UNCT of effective, quality, and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through a new generation CCA/UNSDCF in priority countries identified for surge support: •Contributes and coordinates substantive support to the RC/UNCT in articulating and actively communicating a credible and convincing strategic vision for the UN, articulated through the UNSDCF, which is consistent with national development goals and priorities, UN values, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind; •In line with CCA/UNSDCF, provides strategic direction and develops recommendations to facilitate decision-making by the RC/UNCT to reposition the UN in country to advance the objectives of UN development system reform; •Develops policy recommendations to the RC/UNCT on the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the new generation CCA/UNSDCF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in country; •Ensures effective support to the RC/UNCT in asserting vision and accountability for the UN to operate as a nimble, innovative, and enterprising development partner, demonstrating characteristics of a knowledge-based organization and thought leader; •Designs strategic UN's policy and programmatic services, operational capabilities, and partnership mechanisms; •Establishes and promotes close engagement across the humanitarian, development, and peace domains, as required by the country context; •Leads the identification, analysis, and prioritization of joint programmatic work of UN entities in response to national priorities and in line with the UNSDCF and the 2030 Agenda; •Coordinates the UNSDCF through the Joint Workplan and results groups; directs UNSDCF monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL) and reporting through the UNINFO platform; and guides preparation and provision of the annual UN Country Results Report to the Government and other stakeholders; •Promotes the engagement of all relevant agencies – with and without physical presence in country – from across the UN system, including at Headquarters and at the (sub-)regional level in inter-agency fora and in discussions with external partners; •Ensures quality control and oversight over strategic communications and advocacy activities related the implementation of the UNSCDF; •Ensures coherence across the different intra-agency coordination bodies, including with Humanitarian Country Teams and the Security Management Team. •Contributes to crisis related reporting for the RC/UNCT as required, including inputs to situation updates, talking points, or analytical briefs. 2. Facilitates the initiation, establishment and coordination of external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the new generation UNSDCF: •Facilitates the initiation, establishment, and coordination of effective working relationships with national and international public and private partners to ensure knowledge sharing throughout the UNSDCF cycle; •Provides substantive support for positioning the UN as a key provider of integrated services and as a platform in support of the SDGs, in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders; •Based on the UNSDCF, and in close collaboration with the Development Partnerships Officer, oversees the formulation and implementation of the partnership approach as well as the resource mobilization strategy, and other initiatives in support of SDG achievement through the UNSDCF; •Oversees the implementation of the SDG Country Fund/country-level pooled fund (where relevant) in support of the UNSDCF and SDG acceleration; •Provides support to strategic messaging and communication initiatives by RC/UNCT, including contributions to crisis related messaging when required. 3. Coordinates and supports roll-out and implementation of the Efficiency agenda (Business Operations Strategy, Common Premises and Local Shared Service Centers / Common Back Office): •In collaboration with the Operations Management Team (OMT), provides substantive support to the RC/UNCT on business innovations for the UN in country; •Provides substantive support to the Resident Coordinator and UNCT in formulating, implementing, and monitoring the UN Country-Level Business Operations Strategy; •Supports the RC and the UNCT in their leading role in implementing common premises and in establishing a common back office for location-dependent services; •Promotes a culture of continuous improvement and client-orientation in operational service delivery, including the implementation of high-impact standardized common services, fostering the SDG impact through common operations; •Coordinates effective participation of entities at the country level in operations management team and represents the RC in the OMT. Coordinates the support to the RC and UNCT on operational planning in contexts of UN reconfigurations or transitions (mission drawdown, start-up or rapid changes in the composition of UNCTs, with impact on operational support arrangements). Supports the development of contingency plans and crisis simulations. 4. Manages knowledge management and capacity development activities in- and outside the UN System: •Creates an enabling environment for the knowledge generation, sharing, collaboration, as well as usage of existing good practices and lessons learnt within the RCO and in the UN Country Team. Leads by example; •Coordinates the effective communications within the RCO, in UN Country Team and among other stakeholders; •Coordinates the sharing of good practices and lessons learned on issues related to UN strategic planning frameworks, methodologies, and tools, among others, within the DCO (at regional and global levels), across the UN system and with external partners; •Facilitates the analysis of UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to contribute to strategic planning processes; •Keeps abreast of emerging innovative approaches and encourages the RCO and UNCT to apply new ways of working, where relevant; •Support RCs and UNCTs on crisis communications protocols, in close coordination with DCO HQ and Regional Office, and provides inputs to crisis related reporting as needed to ensure timely and coordinated messaging. •Coordinate the consolidation, quality assurance and synthesis of crisis related reporting, including situation updates, analytical briefs and inputs to corporate decision making processes, ensuring consistency, accuracy and strategic relevance 5. Supports the Head of RCO or perform OIC functions to lead overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures: •Coordinates the formulation and implementation of the substantive work programme of the UNCT; allocates and monitors RCO resources for delivery of outputs and reporting on results; •Supervises the activities undertaken by the RCO and manage performance of RCO staff, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion; •In close collaboration with Service Providers, performs the role of certifying officer in the UNDP IRIS platform and performs the UMOJA approver role over processes related to human and financial resource management, procurement, general administration, security, time management, and information technology for the RCO; •Manages, guides and trains staff under his/her supervision; promotes teamwork and communications among staff in the RCO and across organizational boundaries; ensures staff complete mandatory trainings and UMOJA certifications; •Establishes and maintains a work environment in the RC Office and across UN entities that is conducive to innovation and engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders and delivers results in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; •Ensures timely inputs to crisis related reporting, including contributions requested by the RC, UNCT, Regional Office, or HQ.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic resources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, International Relations, Economics, Management or Political Science. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, project/programme management, and coordination in the context of development cooperation or related area is required. At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in knowledge management and reporting on the implementation of development policies and strategies in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization context is required. Experience with knowledge management, reporting in communications in support of rapidly evolving contexts is desirable. At least three years of experience in inter-agency coordination including coordination during crisis related situations is desirable. Experience in a development context, within the UN common system is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

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