Background

South Sudan became an independent state in July 2011, and following almost 50 years of continuous conflict the nascent state requires huge support from the international community and the United Nations in order to stabilize and to develop, especially to improve the Human Development Indicators (HDIs) which are possibly the lowest in the world.  As such the UN Security Council provided a mandate to establish a UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) which joined the many UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs) already operating in South Sudan, and together are making effort to work as an integrated mission.  The needs in South Sudan range from capacity building the key ministries in the central government, to reform of the armed forces, to building national systems for delivery of basic services at the states’ level, to responding to the ongoing humanitarian needs.
 
Part of the UNMISS leadership is the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG), who is also the Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of UNDP, and thus coordinates the work of the UN AFPs in South Sudan.  Given these tasks the DSRSG Office requires a team of highly competent and committed colleagues to lead and implement a number of issues that are managed and coordinated by her office.
 
The Coordination Officer (CO) P4 will work, under the direction of the DSRSG, to provide coordination and guidance for the UN Country Team (UNCT).  In this role the CO will report substantively to the DSRSG and operationally to the DSRSG Head of Office.  The CO will strategize with the UNCT, participate in developing policy guidance, assist to manage UNCT coordination and tasks, and as required work bilaterally with UN AFPs to ensure the UNCT functions successfully.
 
The CO will also work, under the guidance of the DSRSG, on strategies and programmes with the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), bilateral partners including donors, and UN AFPs.  The goal is to enable rapid state transformation and state take-off through joint strategies and partnerships and to-scale programming involving the DSRSG, GoSS, bilaterals such as donors and UN AFPs/ UNCT.  Specific focus will be on ensuring effective and coordinated implementation of the UNDAF in alignment with GoSS development objectives.
 
The CO will work closely with the DSRSG Office team so that colleagues work towards common goals, and the work is mutually supportive providing a greater outcome than the work of colleagues individually.  As a representative of the DSRSG Office s/he will meet regularly with UN AFP, bilateral donor and GoSS counterparts, and as required with senior colleagues from these organisations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:
  • UNCT strategy and coordination
  • Work with UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs) bilaterally to ensure the UNCT functions successfully
  • Work with donors towards common objectives for developing South Sudan
  • Work with GoSS towards common objectives for developing South Sudan
  • Support DSRSG in other tasks as required and
  • UNCT implementation
1.      Function   -  the CO will have a substantial role, in support of the DSRSG, in strategizing with the UNCT, developing policy guidance and managing UNCT coordination.
          Expected result - UNCT operates effectively and is successful in developing strategies for the UN to support rapid to-scale state transformation for South Sudan, there is appropriate development of policy guidance and effective UNCT coordination, in-line with GoSS priorities and responsive to rapidly evolving context.

2.      Function - To work with UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs) bilaterally as required to ensure the UNCT functions successfully.
Expected result - all UNCT members/ AFPs participate fully in the UNCT and are operating at 90% of capacity in programme development and implementation in-line with UNCT objectives.

3.       Function - To work with donors to obtain their support for UNCT objectives, and for agreed objectives with the DSRSG Office and GoSS.
Expected result- that donors are able to fund programmes, up to 90% of their capacity, among the UNCT, AFPs and through the GoSS to support development and state take off in South Sudan.

4.       Function - To work with GoSS to coordinate agreed objectives with the UNCT and AFPs.
Expected result- the UNCT and AFPs develop a full and effective partnership with the GoSS so that the GoSS develops ownership of UNCT goals and is a partner in UNCT and AFP objectives for South Sudan.  That GoSS participation is part of the development and state take-off for South Sudan.

5.       Function - To support the DSRSG in other tasks, such as attending high-level meetings and conferences nationally and internationally, as required preparing relevant taking points, background papers, and contribute technical info for drafting speeches.
Expected result- the DSRSG Office works successfully to further the Resident Coordinator tasks to support development and state take-off in South Sudan, and in doing so has exceptional working relations with UNCT, AFPs, donors and the GoSS.  The UN South Sudan is well represented by the DSRSG in official capacities.

6.       Function - To work with the UNCT, under guidance of the DSRSG, in programming and implementation.
Expected result- Across UNCT partners, in-line with GoSS priorities and UNCT plans, there is a focused on programming results especially in field locations.

Impact of Results
 
The goal is to enable rapid state transformation and take-off in South Sudan through joint partnerships and strategies between the DSRSG, GoSS, bilaterals such as donors and UN AFPs/ UNCT.  The role of the DSRSG Office Coordination Officer will be central to this work.  Her/his work outlined above will contribute key coordination, guidance and technical work to enable development and state takeoff in South Sudan, and in so doing should develop exceptional working relations with UNCT, AFPs, donors and the GoSS.
 
In 2012, it is planned for the UNCT to develop a strategy for transformational and to-scale development and state take-off in South Sudan.  This will be based on the South Sudan Development Plan and would initially focus on peacebuilding and stabilization issues.  These plans will be consulted with donors to ensure their agreement and support, and the GoSS will be a partner in these plans.  Implementation of programmes for state take-off will begin and produce results before the end of the year.
 
In 2013, aspects of state take-off will begin to have produced results especially in social transformation for the poorest groups in society.  The strategy and development process will be led by the GoSS with full support from the UNCT.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:    
Preparing information for advocacy                                 
  • Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UN’s priorities
  • Maintains a functioning network of contacts with a variety of stakeholders to promote a better understanding of UN’s development agenda and to support advocacy efforts
Results-Based Programme Development and Management (For UN Coordination)                         
  • Contributes into results through primary research and analysis
  • Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
  • Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
  • Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development
  • Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly
Building Strategic Partnerships (For UN Coordination)                                         
  • Maintaining a network of contacts
  • Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
  • Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches (For UN Coordination)                                    
  • Enhancing processes or products
  • Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
  • Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

Resource Mobilization (For UN Coordination)                                                 

  • Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategy
  • Collects, researches and analyzes information on resource mobilization and utilization, drafts reports and documents and maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors and donor funded projects
  • Provides data and information needed for preparation of fund raising activities and resource mobilization documents ensuring needs of donors are met
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing (For UN Coordination)                                   
  • Basic research and analysis
  • Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
  • Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise (For UNDP and UN Coordination)                         
  • Fundamental knowledge of own discipline
  • Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
  • Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
  • Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
  • Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
  • Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments
Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals (For UN Coordination)                      
  • Preparing information for global advocacy
  • Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UN’s goals for a variety of audiences
  • Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of UN’s priorities and to support advocacy efforts
Client Orientation                                          
  • Establishing effective client relationships
  • Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
  • Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
  • Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
Core Competencies
  • Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
  • Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
  • Self-development, initiative-taking
  • Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
  • Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
  • Creating synergies through self-control
  • Managing conflict
  • Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
  • Informed and transparent decision makingDemonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • An MA or MSc in Social Sciences or Humanities such as in International Relations, Economics or professional qualification such as in Law.
Experience:
  • At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in coordination with organizations or donors in larger-scale processes and programmes, of which at least two years has been working in field missions preferably in Africa.
Language Requirements:
  • High level of English required for drafting UN documents for donors and national government, and sometimes in international contexts such as for conferences etc.