UNDP Jobs

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the global development network for the United Nations system that is on the ground in 177 countries, with its headquarters in New York, USA.

Within the last several years UNDP has adjusted significantly to the fundamental changes that have shaped the Official Development Assistance (ODA) landscape.  These changes have included a new consensus on development goals and a focus on results, and have required UNDP to shift from an entitlement-driven culture, towards a more extroverted partnership, building around results.  Core resources have remained the bedrock of the organization, and the importance of that focus has only increased as non-core resources have grown dramatically, driven by new partnerships and an increasing trust in UNDP by traditional partners. 

More recently UNDP’s external environment has witnessed further fundamental changes.  Among these is the graduation of a number of countries, particularly in Europe, Middle East and Asia, from recipient country to emerging/donor status while others prefer to remain as South-South Cooperation providers.  This implies a renewed UNDP outreach effort to establish a new form of partnership with this group of countries evolving from purely programme country status.

At the same time, a new focus on transparency and accountability, and a heightened level of scrutiny from donor and recipient governments alike, has underscored the need to be ever more rigorous in the appropriate application of UNDP’s rules and regulations.  These changes have increased the challenges faced by UNDP country offices. These offices continue to require support in their efforts to secure traditional non-core resources from bi-lateral donors. But the demands for advice on non-traditional forms of non-core resource mobilization have greatly increased.

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) leads and supports the UNDP in cultivating, building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of UNDP, that includes partnership development, resource mobilization, communications and governance.

To carry out its responsibilities BERA is structured along the lines of clusters as follows: Directorate, Communications (CC); Innovation and Development Alliances (IDAC), Resource Partnerships (RPC), Multilateral Affairs and UN Coherence (MAUC) and the MDG-F Secretariat. In addition, BERA has Representation Offices in 5 major donor capitals and 2 UNDP Centres.

Under the overall guidance of the Cluster Leader, and the direct supervision of the Team Manager, Emerging Partnerships, the Partnerships Development Specialist (Emerging Partnerships)  is responsible for carrying out the following functions:

• Advise and support RPC management in the development of new strategic partnerships with key partners, primarily with a set of emerging economy governments.  This is achieved through in-depth analyses of country specific ODA trends, political and economic developments, aid policies, practices and budget allocations; strategic advice and policy recommendations with a view to positioning UNDP strongly; and forecasting of contribution levels to both core and non-core resources;
• Manage a portfolio of new partner countries, utilizing in-depth knowledge and continuous analysis of the national environments as well as multilateral policies and approaches to identify targeted partnership interventions to mobilize support for the UN/UNDP in line with either existing or planned Partnership Framework Agreements;
•  Build and maintain effective external and internal networks that permit the effective implementation of new partnership frameworks, policies and strategies. Maintain effective and extroverted working relations with UNDP Country Offices, Regional and Central Bureaux involved in new partnership initiatives;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of corporate policies and procedures for UNDP’s new strategic partnership agenda and develop tools, instruments and support services required for policy implementation and monitoring;
• Provide quick response support services to Regional Bureaux on queries related to Country Office new partnership related needs;
•  Contribute to the development of corporate policies and positions that influence positively the case for new strategic partnerships, in particular in relation to South-South and triangular cooperation, new aid modalities, resource mobilization and other financing instruments; and
• Continuously monitor and assess the adequacy and relevance of partnership and communication tools, and assist in further enhancing and continuously updating relevant communication products and reports, including country partnership progress reports, inter- and intranet presence and other online workspaces.          

 Impact of Results:

The work of the Partnerships Development Specialist has a significant impact on the ability of the Team and Cluster to make informed decisions affecting the work of the Bureau. The timely, appropriate and efficient support provided by the Partnerships Development Specialist impact the timeliness and quality of BERA’s responses to corporate demands.   

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
•  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Outstanding analytical capability, ability to position UNDP politically and strategically, and knowledge and competency to shape corporate policy;
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Very strong initiative-taker.  Capacity to move complex processes forward to achieve articulated results;
• Ability to work at varying levels and on different projects simultaneously (personal organization, and ability for multi-tasking) and to work under pressure;
• Superior networking capability and interpersonal skills; Substantive ability and presence to represent UNDP, as well as to interact effectively with senior management and with other units around results;
• Ability to work as part of a team and effectively lead task teams to results;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, development studies, business, or equivalent required.

Experience: 

• Minimum of five years’ experience, including country office or other field experience essential;
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in resource mobilization and management required with demonstrated potential to participate in the development of corporate policy;
• Experience in donor and UN partnerships and public relations at the international level;
• Specialized experience in financing for development at the international level preferred.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English required.  Working knowledge of at least one other UN language desirable.