Background
Colombia is in a pivotal point in its 50-year long internal armed conflict as peace talks between the Government and the main guerrilla groups (FARC) are currently underway in Havana. Most of the items on the peace agenda relate directly to the structural causes of the conflict and many stakeholders agree that following the signing of an agreement, peace will need to be built up from the regions.
The sustainability of the peace agreement will depend to a degree on how quickly and effectively peace can be consolidated in remote regions of Colombia where there is little or no effective State presence. The international experience in peace-building settings has shown that the first few months to a year after the signature of a peace agreement are the most delicate for the success of the process. In Colombia, this may be more relevant. After a long-standing conflict, expectations of rapid change will be high with the threat of disappointment and new tensions.
In this context, early peace-building activities to promptly consolidate peace will be essential, but results will only be achieved with advanced planning, extensive consultation and determined reconciliation efforts. Successful results will require complex coordination especially in the areas where the presence of the State is limited.
Although the exact terms of the relevant contribution are yet to be defined, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) will definitely play an important and unique role in the consolidation of peace in the eventual signing of an agreement. To present, the UNCT’s involvement in the process has been undertaken at the request of the parties engaged in the talks, as well as of Congress. The UNCT has been requested to collect and synthesize the views of civil society on items of the peace agenda as an input to the negotiations in Havana.
throughout the country. A wide range of local activities are currently being implemented, many relevant to the peace agenda. While most of these activities will continue, and possibly be scaled up after the signing of the accord, the transition period will also require the UNCT to plan and work in a more strategic and integrated manner. UN support to the peace process requires strategically rethinking the role of the UNCT with the support of the office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC).
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:
Leading, planning and implementing the UNDAF governance structure, M&E framework and fundraising strategy
Managing coordination processes
Managing the RCHCO
Common Services and Common Premises
Leading, planning and implementing the UNCT Peace Building Support Strategy:
- In coordination with relevant UNCT agencies and stakeholders, lead the formulation of a joint engagement strategy for a peace-building dialogue between the Government of Colombia and the International Community;
- Lead the joint design of an international proposal and cooperation scheme to support peace building and development activities in the aftermath of the peace process, ensuring complementarity of efforts between the UN and other international actors;
- Liaise with international cooperation groups and the donor community to support the coordination of international action;
- Coordinate the UNCT joint analysis and programming during and after the peace process, namely the UNCT Peace Building Support Strategy;
- Adjust, successfully implement and monitor the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Office’s (RHCO) results-framework;
- Mobilize resources for the implementation of UNCT Peace Building Support Strategy and the strengthening of the RHCO as needed;
- Conduct field visits and inter-agency planning meetings to ensure consistent and high-performance implementation of the UNCT Peace Building Support Strategy;
- Together with the Peace and Development Advisor in the RHCO, be the driving force and secretariat for inter-agency efforts aimed at contributing to conflict prevention, early warning and early action;
- Work closely together with the PDA on the above issues where appropriate;
- Perform other duties as required by the RC/HC.
Planning and implementing the UNDAF governance structure, M&E framework and fundraising strategy:
- Lead and coordinate the elaboration of the new UNDAF, in line with the UNCT Peace Building Support Strategy;
- Mobilize resources for the new UNDAF-related RHCO structure;
- Facilitate and support UNDAF related management and monitoring groups , leading to well prepared, facilitated, and followed-up meetings and other initiatives;
- Ensure the UNDAF M&E framework is followed-through and well reported upon;
- Ensure the continued preparation of tools and instruments for a more effective implementation of the new UNDAF.
- Mobilize resources for thematic multi-donor funds as appropriated;
- Advise the RC/HC and the UNCT on UN system joint programming opportunities in the context of UNDAF implementation and monitor UN joint programming implementation;
- Advance the UN reform agenda and UN system coherence;
- Perform other duties as required by the RC/HC.
Managing coordination processes:
- Support increased and improved coordination between development partners, including by leading certain thematic working groups that draw their participants from across the UN and other multilateral and bilateral development partners;
- Lead and manage the UNCT meeting schedule and other important meetings chaired by the RC/HC as required. Coordinate agendas for these meetings, alerting the RC/HC of pending and important issues to be raised, and follow up on decisions/recommendations made;
- Maintain close working relationships with agency representatives, UN colleagues and other relevant partners, such as Government counterparts, the donor community and NGOs, at all levels;
- Identify actions for enhancing inter-agency cooperation and coordination;
- Supports coordination with UN Non Resident Agencies;
- Liaise with the PDA as needed;
- Perform other duties as required by the RC/HC.
Managing the RCHCO:
- Coordinate all activities emanating from the RCHCO, set priorities, develop the annual work-plan and ensure follow-up and feedback;
- Ensure contractual issues and budgets are well managed;
- Actively manage performance of all staff in the RCHCO and support strong cooperation and synergies between different units and offices, between Bogota and the field, and between international and national staff;
- Support the management of Field Offices, ensuring strong linkages between Field Offices and Bogota based staff.
- Manage and coordinate the preparation of the RC/HC Annual Report, contribute to the drafting of this document and ensure the participation and involvement of all agencies in the process;
- The same task is expected for all questionnaires, reports and important correspondence required from the RC/HC or his office;
- Manage the funds-request and allocation process with the Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO). Monitor and control the usage of these funds, review transactions and ensure the preparation of expenditure reports;
- Manage the UNCT Building Support Strategy budget, ensure its proper allocation and ensure timely reporting on its use;
- Mentor and coach RCHCO staff and new management team in the field as needed;
- Perform other duties as required by the RC/HC.
Common Services and Common Premises:
- Initiate, promote and monitor the use of simplification and harmonization strategies, including the use of common support services in order to reduce the burden on national partners and to maximize the effectiveness of an integrated UN operation.
Impact of Results
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:
- Analysis and creation of messages and strategies;
- Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
- Proven strategic vision and strong technical and analytical capabilities;
- Ability to negotiate at the highest decision-making level;
- Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships;
- Outstanding political judgment;
- Proven ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
Global Leadership and Advocacy for One UN:
- Analysis and creation of messages and strategies;
- Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level;
- Promotes a One-UN agenda in inter-agency meetings.
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
- Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
- Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and participates in the formulation of project proposals;
- Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
- Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.
Building Strategic Partnerships:
- Identifying and building partnerships;
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with counterparts at all levels;
- Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to the UNCT‘s mandate and strategic agenda;
- Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.
Management and Leadership:
- Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
- Building and promoting effective teams;
- Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
- Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):
- Implementing resource mobilization strategies;
- Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
- Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
- Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Master’s Degree in international development studies, law, political science, economics, statistics, management, coordination, social sciences, or other relevant field.
Experience
- At least 10 years’ experience, including substantive international experience, in progressively responsible positions in the humanitarian, development or related field;
- Experience in team management and in Coordination;
- Familiarity with the UN System and knowledge of UNCTs.
- Substantive experience and record of accomplishment in the area of peace and development and/or field work experience in a post-conflict setting is desirable.
- Previous work experience in Latin America /or Colombia will be considered an asset.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is required.
Important
Only on-line applications which contain a signed UNDP P11 form will be considered. You can find P-11 form at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form-es.docx
Nationals from Colombia are not eligible to apply.
UN/UNDP internal candidates may be applying for this position.
We strongly encourage qualified women to apply.
Travel Requirements and work conditions
Willingness to travel to the field in challenging circumstances.
Willingness to work outside standard office hours when the situation so requires, e.g. in the case of early warning/early action activities or in the case of humanitarian disasters.