Background
The Resident Coordinator System (RCS) encompasses all organizations of the UN System (UNS) dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. As the designated Representative of the UN Secretary-General and team leader of the UN Country Team (UNCT), the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) assumes overall responsibility for - and coordination of - the developmental activities of the UNS carried out in Yemen. This is done in conformity with the objectives and priorities of the National Government and in accordance with the mandate and objectives of the UNS organizations.Under the leadership of the RC, the RC Office (RCO) in Yemen consists of Head of Office, a Communications Specialist, a Communications and Coordination Associate and an Executive Assistant to the RC. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of the RCO, the UN Coordination and Monitoring Specialist will be supporting coordination of the UN Country Team (UNCT) operational activities and development planning. Yemen is a UNDAF roll-out country in 2014 and will be developing a roadmap, managing the evaluation of the current UNDAF and the UN Transitional Plan, and supporting an assessment to serve as a baseline for the new UNDAF. The UN Coordination and Monitoring Specialist will be responsible for coordinating this process and work in close collaboration with UNCT members, programme and operations teams of the Agencies, UNDOCO staff and the Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful and transparent coordination of UNCT activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:- Support to UN CT coordination;
- Support the UNDAF rollout;
- Monitoring and Evaluation.
Ensure effective support to UNCT in preparation and implementation of country programming processes and products, including the UNDAF and UN programmes coordination focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Support the UNCT to oversee the establishment and management of effective mechanisms for strategic planning for the UNDAF rollout in consultation with UN Agencies, Government, civil society, multilateral and bilateral institutions;
- Provide substantive support and guidance to the UNDAF coordination mechanisms including the outcome groups, Communication Group (UNCG ) and the Operations Management Team (OMT) ensuring full participation of UN Agencies, Government, civil society, multilateral and bilateral institutions;
- Provide advice on adjusting strategies and implementation modalities, cost-effective and efficient implementation of joint UN programmes, common services and other UN functions;
- Assist in the identification of potential areas or issues for common UN approaches and in the development of proposals/actions for enhancing inter-agency cooperation and coordination, especially in the phasing out transition from the humanitarian context,
- Support the overall implementation of UN common planning and programming processes;
- Prepare and document UN Country Team (UNCT) meetings, including the coordination and preparation of agendas for these meetings. Prepare records and conclusions of these meetings and maintain the relevant actors abreast of the discussions and issues raised; provide support for the organization of UNCT retreat/s;
- Be part of UN-led interagency coordination activities, UNCT joint initiatives and processes—including in cross-cutting and potentially critical areas—as appropriate, thus ensuring that internal knowledge/understanding adequately reflect the discussions and agreements reached throughout the processes;
- Ensure the systematization and circulation of information on UN joint programming initiatives and approaches among the UNCT;
- Support coordination/ organization of high level missions and supports the RC in the organization of missions to HQs, regional offices, and meetings with regional and bilateral institutions;
- Provide support to non-resident agencies to access national institutions and processes and for national partners to access the expertise of non-resident agencies;
- Provision of substantive support to the RC and UNCT in implementing and managing the “UN Delivering as One” agenda aimed at enhancing system –wide coherence and efficiency;
- Support donor relation efforts and track communications and commitments when necessary.
- Establish and manage the UNCT monitoring and evaluation group;
- Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan for the UNDAF and other development plans when agreed by the UNCT;
- Assist UNDAF groups in their reporting of annual work plans and ensure the groups are functioning well and adhering to reporting channels and timelines;
- Coordinate the draft the RC Annual Report;
- Monitor joint / collaborative programmers / initiatives of the UNCT and provide the RC and the UNCT with updates and reports as necessary.
- Report on the use of the funds to the UN RC and UNCT, prepare proposal of budget revisions and approve expenditures reports.
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
- Perform any other functions as requested by the Resident Coordinator/Head of the RCO.
- The key results have an impact on the success of the UN Country Team activities, strengthening of overall coordination capacity, implementation of the UN System reform. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design and operation of UN activities, creation of strategic partnerships for UNCT Programming including UNDAF implementation and support of national strategies and priorities.
Competencies
Core Competencies:- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
- Strong ability to build relationships/partnerships, to be service-oriented, and to work harmoniously with persons of different nationalities, cultural, gender, religion, race, age and levels of responsibilities;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Building and promoting effective teams.
Coordination Effectiveness:
- Ability to lead the design and implementation of UN program activities, strengthening of strategic partnership for UNDAF implementation;
- Ability to build and sustain effective partnership with UN agencies and main constituents, advocate effective, communicate sensitively across different constituencies.
- Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
- Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it;
- Makes use of a variety of resources based on UN/UNCT priorities to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches;
- Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level.
- Share knowledge and experience from within and outside the UN country team;
- Encourage the UN staff to share knowledge;
- Develop deep understanding in UNDAF, UN system reform and the post 2015 agenda.
- Focus on impact and result for the client;
- Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
- Establishes priorities for self; schedule activities to enable optimum use of time and resource monitor performance against development and other objectives and other objectives and corrects deviating from the course;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
- Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points to view;
- Excellent organizational abilities, analysis and problem solving skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education- Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.
- Five years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. Knowledge about the UN and RC systems, including UNDAF development, would be an advantage;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.
- Fluency in English is essential;
- Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.