UNDP Jobs - 46073- UN Coordination Advisor- RC/HC Office

UN Coordination Advisor- RC/HC Office

Location :

Port-au-Prince, HAITI

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

29-May-2014

Application Deadline :

13-May-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 Year

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The mandate of the Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC is (a) to ensure a coherent, integrated approach between the United Nations Country Team, MINUSTAH, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and humanitarian partners, in the planning and implementation of the UN development and humanitarian mandate, and (b) to ensure coordination with the United Nations Country Team, MINUSTAH sections, Humanitarian Country Team and major donors in matters concerning good governance, development and humanitarian activities, in a way that is supportive of national priorities, that strengthens national leadership and institutional capacities and is inclusive of civil society participation in national decision-making processes.

The DSRSG/RC/HC in Haiti coordinates the operations of the UN agencies, funds and programs, and is directly responsible for MINUSTAH’s Civil Affairs Section, Community Violence Reduction Section, Child Protection Unit, and the HIV/AIDS Unit. The DSRSG/RC/HC is also entrusted with the overall responsibility to move the aid effectiveness agenda forward, leading the group of the main donors in Haiti - the G12+.

The UN Country Team (UNCT) in Haiti is composed of 19 agencies, funds and programmes. Since the January 2010 earthquake the size and scope of the UNCT activities had significantly increased. Several agencies joined the UNCT in 2010, notably UN Habitat, ILO and UNHCR. During the two years following the earthquake, the level of collaboration within the UNCT dramatically increased. Since 2012, and given the decrease in funding, many agencies have reduced their presence in-country and opportunities for joint fundraising have also decreased, notably with the non-replenishment of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund.

The UN system in Haiti (MINUSTAH and UNCT) developed its first Integrated Strategic Framework in 2010 for the period 2010-2011. It was subsequently extended until December 2012. The ISF for the period 2013-2016 was completed in September 2012 and signed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation in November 2012.

This new ISF addresses a new context of transition, dominated by two broad trends:

The shared commitment of the government and of international partners to augment focus and resources on strengthening Haitian institutions to fully assume the affairs of state; and the gradual draw-down (consolidation process) of the MINUSTAH presence;
Under the UNCT, several inter-agency thematic groups are active, notably the programme group, the operations management group, the gender theme group, the HIV-AIDS joint team and the communications group.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Integrated Office and the overall supervision of the RC the incumbent will:

Support the coordination of the activities of the UN in Haiti, establish and lead field coordination mechanisms (where relevant, and identify reporting structures; working closely with national and international staff of UN agencies, under the leadership of the RC;
Support development of the UN Integrated Strategic Framework (ISF) in Haiti, in support of the Programme Group and the pillars leads and co-leads, ensuring alignment with Haiti plans and priorities through wide-ranging consultations with key partners;
Coordinate implementation of the ISF in Haiti, providing guidance to pillar leads, supporting the M&E process and keeping the ISF benchmarks on target;
Lead and maintain strategic partnerships with all key players in the Government including the highest levels in a complex political environment; maintain excellent direct relations with a range of external partners such as donors, civil society and NGOs;
Provide advice and support to the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR and the UNCT in ensuring that programme and operational decisions are taken in the best interests of the people of Haiti;
Support the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR in the coordination of the recovery and development activities of the UN agencies organizing and chairing coordination meetings, ensuring follow-up on decisions taken, common solutions to shared problems and information sharing to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and outreach of the UN programmes in Haiti;
Liaise closely with OCHA to ensure complementarities in programme development, coordination mechanisms and field presence in the areas of recovery and development. In coordination with OCHA, support the CAP process with the regional dimension;
Promote Gender Equality through: support to the various UNCT working groups (programme, disaster resilience, communication, gender etc.). Support or lead the work of other cross-cutting working groups;
Support various UN organized missions, donor missions and appropriate external experts to the field and follow-up to these meetings;
Facilitate and support the implementation of the Harmonization and Simplification agenda. Contribute to knowledge sharing amongst UN staff on issues relating to the UN Reform Agenda and post conflict transition;
Ensure that regional disparities, inter-sectoral linkages, and cross-cutting issues are taken into account in UN activities for recovery and reconstruction, including promoting conflict-sensitive approaches;
Contribute, on behalf of the UNCT, in efforts to establish and strengthen coordination and implementation as well as monitoring mechanisms of joint funding mechanisms and report progress of UN activities in the region;
Provide advice to ministries and government entities on key functions and processes, in particular on aid coordination structures, aid effectiveness principles and international agreements and standards;
Provide advice, and consolidate UN comments on the design of different government policies. Identify and suggest possible capacity building support measures for ministries and other government institutions.
Promote national and local ownership of programmes through increased consultation and participation of key stakeholders at all hierarchical and representational levels;
Coordinate with the head of Integrated Office on issues related to UN, key players in the government, donors, civil society and NGOs;
Support the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR and UNCT in developing and implementing a strategy to engage bilateral and multilateral donors on support to national priorities;
Handle official UN affairs on behalf of the UNCT, the Head of the IO and the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR and the IO; Represent the UNCT, the Head of IO and DSRSG/RC/HC/RR when so requested;
Oversee day-to-day activities to ensure that UNDP administrative and operational policies are adhered to. Identify surge capacity and training needs;
Undertake other tasks as may be requested by the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR.

Impact of Results

The key results will have an impact on the success of the UN in Haiti activities and the consolidation process of MINUSTAH, strengthening of overall coordination capacity, implementation of the UN System reform and partnerships with local authorities. In particular, the key results will have an impact on the design and operation of UN activities, implementation of the UN Integrated Strategic Framework for Haiti and support Haiti-owned strategies, priorities and coordination structures.

Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Creates effective advocacy strategies;
Contributes to the elaboration of advocacy strategies by identifying and prioritizing audiences and communication means;
Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

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.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UN/UNCT’s strategic agenda;
Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the UN/UNCT strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UN/UNCT’s mandate;
Effectively attentive to programmatic synergies in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image.

Resource Mobilization:

Develops detailed knowledge and understanding of key donors, their priorities and areas of interest and adapts content and approach of resource mobilization activities to their requirements;
Builds and maintains relationships with donors demonstrating professionalism in providing advice and information on UN activities and sensitivity to donor concerns;
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation:

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or higher in Development, International Relations, Political Science, Economics or a related subject.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years progressive professional work experience in coordination and provision of management advisory services in post-conflict countries;
Substantial experience working with development, humanitarian agencies, peacekeeping missions and other partners in politically sensitive and complex environments;
Sound hands-on experience in crisis, post-conflict and transition countries;
Experience representing and mediating across complex stakeholders and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
Proven experience in challenging transition and development coordination and resource mobilization;
Sound knowledge of the UN system’s procedures and operational activities for development;
Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects is desirable;
Familiarity with the UN Reform Agenda.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and French, both written and presentation skills;
Creole would be an asset.