UNDP Jobs - 48762- UN Coordination Specialist/Head of RC Office

UN Coordination Specialist/Head of RC Office

Location :

Colombo, SRI LANKA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

25-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

NO-C

Duration of Initial Contract :

One 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 UN Resident Coordinator (RC) is the senior most UN official and the representative of the UN Secretary-General in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, where humanitarian assistance is provided by the UN and other partners, the Resident Coordinator also assumes the role of Humanitarian Coordinator (HC). This particular role is supported by a dedicated UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) team. In addition to the above roles, the Resident Coordinator functions as the Designated Official (DO) for Security and is supported by a specialized Department of Safety and Security (DSS) team, headed by the Chief Security Advisor.

The central task of the RC/HC is to coordinate the operational activities of the UN and all humanitarian actors. This is done in consultation with Country Representatives of UN agencies and members of the humanitarian community, in conformity with the objectives and priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka. The UN Country Team (UNCT) in Sri Lanka consists of 17 UN organizations with programmes and operations on the ground. There are five non-resident agencies that also have programmes in Sri Lanka which are managed from their regional offices.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), the UN Coordination Specialist/Head of the RC Office (RCO) oversees the day to day management of the Resident Coordinator’s Office and reinforces the capacity of the UNCT to:

Prepare, implement and monitor the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs);
Develop and implement collaborative and joint programmes;
Contribute to joint action in support of the Post 2015 Development Agenda;
Work in collaboration with and facilitate the work of non-resident agencies.

The Coordination Specialist/Head of RCO also plays an important role in shaping and leading UN theme and/or working groups including the Gender Theme Group (GTG), the Communications and Advocacy Group (Comms Group) and the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) working group, both internally and externally.

The UN Coordination Specialist/Head of RCO supervises and leads the staff of the UN RC Office (approximately five persons). S/he works in close collaboration with UN Country Team (UNCT) members, programme and operations teams of agencies, UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) staff in New York. A key responsibility of the Coordination Specialist includes working in collaboration with the Reconciliation and Development Advisor (RDA) to advance the reconciliation and development agenda of the UN. In addition the Coordination Specialist/Head of RCO is expected to establish excellent relations with 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:

Ensures strategic support to the UNCT in the development and implementation of country programming processes and products, including the UNDAF and joint programmes;
Ensures smooth day to day functioning of the RC Office by preparing and implementing the RCO work plan and budget;
Ensures effective support to UN theme/working groups by assuming leadership responsibilities, under the guidance of relevant UNCT members for the functioning of these inter-agency groups;
Ensures the creation of strategic partnerships with key actors and development of concept notes/proposals to meet the resource mobilization strategy of the RCO;
Ensures support to non-resident UN agencies and facilitates knowledge building and management for all UN agency staff.

Ensures strategic support to the UNCT in the development and implementation of country programming processes and products, including the UNDAF and joint programmes:

Analyze and prepare brief notes on the political, social and economic situation in the country;
Support the UNDAF preparation, implementation and monitoring processes, including ensuring necessary consultations with partners and UN agencies;
Support the UNDAF Pillar lead agencies in meeting their responsibilities together with the support of the Coordination and M&E Officer and Coordination and Transition Specialist;
Support the Coordination and M&E Officer in monitoring UNDAF implementation based on the UNDAF Result Matrix and Annual Reviews and promote the use of Dev-Info for same as a tool for all UN agencies;
Provide advice on adjusting strategies and implementation modalities, ensuring the cost-effective and efficient implementation of joint UN programmes, common services and other UN functions;
Establish links with the apex body overseeing external funding (the External Resources Department) and function as the interlocutor between them and the UNCT on issues which affect all UN agencies;
Coordinate the development of RC/UNCT reports, annual reviews, concept notes and proposals for funding;
Promote joint and harmonized approaches in programme development.

Ensures smooth day to day functioning of the RC Office by preparing and implementing the RCO work plan and budget:

Effectively manage the RC Office work plan and budget by having an effective system in place for monitoring same;
Coordinate and contribute substantively to organizing the annual UNCT retreat according to the priorities of the year;
Manage and coordinate responses to all questionnaires, reports and important correspondence required from UNCT, DOCO and the Secretary General’s Office;
Oversee the timely and quality (a) preparation for UNCT meetings/events, and (b) implementation of activities identified at UNCT meetings;
Alert the RC of pending and important issues and supervise and coordinate the activities of RCO staff;
Support RC travel and inter-agency missions through the preparation of agenda, briefing notes, meetings and provide oversight for logistic arrangements;
Prepare effective and sensitive talking points, speaker’s notes and/or speeches for major events, in close consultation with the UNCT and partners, to be used by the UN RC;
Act as a link between the RC and individual UN agency programmes, keeping abreast with major UN agency programme interventions and initiatives.

Ensures effective support to UN theme/working groups by assuming leadership responsibilities, under the guidance of relevant UNCT members for the functioning of these inter-agency groups:

Maintain systematic information on all RC system activities in relation to theme/working groups and keep the RC informed of recent developments;
Assume leadership responsibilities, manage the work plans and budgets and implement the work of the GTG, the HACT Working Group and the Comms Group, under the guidance of the responsible UNCT member;
Ensure the timely and quality preparation of these meetings/events, document key discussion points at meetings and oversee the implementation of activities identified at meetings;
Provide coordination support to the thematic/working group by ensuring full participation of UN Agencies, Government, civil society, multilateral and bilateral institutions as appropriate.

Ensures the creation of strategic partnerships with key actors and development of concept notes/proposals to meet the resource mobilization strategy of the RCO:

Develop partnerships with IFI’s, Government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector and civil society to further and promote UN’s work in Sri Lanka;
Analyze and provide information on donor priorities, prepare substantive briefs on national development strategies and provide advice to the UN RC on ensuring synchronicity, alignment and complementarity between these strategies and UN activities;
Coordinate with all UN agencies and prepare/submit joint concept notes and proposals for funding to relevant sources;
Support the UN RC in maintaining positive working relations and managing feedback and information flows between and among UN focal point/agency heads and Government Counterparts;
Coordinate substantive preparations of the UNCT for key events in close consultation with appropriate Counterparts in Government, Bilateral and Multilateral partners.

Ensures support to non-resident UN agencies and facilitates knowledge building and management for all UN agency staff:

Liaise with all non-resident UN agencies and support them in realizing planned missions and/or activities in Sri Lanka;
Keep abreast of key initiatives which fall under the purview of non-resident UN agencies and inform the non-resident agencies of key events and activities in Sri Lanka;
Identify sources of information related to coordination and adopt a synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt which can be applied in the Sri Lankan context;
Identify national institutions and staff that require strengthening to ensure effective UNDAF implementation and provide advice to them, in close consultation with UNCT;
Identify and promote training opportunities to RC Office staff on coordination and M&E issues.

Impact of Results

The key results will have an impact on the success of the UN Country Team activities,strengthen the overall coordination capacity and contribute to implementing UN System reform;
In particular, the key results will have an impact on the design and operation of UN activities, creation of strategic partnerships for UNCT Programming, including UNDAF implementation, and support national strategies and priorities.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Management and Leadership

Establishes priorities for self and other members of the RC office; schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources; monitors performance against development and other objectives and corrects deviations from the course;
Gathers comprehensive information on complex problems or situations; evaluates information accurately and identifies key issues required to resolve problems;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Focuses on impact and results for the range of clients and external actors by building strong relationships;
Effectively leads teams and shows conflict resolution skills by managing conflict and stress, remaining composed and working as a mediator in crisis or antagonistic situations;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complex tasks and responsibilities;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior.

Coordination Effectiveness:

Ability to lead the design and implementation of UN programme activities, strengthening of strategic partnerships for UNDAF implementation;
Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and its main constituents, advocate effectively and communicate sensitively.

Knowledge and Learning Management:

Shares knowledge and experience from within and outside the UN Country Team;
Develops a strong understanding of the UNDAF, UN System reform and Post 2015 Development Agenda;
Encourages UN staff to share knowledge.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or above in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.

Experience:

At least 5 years 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 of the UN and RC systems would be an advantage.

Language:

Excellent written and oral communications skills in English is essential;
Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil with strong written and oral communications skills is required.