UNDP Jobs - 49861- Coordination Specialist, Resident Coordinator’s Of

Coordination Specialist, Resident Coordinator’s Office

Location :

Mogadishu, SOMALIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One Year (with possibility of extension)

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

Somalia provides a unique challenge in aid coordination. The country requires the concurrent and continual delivery of a complex mix of relief, recovery, and development interventions in a deeply insecure and unpredictable operating environment.

In September 2013, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the international community endorsed the Somali New Deal Compact. The Compact provides an overarching strategy which determines the priorities of Somalia for the next three years (2014-2016). It also enshrines the principles for a renewed policy between the Somalia and international partners based on the Busan “New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States”. The Somali Compact entails five Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals (PSGs) which are planned and implemented through joint Working Groups comprising the FGS, national and international community, including bilateral partners, and the UN. The PSGs are: Inclusive Politics (PSG1), Security (PSG2), Justice (PSG3), Economic foundations (PSG4) and Revenues and Services (PSG5).

The UNCT anticipates increased harmonization of programming with clearer distribution of labour among agencies in support of this, followed by initiatives of joint programming and cost-shared services, which will further explore synergies and increase efficiency.

Since no single agency has the range of funds, skills, knowledge, and experience to tackle the multi-dimensional causes of poverty; a strong planning and coordination capacity, especially for the strategic analysis and results-based planning needed to integrate the UN’s operational response to transition challenges, is required. An integrated approach will increase the impact of the UN System on poverty reduction and reduce the transaction costs of the national authorities and other key stakeholders, who include: National and local authorities, UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, UN agencies, staff of IASC members at headquarters and in the field, the international financial institutions, representatives of donor countries/organizations, non-governmental organization representatives and other members of the humanitarian community, senior members of the government at national and provincial levels, civil society, civilian and military authorities, traditional leaders and other key actors, especially in conflict areas, local and international press, visiting political, donor and humanitarian missions; strengthen national capacity for managing development assistance; and increase recognition by national authorities and other partners, of the strength of the UN System when it works as a coherent whole.

In this regard, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office for Somalia has identified the need to recruit a Coordination Specialist. The objective of this position is to support the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Country Team in the delivery of a more integrated and effective UN response to Somalia through the implementation of the ISF , joint programming and harmonized services.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

Support the RC and UN Country Team in their collective programmatic and operational efforts, particularly the implementation of the UN Integrated Strategic Framework and joint programming initiatives and harmonization of services;
Provide substantive support to UN coordination mechanisms;
Carry out resource mobilization activities under the directive of the UNCT;
Monitor and report on activities of the UNCT and RC.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Support initiatives of the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT by ensuring timely and quality:

Preparation of UNCT meetings/events;
Notifying the RC of pending and important issues to be raised with the UNCT;
Implementation of activities identified at UNCT meetings and/or follow-up to decisions made;
Liaison and backstopping for RC Advisors, UN colleagues and national partners in the field on key issues.

Coordinate the implementation of the ISF. Support the development and utilization of M&E tools and ensure regular reporting by the UNCT on the ISF.

Facilitate and support the development and implementation of joint programming initiatives and harmonization of operations / services, including sharing and applying lessons learned.

Support resource mobilization efforts, including the preparation of proposals for funding and donor briefing materials, under the directive of the UNCT.

Provide substantive support to UN coordination mechanisms and theme groups as required. Participate in strategic planning sessions, facilitating where necessary.

Monitor activities of the UNCT and use of finances against the RC Workplan. Draft RC Annual Report in collaboration with RC Office staff. Manage the RC Budget.

Support enhanced and collective communications activities by guiding and overseeing the work of the National Information and Communications Officer.

Support the Head of the RC Office in effectively and efficiently managing the RCO, including supporting and covering the R&R of RCO staff in other locations outside Mogadishu in Somalia and overseeing the work of the Mogadishu-based Administrative Assistant.

Actively participate in global practice network on coordination and other knowledge networking forums. Share relevant information with UN agencies.

Maintain positive working relations and manage feedback and information flows between and among:

UN focal points/agency heads;
Counterpart coordination mechanisms in government, private sector, civil society and the donor community;
Units of the UN system which may be directly under the Resident Coordinator, including actions on behalf of agencies without field-level representation.

Assist the Resident Coordinator and UNCT with preparation of reports, presentations or speeches by providing the background research, identifying key issues to be included, etc.

Act as a link between the RC and individual UN agency programmes, keeping abreast (to the greatest extent possible) with major UN agency programme interventions and initiatives. To this end, participate, upon invitation, in joint programme meetings and the programming meetings of the various UN agencies.

Maintain and organize information in relation to the Resident Coordinator System activities, the Resident Coordinator’s Annual Report, the Secretary General’s reports on Somalia, relevant communication initiated from the Resident Coordinator’s office, UNDG and other Headquarters Units, General Assembly and ECOSOC resolutions and other related material in a systematic manner.

Perform any other task as assigned by the Resident Coordinator or Head of the RC Office.

Impact of Results

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 the implementation of the UN Strategy and support of national strategies and priorities.

Competencies

Functional 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;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

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’sstrategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UN/UNCT’s mandate;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved;
Effectively attentive to programmatic synergies in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems;
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;
Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

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;
Develops, reviews and monitors agreements and trust funds which reflect the outcomes of negotiations with donors and meet the reporting requirements of UN;
Uses knowledge of donors and successful programmes and projects to contribute to fund raising and resource mobilization strategies.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
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;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
Ability to facilitate the implementation of joint UN programme activities and strengthen strategic partnerships for effective implementation;
Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies;
In providing advice to the RC, has the capacity to gather comprehensive information on complex problems or situations; evaluates information accurately and identifies key issues required to resolve problems;
Advanced communication skills.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UN’s Goals

Creates effective global advocacy messages/strategies;
Contributes to the elaboration of a global advocacy strategy by identifying and prioritizing audiences and messages;
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;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
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 in Development, International Relations, Political Science, Economics or a related field.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services;
Minimum 2 years work experience in crisis/post-conflict countries is essential;
Knowledge of the UN RC system and UN Missions is desirable;
Knowledge of the Integrated Assessment and Planning Guidelines is desirable;
Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
Previous experience in development or recovery planning is desirable;
Familiarity with the UN, particularly the UN Reform Agenda;
Solid experience in usage of MS Office package and web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement.