UNDP Jobs - 50686- UN Coordination Specialist

UN Coordination Specialist

Location :

Port Moresby, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

05-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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 Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide the basis for the UN’s strategic positioning and support to national development plans. Drawing on best practices from a global perspective, the UN formulates and coordinates innovative approaches to development that are suited to the unique political, economic and social context of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

PNG’s MDG Progress Report (2010) reveals that the country achieved some of the country-tailored targets set in the Medium Term Development Strategy 2005-2010, particularly on MDG 1 (poverty reduction) and MDG 4 (child mortality), but did not achieve any of the internationally agreed MDG targets. It is unlikely that PNG will meet any of the MDGs by end 2015.

The UN system in Papua New Guinea supports national development and humanitarian operations in the country through the activities of 14 UN agencies represented on the ground.

Delivering as One in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea became a UN Delivering as One (DaO) self-starter country in 2007, with the design of the One Programme and (UNDAF) Action Plan. Since then, the UN Country Team (UNCT) has proceeded with an advanced reform programme aimed at reducing duplication, fragmentation and transaction costs of the programming efforts of the UN, while enhancing transparency and accountability of UN interventions in the country. The overall aim of the DaO model is to provide development assistance in a more coordinated manner, in order to increase the UN system’s impact through more coherent programmes.

With the full support and encouragement of the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG), the UNCT have put in place a Joint UN Country Strategy based on five pillars:

One Country Programme;
One Fund;
Communicating as One;
Operating as One;
One House.

The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2012-2015, Action Plan and Results Matrix constitute the overarching programming and operational framework for all UN agencies. The current UNDAF 2012-2015 is the second joint programme where the UN in PNG coordinates human and financial resources under the DaO framework.

The UNDAF is aligned to government frameworks and national priorities, namely Vision 2050, the Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 and Medium Term Development Plan 2011-2015. In 2014, the GoPNG launched an addendum to the PNG Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030. In line with this, the government is extending the current 2011-2015 Medium Term Development Plan by two years to 2017 to take into account changes to the 2010-2030 Development Strategic Plan. In the spirit of DaO, to fully support the achievement of PNG’s national priorities and goals, the UN system is in the process of aligning the current UNDAF 2012-2015 and Action Plan to the revised time-frame. Development of a new UNDAF 2018-2021 will commence in quarter 4 of 2016 / quarter 1 of 2017.

The current UNDAF 2012-2015 comprises four cluster outcomes. Under these clusters there are ten outcomes, with a task team dedicated to each outcome (one outcome has two task teams, making eleven Task Teams in total). The Task Teams are multi-agency, ensuring programmes are jointly designed and implemented.

One Fund

The functioning of the PNG UN Country Fund – the ‘One Fund’ - represents positive progress on the harmonization of resource mobilization efforts across the UN in PNG. The ‘One Fund’ allows the UN in PNG to move towards a single financing method for development.

The governance arrangements of the PNG UN Country Fund ensure national ownership and alignment with national priorities through the Government of Papua New Guinea’s co-chairing of the UN Programme Steering Committee. The management responsibilities are divided between the Resident Coordinator, the Government of PNG - UN Programme Steering Committee and the UN Country Team.

The Resident Coordinator is responsible for the strategic leadership of the PNG Country Fund. This involves:

engaging in joint resource mobilisation for the PNG UN Country Fund;
ensuring the allocation process is documented;
ensuring consolidated PNG Country Fund level reporting in collaboration with the administrative agent and based on submissions received from participating UN organizations.

The Government of PNG - UN Programme Steering Committee is responsible for:

monitoring the overall results of the UNDAF;
outlining programmatic priorities;
allocating resources at the inter-agency outcome level.

The UNCT is responsible for:

monitoring the overall delivery of joint UN country strategy results;
meditation of disputes in case of disagreements on allocations, utilization or management of the PNG UN Country Fund;
outlining programmatic priorities;
allocating resources at the inter-agency outcome level.

The UN Budgetary Committee:

advises the Programme Steering Committee on resource allocations and governance arrangements of the UN Country Fund (for example revisions of allocation criteria).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the Delivering as One framework, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator (RC), provides high-quality coordination, facilitation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting services to the RC, the UNCT, and donors.

The RCO supports the UNCT and the Task Teams on a wide array of inter-agency activities in line with development agendas, priorities and frameworks.

The RCO covers several functional areas, including:

Strategic analysis and planning;
Management of the UN country programming cycle;
Management of UN joint programmes;
Representation of and support of UN secretariat and UN agencies;
Support to national coordination systems and processes.

Under these functional areas, key activities and responsibilities include:

Oversight of thematic working groups;
Monitoring, reporting and evaluation;
Ensuring mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues;
Engagement with national aid management structures;
Supporting coordination requirements at national, sub-national or sectoral levels.

The Coordination Specialist implements and oversees improved work processes and outputs of the above functional areas.

The Coordination Specialist provides overall coordination and management support to the staff of the RCO. She / he will also work in close collaboration with UNCT members, programme and operations teams of the Agencies, thematic groups, UNDG/DOCO staff, Non-Resident Agencies (NRA) and Government officials,
technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to ensure successful and
transparent guidance and coordination of inter-agency activities.

Key functions include:

Advising UNCT on UN Reform initiatives, especially the Delivering as One initiative, with the goal of enhancing system-wide coherence, aid effectiveness and efficiency. Act as the UN system-wide focal point for DaO and develop concrete suggestions to further the objectives of DaO. Foster increased dialogue among all agencies and Task Teams, facilitating information sharing between agencies, Task Teams, donors and implementing partners;
Supporting the RC, UNCT and the Programme Coordination Committee (PCC) on issues related to the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2012-2015) and the UNDAF extension plans. Supports Task Team Leads to ensure the emergence of strong inter-agency Task Teams for each UNDAF outcome. Supports effective implementation of inter-agency programme initiatives under each Task Team joint Annual Work Plan; ensures initiatives are fully aligned with national development goals;
Facilitates paperwork for and monitors funds channelled through the One Fund. Acts as the focal point for government and donors on UN Budgetary Framework issues. Provides advisory support to UN Budgetary Committee to ensure effective governance and reporting mechanisms are in place. Reports to RC, UNCT and donors on resource allocations to and expenditure by Task Teams; arranges quarterly review Task Team meetings where performance is monitored and assessed;
Advises on and develops a resource mobilization strategy for the UNCT, including donor mapping; creates and oversees maintenance of database on potential and actual donors and donor-funded projects.
Working closely with the M&E and Statistics Specialist, oversees creation of Task Team joint Annual Work Plans and the creation of improved donor reporting systems and templates
Monitors and reports on funds dedicated to RCO activities; creates RCO Annual Work Plan and budget; approves RCO expenditure reports, ensuring transparent and timely reporting to donors;
Management and supervisory responsibilities for a team of three staff.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and 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 favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge and Learning Management;
Shares knowledge and experience from within and outside the UN Country Team;
Encourages UN staff to share knowledge;
Develops deep understanding in UNDAF, UN System reform, MDGs and SDGs.

Coordination Effectiveness:

Ability to strengthening strategic partnerships for the implementation of United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2012-2015) and its extension;
Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies.

Management and Leadership:

Focuses on impact and results;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
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;
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;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Manages conflict and stress, remaining composed and working as a mediator in crisis or antagonistic situations;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behaviour.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, or hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
Experience with the UN and RC systems, and UN reform, would be an advantage;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages is essential.

Language:

Full working knowledge of English, including excellent drafting and presentation skills;
Knowledge of another UN language would be an advantage.