UNDP Jobs - 61978- Policy Specialist, Joint Funding/Financing for Dev

Policy Specialist, Joint Funding/Financing for Development

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

16-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year

Languages Required :

English

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

Under the leadership of the UNDG Chair, and with the guidance of the UNDG, the overall objective of the United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office (UNDOCO) is to provide the UNDG and its member agencies with valuable advice and support to ensure effective development cooperation. To achieve this, UNDOCO supports the UNDG at all levels to ensure coordinated and coherent support to the UN’s national partners in meeting the development priorities in a post 2015 agenda. The core objective is a relevant and impactful UN contribution to sustainable development. UNDOCO works closely with other UN entities and stakeholders (including DPA, DPKO, DSS, WB, OCHA and the Policy Committee in case of crisis countries), and through various interagency mechanisms to enable the following:

Analyze and advocate for improved policy, strategy and operational coordination as inputs for discussion and decision by UNDG;
Develop, manage and facilitate interagency networks of expertise to support the innovation, development and implementation of UNDG strategic priorities and work plans for reforms and shared results;
Address and support UN development system coordination and coherence issues at regional and country levels; and enable the lessons and experiences from the field to translate into improved policy;
Support the UNDG Chair, Regional UNDGs and UN Resident Coordinators in their leadership and coordination functions;
Provide advice and support to the Director in the context of opportunities to leverage UN development coordination objectives at all levels.

Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader for Programme & Business Operations, the Joint Funding Specialist is responsible for providing technical advice and support on emerging and traditional development finance instruments, and for sharing and reinforcing existing fund coordination instruments, knowledge, policies and accountability requirements related to joint funding.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of functions in the area of joint funding/financing:

Policy coordination and technical support;
Collaboration with UNDOCO colleagues and other UN system and external partners;
Analysis on Financing for Development (including innovative financing instruments);
Knowledge management and sharing.

Policy coordination and technical support:

Provide Secretariat and technical support on fiduciary aspects of UNDG matters to the relevant UNDG working mechanism (i.e. Fiduciary Management Oversight Group);
Provide technical support on joint funding to relevant UNDG working mechanism, (ie. Joint Funding Task Team);
Serve as Secretariat and perform fund management of the Delivering Results Together Fund (or equivalent SDGF fund) at the global level, under the direction of the Steering Committee, including addressing design issues, oversee fund allocations, monitoring and evaluating funded policy initiatives, compiling global reports, and supporting resource mobilization efforts;
On behalf of UNDG working mechanisms, draft and finalize policies, technical documents, guidance and protocols on joint funding/financing;
Facilitate the development of policy proposals; and implement follow up activities as needed in these areas;
With delegated authority of the Team Leader for Programme & Business Operations, participate in policy fora and technical committees on joint funding matters within and outside the UNDG;
Act as a resource person in the assigned areas to ensure that UNDG agreed policies are adequately communicated to the field and key partners (including donors);
Provide technical advice and support to the Team Leader for Programme & Business Operations in responding to requests for substantive guidance and interpretations on joint funding.

Collaboration with UNDOCO colleagues and other UN system and external partners:

Provide technical advice to DOCO teams to ensure implementation of UNDG agreements and commitments in the areas of joint funding;
Collaborate with DOCO colleagues to enhance the capacity of UNCTs to effectively implement UNDG policies and guidelines in the area of joint funding;
Develop, maintain and share for easy access a roster of experts in key joint funding areas, including global funding mechanisms, and country funds, and other as relevant;
Provide technical advice to relevant UNDG working mechanisms and MPTF on the status of implementation of UNDG policies and guidelines in the area of joint funding and facilitate policy level action;
Analyze trends, results of assessments and monitoring feedback, and make recommendations to the Team Leader for Programme & Business Operations on modifications to harmonized policies and guidance;
Where appropriate, provide Joint Funding support and advice to colleagues at the regional and country level.

Financing for Development:

Act as focal point within UNDOCO on finance for development issues within the UNDS, and ensure proper engagement of the UNDG where appropriate;
Provide technical and advisory support on Financing for Development to relevant UNDG working mechanisms;
Analyze trends and provide advisory services on new and innovative financing mechanisms for development;
Develop briefing papers and discussion points on issues related to financing for development for consideration by UNDG working mechanisms.

Knowledge management and sharing:

Assist UNDOCO to develop and implement a strategic funding policy which is in line with UNDOCO’s mandate and expertise, and which is coherent and innovative in its support to UN Country Teams;
Introduce innovations and good practices based on emerging industry trends (eg. on partnerships, including the private sector), mechanisms and tools;
Working with DOCO teams, analyze and advise on the application of lessons learned and experiences into fine-tuning guidelines, tools and support structures;
Help facilitate the capture and sharing of knowledge and experience on joint funding between UNDG working mechanisms, UNDG member agencies and UN Country Teams through active collaboration and interaction;
Manage the knowledge management areas in UNDOCO associated with joint funding and financing for development.

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;
Demonstrates and promotes the values of the UN in actions and decisions and acts in accordance with the standard of conduct for international civil servants;
Shows willingness to work without bias with all persons regardless of gender, nationality, religion or culture;
Contributes effectively to team-based activities, working collaboratively and sharing information openly; works effectively with colleagues inside the UN as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals;

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrated ability to support and maintain inter-agency networks and partnerships
Good technical knowledge of joint funding issues; knowledge of pass-through funding modalities, including joint programming and pooled funding mechanisms; financial and audit frameworks within agencies and exercise oversight in inter-agency context.
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of focus
Good knowledge of UN reform
Proven ability to coordinate and support formulation and development of policies, procedures and guidance
Demonstrated ability to contribute to the development of change processes
Demonstrated ability to adapt best management practices to support the achievement of Unit/team goals
Demonstrated ability to contribute to the development of approaches to capacity-building, knowledge management and organizational learning
Ability to contribute effectively in team-based setting, especially in the area of knowledge-sharing and learning
Ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences; speaks clearly and convincingly, demonstrating strong presentation and facilitation skills
Good technical writing skills
Anticipates clients’ needs; demonstrates understanding of clients’ perspectives; solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advance university degree (Master) in political, social, economic, business management or other related social science field is required.

Experience:

A combination of at least 7 years relevant experience in programming, joint funding, financing for development, and/or business practices, some of which should be with developing countries and within the UN system, Agencies, Funds or Programs
Work experience at the country level is a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English is required;
Proficiency in another UN working language is desirable.

Question 1: please respond in the box below with 500 words. See complete question:

Innovative financing can be grouped into 3 main categories: firstly innovative sourcing with the public sector, for example developing new forms of international taxes and levies to provide a steady resource flow to supplement ODA secondly innovative spending, to use the limited public resources available to leverage private flows for development objectives; and thirdly innovative sourcing to leverage market trends through investment, thus reducing reliance on public resources. Which of these 3 categories holds the best promise over next 3 years for Joint UN financing – explain your reasoning.

It is mandatory to respond to the question.