UNDP Jobs - 64492- UN Coordination Specialist/Special Assistant to th

UN Coordination Specialist/Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator in Honduras

Location :

Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

02-May-2016

Application Deadline :

16-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English Spanish

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 Resident Coordinator System encompasses all organizations of the UN System dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. As the designated Representative of the UN Secretary-General and team leader of the UN Country Team (UNCT), the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), in consultation with the UNCT, assumes overall responsibility for and coordination of the developmental activities of the UN carried out at the country level. This is done in conformity with the objectives and priorities of the Host Government and in accordance with the mandates and objectives of the various UN organizations. The UNCT is composed of representatives of the UN funds and programs, specialized agencies and non-resident UN agencies.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Coordination Specialist/Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator reinforces the strategic and operational capacity of the UN Country Team to implement a high quality, focused and strategic United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAFs), to respond to crisis and post-crisis contexts, to support the national strategies setting, to develop and implement the collaborative and joint programs, to monitor progress towards the ´Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Global Conferences and international UN Conventions to which Honduras is party, to establish systems for agencies without field representation and for national counterparts to access the expertise of agencies without field representation.

The Honduras UNCT is moving towards full implementation of “Delivering as One” (DaO). In that context, the UN Coordination Specialist/Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator works in close collaboration with the RC, UNCT members, program and operations teams of the Agencies, UNDOCO staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to ensure the successful and transparent coordination of “DaO” and UNCT activities overall.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures effective support to the UNCT in preparation of implementation plans for the effective implementation of “DaO” as per UNDG Standard Operating Procedures (August 2014) and country programming processes, including UNDAF and joint UN programs, and focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Establishes effective mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the new 2017-2022 UNDAF, based on the UNDAF Results Matrix and the UNDAF Monitoring and Evaluation Plan in consultation with UN Agencies, Government, and civil society, as well as multilateral and bilateral institutions. Arrange annual review meetings of the UNDAF as well as a mid-term review meetings;
Provides advice to and participate in the work of UN teams, task forces, and thematic groups organized around the UNDAF outcomes;
Prepares and monitors the activities of the Government/UN coordination mechanisms;
Supports the theme groups in developing joint programs and facilitates the sharing of information between the various groups
Participates as a representative of the Resident Coordinator’s Office in inter-agency meetings;
Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of UN Agencies’ programs in the context of the UNDAF, Delivering as One and SDGs, and provides recommendations to address them;
Coordinates agencies´ inputs into reports of the Resident Coordinator (ex. R-UNDG, rights Up Front, SG Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, etc.) and prepares relevant submissions.

Ensures preparation and implementation of the RC Work Plan focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Provides advice on adjusting strategies and implementation modalities, cost-effective and efficient implementation of joint UN programs, common services and other UN functions;
Coordinates the RC Work Plan, reports and Joint Programmes (?) proposals for funding preparation;
Coordinates strategies and substantive preparations for the UNCT planning retreat to review the annual work plan and other UNCT meetings;
Monitors the Support to the Resident Coordinator (SRC) fund and other funds dedicated to UNCT activities. Approval of expenditure reports;
Report on the use of funds to the UNCT and UN Development Group (UNDG).

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and development/implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the UNCT based on the 2017-2022 UNDAF and focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Support the RC in his/her role as representative of the UN system in the G16, and follows up on the participation of the UNCT members in the technical working groups (“Mesas”);
Supports UNCT implementation of the PGC (“Platform for management of international cooperation”) led by the Foreign Ministry;
Analyses and researches information on donors, prepares substantive briefs on donor strategies and national development strategies, provides advice to the UN RC on ensuring synchronization , alignment and complementary of approaches between these strategies and UN activities;
Develop a resource mobilization strategy for the Resident Coordinator’s Office.

Ensures effective advocacy of UN activities in close consultation with the UN Communication Officer and the information / communication focal points of the UN system focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Prepares and and implements an Advocacy Strategy for the 2017-2022 UNDAF;
Maintains systematic information on RC system activities in cooperation with the UN Communication Officer and the UN Communication Group to implement the UN Communication Strategy;
Prepares speakers notes, talking points, speeches for major advocacy events of the Resident Coordinator system, in close consultation with the UNCT and relevant partners;
Ensure effective coordination of UN events such as the UN-day.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identifies sources of information related to coordination. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals and work of the UNCT in Honduras;
Identifies national policies and institutions that require strengthening to ensure effective UNDAF implementation and provision of advice in close consultation with UNCT;
Establish distance information and referral mechanisms for agencies without field representation to access national institutions and processes and for national partners to access the expertise of agencies without field representation;
Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
Organize trainings to UN staff on coordination and key cross cutting issues of relevance to UNDAF and DOA implementation.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

People Skills:

Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests and concerns of others
Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior
Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork,
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, adaptation to a change process;
Provides and responds constructively to feedback (correction or recognition).

Coordination Effectiveness:

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

Organizational skills:

Has ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships with all colleagues.

Communication:

Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Shares knowledge and experience from within and outside the UN Country Team.

Information technology:

ICDL standards and excellent skills in the use of office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience at the national or international level in UN Coordination Units or providing strategic management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
Prior experience with the UN System.

Language:

Fluency in English and Spanish with excellent writing and oral skills.