Antecedentes

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the Head of RCO will provide strategic and operational guidance, lead efforts to strengthen the capacity of the UN Country Team and provide support to the RC in coordinating and planning an integrated UN response to national development priorities – in line with UN reform objectives, the MDGs and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), as well as emerging priorities.

The incumbent will lead the coordination of activities emanating from the RC Office, setting priorities, and ensuring follow-up and feedback; and identifying and recommending proposals and actions for enhancing inter-agency coordination in line with UN reform objectives, the simplification and harmonization procedures and, as appropriate, initiating actions for implementation.

The Head of RCO, works in close collaboration with the Resident Coordinator and UNCT members, programme and operations teams of the agencies, UNDOCO staff and government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful planning and implementation of UNCT activities. As coordinator of the RC/HC’s Integrated Office Team, particular close collaboration and cooperation is maintained with UNSCOL and expected with UNDP and OCHA.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Management

• Oversee the day to day management and operations of the RCO and its staff. Provide leadership, coordination and effective oversight to established coordination at the field level;
• Financial management: Establishes and implements adequate internal controls to ensure the integrity of financial transaction, systems and reports consistently applies rules and regulations;
• Coordinate all activities emanating from the RCO, set priorities, supervise and ensure follow-up and feedback;
• Provide direction and guidance on the transition from humanitarian to recovery and development led coordination and in particular the LCRP;
• Manage and coordinate the preparation of the RC Annual Plan and Report, ensuring an inclusive process to capture the key priorities and outputs of the UNCT’s work;
• Prepare proposals for the allocation of RC and UNDGO funds.  Monitor and control the usage of these funds, review transactions and prepare expenditure reports;
• Represent the RCO in official functions, as required;
• Ensure UNCT is informed of training opportunities for UN staff;
• Serve as interface with UN Development Group Office;
• Coordinate and prepare inputs into reports, notes, statements of the Resident Coordinator.

Coordination Mechanisms:

• Strengthen the RCO’s information and reporting systems, ensuring efficient  flows of information between the RC and the UNCT as well as the UN Global system (including UNDGO, RBAS, BBPS);
• Support the implementation of harmonized approaches to data collection and analysis including through the development of aid coordination systems with donors and the Government;
• Ensure M&E systems are in place for the purpose of the CA/UNDAF and the recovery related activities in the UN & Partners work plan;
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with Agency representatives, UN Colleagues, donor representatives and Government counterparts of all levels;
• Ensure that information regarding the transitional planning and programming activities of the UN system is conveyed in a transparent manner to all UN Agencies and Partners;
• Support the RC and UNCT in engaging bilateral and multilateral donors, including for resource mobilization, and direct the initiation and development of related preparatory and follow-up action;
• Support the RC and UNCT in engaging civil society, media and other external partners for UN thematic days;
• Ensure that UN agencies, Government and donors are aware of the co-ordination role of the RC System in the context UN system as a whole.

Policy Development and Planning:

• Coordinate and supervise RC Office staff providing practical support to the UNCT to monitor and maintain the UNCT work plan, including the UNDAF and the UNDAF results matrixes, ISF and LCRP;
• Support UNCT in developing and implementing Joint Programmes;
• Manage the implementation of UN common programming processes, including: UNDAF and Country Programme Action Plans (CPAPs);
• Liaise with non-resident agencies to represent their views, and ensure exchange of information, as well as with HQs and UNDG regional technical focal points;
• Facilitate UNCT support to Government in developing and implementing poverty reduction strategies and papers;
• For areas coordinated by the RCO, ensure emergency preparedness and response plans are in place and advocate for funding through all available means;
• Plan and organize UNCT and other meetings chaired by RC. Coordinate and prepare agendas, alerting the RC to pending issues.  Prepare records and conclusions and ensure appropriate follow-up;
• Provide guidance and support to the analysis and subsequent strategies undertaken by the UN system, in support of the Government’s planning processes, to ensure the transition from humanitarian assistance to recovery, decentralization and development, with a strong emphasis on the peace-building dimension;
• Maintain working relationships and two way information flow with agency representatives, UN colleagues and other relevant partners, such as donors, Government counterparts and NGOs at all levels;
• Represent the RCO in interagency meetings, ensuring feedback is adequately reported and reflected in the work of the RCO;
• Identify and recommend actions for enhancing interagency coordination to RC and initiate their implementation as requested by RC;
• Ensure dissemination of information related to UN reform.

The results of the work of the Head of Resident Coordinator´s Office impact the role of the RC/HC and the UNCT through his/her leadership in the elaboration and implementation of the LCRP and the formulation of the new UNDAF and  joint programming guidance, ensuring complementarity of efforts between the UN and other international actors to maximize the effectiveness of an integrated UN operation.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• 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 favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

• Analysis and creation of messages and strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Proven strategic vision and strong technical and analytical capabilities;
• Ability to negotiate at the highest decision-making level;
• Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships;
• Outstanding political judgment;
• Proven ability to advocate and provide policy advice.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for One UN

• Analysis and creation of messages and strategies;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level;
• Promotes a One-UN agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and participates in the formulation of project proposals;
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Identifying and building partnerships;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with counterparts at all levels;
• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to the UNCT‘s mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• 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;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Resource Mobilization

• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level;
• Implementing resource mobilization strategies;
• Analyzes information on potential bilateral and multilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Master’s Degree in international development studies, law, political science, economics, statistics, management, coordination, social sciences, or other relevant field;

Experience:

• At least 15 years’ experience, including substantive international experience, in progressively responsible positions in the humanitarian, development or related field;
• Detailed knowledge and experience of UN system and donor policies, priorities, and programming especially in developing strategies in crisis and post-conflict situations;
• Familiarity with and previous work experience in the region is a requirement;
• Experience with International Financial Institutions will be considered an important asset;
• Proven experience in team management and UN Coordination and superior drafting ability are also essential;

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required;
• Knowledge of French and/or Arabic is an asset.