Antecedentes

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC), the UN Development Coordination Cluster Head manages the Development Coordination Cluster (DCC) of the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO). The UN Development Coordination Cluster Head supervises and leads the DCC staff ensuring key activities are undertaken and completed in a timely manner. In addition to working closely with DCC staff, the UN Development Coordination Cluster Head works in close collaboration and consultation with the Political Engagement and Outreach Cluster (PEOC) of the RCO, with UN Country Team (UNCT) members, programme and operations teams of the agencies, DOCO staff and Government officials, advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful and transparent coordination and implementation of UNCT activities.

In close collaboration with the PEOC, the UN Development Coordination Cluster Head reinforces the capacity of the UNCT to implement UN reforms at country-level and enhances its capacity to link up with Government and Development Partners initiatives in promoting aid effectiveness under the Paris Declaration, Accra Agenda for Action and other Relevant documents.

More specifically, the UN Development Coordination Cluster Head supports the RC and the UNCT with i) the country programming process including development and preparation of the Common Country Assessment (CCA) leading to a high quality, focused and strategic United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), ii) support to national strategies setting, iii) development and implementation of collaborative and joint programmes, monitoring progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and and post 2015 agenda (Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs) Global Conferences, iv) establishment information systems to facilitate non-resident agencies (agencies without field representation) access to national systems and processes and national counterparts access to the expertise of non-resident agencies.

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.

Deberes y responsabilidades

The key results expected from the UN Development Coordination Cluster Head are as follows:

• Support the UNCT and RC/HC in facilitating a coherent narrative on the UN’s approach to Myanmar’s transition and development context;
• Liaise with humanitarian actors, under HCT & OCHA leadership,  to co-develop shared positions & resources;
• Provide support to preparation, implementation and evaluation of UN strategic plans (e.g. UN Repositioning Strategy; Rakhine Strategy and others) with UN TWGs and other coordination mechanisms.

Support the UNCT and RC/HC in facilitating a coherent narrative on the UN’s approach to Myanmar’s transition and development context, as guided by the Strategy to Reposition the UN in Myanmar by:

• articulating the ‘system view’ synthesis of all UN Agencies strategic priorities and associated portfolios;
• identifying essential & emerging areas of highest impact, which require a UN System effort & support HOAs in bringing programmes to scale (emphasis on flagship initiatives, & defining short, medium and longer-term transition plans);
• translating the evolving agenda of the HC/RC/UNCT into a UNCT work plan, with results and targets;
• ensuring regularly convening, well-functioning, and well-informed TWGs and appropriate UNCT action.

Liaise with humanitarian actors, under HCT & OCHA leadership,  to co-develop shared positions & resources for:

• supporting the UN System’s approach to supporting Myanmar’s transition and ensuring that advocacy and programmatic approaches across all agencies are attuned to the fragile context;
• ensuring continuous attention, debate, coordinated dialogue with UN as well as national leadership to continuously expand the areas of common ground and advance the common human security and development agenda.

Provide support to preparation, implementation and evaluation of UN strategic plans (e.g. UNDAF and others) with UN TWGs and other coordination mechanisms, by:

• driving inter-agency programming & advocacy in 1) socio-economic development towards LDC graduation, and SDGs; 2) peacebuilding & nation-building (task undertaken by the PEOC); 3) humanitarian assistance; and 4) internalizing int’l standards & norms & full realization of fundamental human rights and in particular the on-going efforts on Rights Upfront;
• supporting an Inter-Agency Programme Management Team / Operations Management Team, respectively (convening as appropriate, senior programme colleagues, Deputy HOAs to work together on defining shared approaches, priorities, sharing of data and analysis, etc.);
• Facilitating a participatory process to joint UN analysis and priority setting (e.g. situation analyses / needs assessments) to ensure coherent programmatic approach;
• integrate and seriously enrich the use of information management assets (e.g. MIMU, political analysis, etc.) into technical work of actors who are collaborating, or could be collaborating.

Ensures effective support to UNCT in preparation and implementation of country programming processes and products, including Strategy for Repositioning the UN in Myanmar (SfR), CCA, UNDAF and UN programme coordination focusing on achievement of the following results  (while bearing in mind that formal UNDAF will begin from 2018 in line with the national planning process):

• Overall coordination and support to the implementation of the SfR including the development and preparation of CCA and UNDAF as appropriate;
• Coordination on behalf of the UN RC of the status review of the SfR through appropriate mechanisms, the CCA Thematic Group activities and draft CCA preparation;
• Establishment of effective mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of SfR in consultation with UN agencies and where necessary, with Government, civil society, multilateral and bilateral institutions; monitoring activities of the UN Theme Groups;
• Coordination, planning and participation in UN joint annual review of development results;
• Support to the development of strategies, policies and programmes in close consultation with UN agencies aimed at achieving the SDGs and establishment of a system for monitoring the progress towards the SDGs.

Ensures effective management of DCC and its staff and effective collaboration with PEOC  focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Oversee, manage and guide the work of the DCC, a team of staff members working in inter-agency coordination, donor coordination, joint programming under the overall guidance of the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and the United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office (UNDOCO) and based on the RC Annual Work Plan, UNDAF and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness;
• Consult and collaborate with Head of PEOC to advise and guide staff on the theory, practice and implementation of UN and donor coordination activities, including but not limited to CCA/UNDAF process, UNDAF annual and midterm reviews, UNDAF M&E joint programming and programmes, aid coordination principles as spelled out in the Paris and Accra Declarations;
• Consult and collaborate with head of PEOC to guide staff in partnership building and strategic interaction with national partners, donor aid agencies, civil society and the private sector, adhering to UN principles and values;
• Coordination of DCC  workflow, providing substantive/ technical guidance to DCC staff as necessary;
• Serve as supervisor to DCC staff, providing feedback and inputs to staff Performance Management and Development (PMD) as required;
• Oversight and management of human resource and recruitment processes for DCC. Oversees and manages the work of DCC staff working in tandem with PEOC. 

Ensures preparation and implementation of the RC Work Plan jointly with PEOC as needed focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Oversight and management of RC Work Plan to ensure key activities and tasks are undertaken and completed;
• Preparation of reports and proposals for funding;
• Preparation and planning for UNCT meetings, including coordination and compiling of substantive inputs and preparation of background documents and meeting materials;
• Preparations and planning for annual UNCT retreat including planning, support to agenda setting and preparation of retreat materials;
• Preparation of annual UN Reform Strategy reports;
• Preparation of RC Annual Reports;
• Monitoring of coordination support funding comprised of Support to the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (SRC) and Country Coordination Funding (CCF) funds and other funds allocated to UNCT activities; approval of expenditures reports.

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in close consultation and collaboration with the PEOC for SfR, UNDAF implementation focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development of partnerships with international IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society;
• Monitoring and support to UNCT preparations for emergencies, crisis and post-crisis issues, roundtable and other key events in close consultation with appropriate counterparts in government, bilateral and multilateral partners.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management jointly with PEOC, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of reliable sources of information related to coordination. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals;
• Identification of national policies and institutions that require strengthening to ensure effective UNDAF implementation and provision of advice in close consultation with UNCT;
• Establishment of information systems to facilitate non-resident agencies’ (agencies without field representation) access to national systems and processes and national counterparts’ access to the expertise of non-resident agencies;
• Inputs and contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Organization of trainings to UN staff on UN reform and coordination issues.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism.

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 UNDAF, UN System reform and SDGs.

Coordination effectiveness

• Ability to lead the design and implementation of UN programme 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.

Management and Leadership

• Focuses on impact and result for the client;
• 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 communications 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 behavior.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education

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

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in management hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, and social, economic, and political analysis and advisory services;
• Professional, with at least seven years work experience in development and/or humanitarian operations, including at the country level;
• Good knowledge of UN system, procedures and operational activities for development. Previous experience in management and UNDAF development/planning will be considered a plus;
• Knowledge about the UN and RC systems would be an advantage;
• International work experience in developing countries, preferably in Asia will be an added advantage;
• Work experience with UN/UNDP/other development partners will be preferable;
• Excellent writing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills is required;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.

Language:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Note: Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

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.