Historique

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the global development network for the United Nations system that is on the ground in 177 countries, with its headquarters in New York.
 
The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) leads and supports the organization in cultivating, building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of UNDP through partnership development, resource mobilization, and communications. These strategic relationships cover a wide range and number of key constituencies and development partners, encompassing developing countries, existing and prospective donor countries/emerging economic powers, sub-national partners, civil society, multilateral and regional institutions, the private sector, foundations, academia and think tanks, the wider UN system, inter-governmental bodies, as well as the media. The Bureau also leads and manages the organization’s relationship with its governing body, the Executive Board, composed of Member States, and with different legislative organs of the UN, including the General Assembly and its various committees as applicable, as well as ECOSOC. To all these ends the Bureau leads the organization in the development and advancement of relevant strategies in engaging with this wide spectrum of partners that is achieved through wide internal and external consultative processes. 
 
To carry out its responsibilities BERA has a Directorate and four clusters: Communications; Innovation and Development Alliances, Resource Partnerships and Multilateral Affairs and UN Coherence (MAUCC). The MDG-Fund Secretariat is also housed in BERA. In addition, BERA has Representation Offices in 5 major donor capitals and in collaboration with the Regional Bureaus, manages 2 UNDP Centres in Istanbul and Seoul.
 
Substantive engagement with civil society is a crucial dimension of the work of UNDP as the global development network of the United Nations. The Civil Society Team in the Multilateral Affairs and UN Coherence Cluster (MAUCC) of UNDP is responsible for contributing to the analysis and advocacy functions of the cluster by tracking and analyzing key civil society perspectives on development issues, reflecting them in UNDP positions and organizing strategic advocacy with civil society for shared development agendas. The Civil Society Team also serves as the secretariat for the UNDP Civil Society Advisory Committee to the Administrator, which meets annually in New York, and works closely with other parts of the organization to ensure follow-up of the committee’s recommendations after each meeting. It works to empower UNDP Bureaus to engage more effectively with civil society by facilitating partnership and strategic outreach and contributing to policy guidance. 
 
Under the overall guidance of the MAUC Cluster Leader, and the immediate supervision of the Team Manager, Civil Society Team, the Partnerships Development Specialist will work with a wide range of constituencies performing the functions as outlined below.
 
Impact of Results:
  • Strengthened implementation of UNDP global and regional civil society partnership strategies towards inclusive development;
  • Civil society perspectives strengthened in internal and external UNDP strategies, advocacy, analyses and communication documents;
  • Greater coherence in inter-bureau and inter-agency development processes;
  • Strong advocacy and strategic partnerships with key civil society actors.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Summary of key functions:
  • Strengthen relationships and partnerships with global and regional civil society networks and coalitions
  • Contribute to increased engagement of civil society in UN/UNDP policy processes.
  • Knowledge management
Strengthen relationships and partnerships with global and regional civil society networks and coalitions:
  • Promote engagement with a wide range of civil society actors at global, regional and national levels, including e.g., social movements, faith-based organizations, national NGO platforms, for effective participation in key UN processes
  • Outreach to key civil society partners for strategic advocacy for common objectives
  • Contribute to external and interagency representation
  • Track civil society trends and analyze civil society perspectives to feed into key UN processes
Contribute to increased engagement of civil society in UN/UNDP policy processes.
  • Track and analyze civil society perspectives on key development priorities to inform UNDP policy positions
  • Monitor intergovernmental processes as relevant on issues of civil society and inclusive participation
  • Develop innovative means of communicating results for internal and external audiences

Knowledge management

  • Strengthen internal and external communications and documentation of results
  • Contribute to the development of policy guidance, prescriptive content and good practice documentation relating to civic engagement
  • Contribute to knowledge network discussions on civil society issues and partnership, and produce / disseminate good practice and guidance documents

Compétences

Corporate Competencies:
  • Demonstrates integrity by upholding the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; and
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, national and age sensitivity and adaptability
Functional Competencies:
  • Excellent knowledge and understanding of civil society (global and regional) and familiarity with the substantive, political and capacity issues of southern CSOs in particular; 
  • Strong networks and knowledge of civil society organizations; 
  • Strong understanding of global development issues;
  • Familiarity with UNDP policies and procedures and practice areas;
  • Proven oral and written communications skills;
  • Demonstrated presentation and facilitation skills;
  • Strong teamwork, and proven ability to work in a complex multi-cultural environment; and
  • Ability to work with equal ease and respect with civil society partners and UNDP staff.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:
  • Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in International Development, Public Administration, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.
Experience:
  • Minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience in international organizations, including working with and preferably for, civil society organization(s) or network(s).
  • Working experience in UNDP at the international level preferred.

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent English (both oral and written) required; knowledge of another UN language an asset.