Background

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) leads and supports the UNDP in cultivating, building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of UNDP, that includes partnership development, resource mobilization, communications and governance.

To carry out its responsibilities, BERA has a Directorate and three clusters:

• Communications (CC);
  
• Resource Partnerships (RPC); 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.

The Multilateral Affairs and UN Coherence Cluster (MAUCC) within BERA supports UNDP and its leadership by leading and managing UNDP’s engagement with the UN and its many inter-governmental bodies, UNDG and other UN inter-agency fora.  In particular, MAUCC is responsible for positioning UNDP as leader of the RC system and chair of the UNDG. MAUCC also works to position, protect and promote UNDP’s interests in the broader multilateral and intergovernmental contexts by scanning and anticipating trends in the multilateral environment that may influence UNDP policy and prepares proactive strategy options, for coherent multi-stakeholder engagement.

The UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017 reinvigorates UNDP’s coordination role as manager of the RC system, positioning the organization as a ‘broker’ of UN system expertise, with a focus on country-level coherence around substantive results. In addition, General Assembly Resolution 67/226 on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development (QCPR), also called for improved system-wide coherence of the UN Development System, including strengthened joint programming, accelerated business practice reform and a strong, and fully funded, Resident Coordinator system. This requires among other things,   accelerated efforts from the UNDP along with other UNDG member organizations to fully implement the Management and Accountability System; improve the selection, training, appraisal, and retention of Resident Coordinators; enhance the planning and coordination function of RCs and strengthen leadership capacities of RCs and UN Country Teams; simplify and streamline programming instruments, and strengthen RBM practices for efficient and measurable delivery of results.

Under the overall guidance of the MAUC Cluster Leader and direct supervision of the Team Manager for Intergovernmental and UN Affairs, the Analyst (UN Coherence) will support UNDP’s participation in the various UNDG working mechanisms, ensuring coherent positioning and messaging of the organization across the various groups. The Analyst will support UNDP’s corporate efforts in follow-up to the QCPR as well as formulation of guidance in support of countries wishing to adopt the Delivering as One approach. He/She will provide   analysis and inputs for briefing notes and other documents to keep UNDP management informed on political and programmatic developments and concerns on key UN reform issues. He/She will also monitor and advise on key trends in inter-agency discussions to inform UNDPs interaction within the UNDG and will support the Cluster Leader’s efforts to comply with BERA and broader UNDP corporate management and related responsibilities performing functions as outlined below.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

• Support UNDP strategy formulation and policy development for strengthened UN Coherence;
• Preparation of analysis, summaries, reports and substantive briefs;
• Support to the enhancement of External Relations and Advocacy with other UN Entities and Intergovernmental partners;
• Support Cluster’s Leader’s overall management and corporate compliance/reporting responsibilities; and
• Facilitation of Knowledge building and Knowledge Management. 

Support to strategy formulation and policy development for strengthened UN Coherence:

• Support the Cluster Leader and Team Manager in maintaining and strengthening close collaboration with partner UN agencies, funds, and programmes to ensure coordinated approaches and solution exchanges in areas impacting system-wide coherence;
• Provide support to the development of corporate strategies to inform UNDP’s engagement in inter-agency processes;
• Strengthen feedback loops and consultation processes between the organization’s country and regional presence and UNDP representatives in UNDG working mechanisms to ensure reflection on best practices and lessons learned in the formulation of UNDG policy and guidance documents.

Preparation of analysis, summaries, reports and substantive briefs:

• Draft timely and high-quality briefing notes, talking points, analysis, and speech inputs for the UNDP Administrator, Associate Administrator, BERA Director, BERA Deputy Director and MAUC Cluster Leader on relevant issues. This includes coordination and synthesis of different UNDP Bureaux inputs; drafting of succinct summaries of the background issues; informed political analysis of the intergovernmental and interagency issues at hand; and identification of potential challenges and opportunities for UNDP;
• Provide inputs into additional papers, talking points, reports and briefs, as required; and
• Review and provide comments, as required, on UNDP, UN and interagency draft documents.
  

Support to the enhancement of External Relations and Advocacy with other UN Entities and Inter-governmental partners:

• Support the Team Manager, Intergovernmental and UN Coherence in the preparation for UNDP’s participation in, and follow-up to, intergovernmental and inter-agency meetings and conferences;
• Represent, as necessary, UNDP in relevant inter-agency working mechanisms on issues pertaining to UN coordination, QCPR follow up, Delivering as One, and RC System functioning;
• Provide efficient secretariat support to relevant cross-bureau working mechanisms and liaise with other Bureaux on relevant issues as above;
• Liaise, as necessary, with representatives from other UN agencies on issues of operational activities for development and UN coherence;
• Prepare analytical summaries of relevant formal meetings and informal consultations of the General Assembly and working groups, ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies;
• Support, as necessary, other teams within the MAUC cluster.
  

Support Cluster Leader’s overall management and corporate compliance/reporting responsibilities:

• Periodic reporting for the IWP;
• Monitoring completion of performance appraisal process; and
• Monitoring completion and implementation of GSS and related measures.

• Identification of sources of information and trends related to UN coordination and coherence;
• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to Intergovernmental Affairs & UN Coherence;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice; and
• Organization of trainings to UN/UNDP staff on coordination issues as required.

These functions will strengthen the Team’s staff capacity to meet the increasing demands for timely and politically informed analysis on the latest developments in the intergovernmental and inter-agency fora and will keep BERA Management and UNDP Senior Management (Administrator and Associate Administrator) informed on the key developments in this area. These functions have a direct impact on the key role UNDP is expected to play in advancing UN Coherence in general and developing integrated guidance for countries wishing to adopt Delivering as One in particular, ensuring timely and effective follow-up of QCPR recommendations, and strengthening its leadership and management role of the RC system.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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.

Functional Competencies

• Sound understanding of the UN Resident Coordinator system and issues of system-wide coherence, including the activities of the UN Development Group (UNDG), its working mechanisms, and cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

• Excellent and effective communication skills;
• Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner under tight time pressure and to communicate effectively orally;
• Ability to prepare reports and articulate options, concisely conveying maximum necessary information;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Works collaboratively with colleagues within and across teams to achieve organizational goals.

• Develops clear functional results that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
  

• Establishes and maintain productive partnerships with partners by gaining their trust and respect; monitors on-going developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree in international development, political science or other related field.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in development-related areas, multi-stakeholder engagement, international or multilateral organizations, UN operational activities for development, project management, or other relevant setting;
• Considerable Experience in UN coordination at field and  organization headquarters level;
• Sound knowledge of the UN development and inter-agency system, and United Nations processes relating to operational activities for development, including UN Resident Coordinator System, development effectiveness, sustainable development, and other issues of system-wide coherence;
• Solid understanding of UNDP programming and project management arrangements;
• Familiarity with intergovernmental processes and fora.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of, and drafting skills in English is required.