Background

The Regional UNDG Team for Asia and the Pacific (UNDG A-P) provides strategic guidance, policy advice, technical support and oversight to UN’s country level operational activities led by the UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) and Country Teams (UNCTs), to help achieve national development goals including the Millennium Declaration and MDGs, and help enhance effectiveness and efficiency of RC/UNCTs’ coordination functions and UN programming coherence. The work of the UNDG A-P is guided by the General Assembly’s 2012 quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) of UN operational activities for development, and the global UNDG’s Strategic Priorities for 2013-2016. The UNDG A-P consists of 23 members including the Chair (UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific), from 19 regional offices of the UN agencies, and its secretariat is located in Bangkok, Thailand. Working under the direct supervision of the Chair to support the Regional UNDG A-P Team, the assigned Regional Coordination Specialist has responsibility to work with the UNDG A-P to support and help coordinate the design, development, management, and monitoring of UNDG A-P activities to achieve outcomes as articulated in the UNDG A-P Annual Workplan. As a primary responsibility, the Regional Coordination Specialist will deepen support for the CCA/UNDAF processes and support the role of the Regional Directors to assess the work of the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UN Country Team (UNCT) in each country in the region. The Regional Coordination Specialist supports the Regional UNDG Team in mobilizing and defining a UNDG-wide role and presence in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the UNDG A-P in ensuring that the latest UN Reform directives and initiatives are implemented, monitored and reported including regional oversight functions, quality service and advice (QSA), joint programming, resource mobilization strategies, strengthened country level coordination support, post crisis, and other UN Reform mandates;
• Support the Regional UNDG A-P Team in developing a shared regional identity, and focus on regional development challenges, positioning the UNDG as a partner;
• Organize UNDG A-P’s meetings; prepare, compile and circulate background documents for all agenda items, and draft minutes of all meetings and undertake relevant follow-up on agreed decisions.;
• Assist the UNDG A-P Team in reviewing UNDG documents and policy papers and consolidating relevant feedback and inputs of the Regional UNDG Team; and communications with the RCs, UNCTs and HQs, especially when joint messages or feedback from UNDG A-P are requiredDraft the Regional UNDG A-P’s annual/biannual work plan and budget, in line with the global UNDG's Strategic Priorities; support the UNDG A-P to monitor progress towards annual workplan results; draft the Annual Progress Reports of the UNDG A-P;
• Coordinate the quality support and advice (QSA) function of the the UNDG A-P and its PSG for CCA/UNDAF formulation, implementation and M&E in the region;
• Assist the UNDG A-P to ensure the implementation, database maintenance, follow-up and report back from the annual RC/UNCT performance appraisal exercise (including One80 assessment processes);
• Assist the UNDG A-P Team with the mobilization of financial and human resources (e.g. from global UNDG initiatives, such as the UNDG-Human Rights Mainstreaming Mechanism Multi-Donor Trust Fund);
• If requested by the UNDG A-P, assist the regional technical support staff to facilitate coherent inter-agency processes to coordinate substantive and technical inputs into UNCT programme development and implementation, ensuring substantive monitoring;
• Assist the UNDG A-P to organize training needs to sensitize staff of emerging UN reform priorities in collaboration with UNDOCO, UN System Staff College and PSG, to strengthen inter-agency coordination and spirit towards the principles of harmonization and simplification; serve as a resource person in UNDG A-P organized/facilitated training, upon request;
• Support inter-agency initiatives and regional focal points (e.g. UNDG A-P task teams, thematic working groups, project steering committees, etc), as articulated in the UNDG A-P annual workplan, to achieve UNDG A-P results, especially related to enhanced coherent regional support to UNCTs and completion; if requested by the UNDG A-P, assist the regional technical support staff to facilitate inter-agency processes to coordinate substantive and technical inputs into UNCT programme development and implementation, ensuring substantive monitoring;
• Assist the UNDG A-P Peer Support Group (PSG) chair as needed to develop and implement the PSG annual work plan.
• Maintain close communications with all RC’s Offices in the region; assist the RCOs in the region with organization of annual regional coordination officers workshops; troubleshoot and provide on-demand support to RCs and UNCTs;
• Work closely with DOCO to ensure an optimal communication flow and pro-active management of emerging issues within the Regional UNDG Team;
• Serve as the first point of entry for RCs/UNCTs and Regional UNDG Teams and work in collaboration with DOCO's Regional Liaison Advisors who support the UNDG at the global level.

Competencies

• Integrity/Commitment to mandate;
• Maintains consistent values and performance standards and expresses UN core values in all functions and roles;
• Exercises critical judgment in analyzing institutional directions, procedures, and guidelines in order to contribute to the improved fulfillment of the mandate.

• Demonstrates inclusive behavior towards all colleagues and stakeholders, successfully developing cross-cultural relationships. Adapts programme project implementation to take account of the political, religious and cultural context;
• Actively promotes gender equity in all programme activities s well as in office management.

• Promotes teamwork and harmony collaborating with team members integrating others’ ideas into his/her thinking. Leverages the different experiences and expertise of members to achieve better, more innovative outcomes.

• Encourages open communication in the team demonstrating the ability to see issues and situations from team members’ perspective;
• Frankly expresses ideas and concerns and encourages dialogue to develop an optimal solution without jeopardizing rapport with colleagues.

• Surfaces conflicts and addresses them proactively acknowledging feelings and views of all sides and redirecting energy towards a mutually acceptable solution;
• Creates a climate of enthusiasm and flexibility where people feel encouraged to be innovative and give their best.

• Results orientation commitment to excellence;
• Ensures that work methods and processes are effective and appropriate for the achievement of desired results and seeks ways to maximize the efficient use of resources. Redirects staff activities to ensure timely completion of the unit’s work using tact and sensitivity.

• Makes decisions in a fair, transparent and expeditious manner in light of available information and commits to a position.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in development, international relations, organizational development, economics, and/or other related social science field;

• A minimum of 7 years professional experience preferably in programme/project management, strategic planning and/or coordination in the public or private sector;
• Experience and knowledge of UN Reform issues including UNDAF, joint programming, UNDG, OECD/DAC, Country Office operations, Results-based Management, M&E, and other knowledge and skills relevant to the implementation of UN Reform at country level;
• Exceptional organizational and inter-personal skills are essential.

• Fluency in English with exceptional writing and analytical skills in English;
• Proficiency in a second UN language is highly desirable.