Background

The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) supports the UN Resident Coordinator in delivering on his/her roles and functions. The UNRCO in Kenya provides inter-agency coordination support to the UN Country Team and its various sub-groups. The support includes strategic planning, programme and operations management, policy guidance, as well as knowledge management, advocacy and communications, all seeking to enhance UN coherence and improve overall programme impact to better achieve results.

In March 2014, the new United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Kenya (2014-2018) was launched. This development framework is closely aligned with the national priorities of the Government of Kenya (GoK) as articulated in its second Medium Term Plan (2013-2017). Partnership building and resource mobilization will be key to the success of the new UNDAF as well as strengthening engagement with the private sector, Foundations, Civil Society and the promotion of south-south and triangular cooperation.

The UN Country Team (UNCT) in Kenya is composed of 24 agencies, funds and programmes. The UNCT has recently adopted with the Government, the Delivering as One (DaO) approach as the modus operandi for implementing the new UNDAF. The Head of RCO/Strategic Advisor will strengthen the capacity of the UN Country Team in Kenya, and provide support to the RC in planning, coordinating and implementing an integrated and more effective Delivering as One. He/she will manage the Office of the Resident Coordinator and provide strategic advisory services to the RC and the UNCT.

 Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), the Strategic Advisor ensures the effective coordination of the RC Advisory Team; supports the UNRC in building partnership and resource mobilization, management of RC office as well as in coordinating the private sector and civil society advisory boards. The Advisor will supervise designated staff in the UNRCO.
 
Summary of Key Functions:

The Strategic Advisor will report directly to the RC. The core functions will include:

  • Management of RC office;
  • Ensure Planning, Programming and Promotion of Delivering as One;
  • Support and coordinate results monitoring, reporting and communication of the UNDAF;
  • Coordinate the UNDAFAdvisory Boards (Private Sector, CSOs);
  • Support UNRC in building strong partnership and ensure mobilization of resources to implement the UNDAF 2014 – 2018.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the incumbent will:

Management of RC office:
  • Provide strategic guidance through supervision and management of the RC Team;
  • In liaison with the UNRC, establish the team’s annual work plans and set objectives & performance indicators for achievement of planned results. Promote teamwork to facilitate harmonization, integration & linkages. Ensure that RCO Staff are provided with sufficient information, guidance and support to perform and deliver results accordingly;
  •  In consultation with the UNRC, ensure effective budgeting, reporting and management of RCO resources;
  • Support UN One programme pillars, Results Groups, M&E, OMT as appropriate for the efficient functioning of the UN system;
  • Support the UNRC in the management of high-level meetings with the UNCT, as well as external partners such as International Development Partners, etc.

Support Planning, Implementation of UNDAF and Promotion of Delivering as One to achieve the following results:

  • Coordinate planning of activities for the UN in Kenya, establish field coordination mechanisms (where relevant; identify reporting structures; working closely with staff of UN agencies, under the leadership of the UNRC);
  • Coordinate implementation of the UNDAF in Kenya, providing guidance to the 4 UNDAF strategic results groups, supporting the M&E process and keeping the UNDAF benchmarks on target;
  • Guide the UNRC in the coordination of development activities of the UN agencies; lead coordination meetings, ensuring follow-up on decisions taken, common solutions to shared problems and information sharing to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and outreach of the UN programmes in Kenya;
  • Participate in various UN organized missions relating to UNDAF, moreover donor missions to the field and follow-up to these meetings;

Support and coordinate results monitoring, reporting and communication of the UNDAF to achieve the following results:

  • Working closely with the UNIC, and under the guidance of the UNRC supports the communication of strategic information regarding the activities of the UN in Kenya to give visibility to the work of the UN and to disseminate important information on the contribution to Kenya’s development agenda;
  • Contribute, on behalf of the UNCT, in efforts to establish and strengthen coordination and implementation as well as monitoring mechanisms of joint funding mechanisms and report progress of UN activities in the country;
  • Collaborate closely with Communication Team to ensure linkages and synergies between donor/partner outreach and communication needs.

Coordinate the UNDAF Advisory Boards (Private Sector, CSOs) to achieve the following results:

  • Provide advice and support to the UNRC in ensuring that programme and operational decisions are taken in the best interests of the people of Kenya;
  •  Enhance effective coordination of UNDAF Advisory Boards relating to Civil Society and the Private Sector;
  •  Promote national and local ownership of programmes through increased consultation and participation of key stakeholders at all hierarchical and representational levels;
  • Establish strategic partnerships with all key players and maintain excellent relations with a range of external partners such as civil society, private sector, media and academia.

Support UNRC in building strong partnership and ensure mobilization of resources to implement UNDAF 2014 – 2018 to achieve the following results:

  • Lead resource mobilization through advising and supporting development of substantive resource mobilization material;
  • Provide technical inputs to UNRC in formulation of Partner Engagement Strategies for key national and international partners and Annual Partnership Action Plan for UNCT;
  • Support coordination and monitoring implementation of partnership building activities with a coherent strategic approach, providing advice to the UNRC and other units on the strategic directions on partner engagement and networking;
  • Follow up on existing MOUs or advise on new ones and ensure participation of partners in UNCT activities;
  • Provide strategic advice and policy recommendations with a view to positioning UNCT strongly to existing and potential partners;
  • Provide strategic advice to the UNRC and the relevant units/projects on identification and establishment of innovative partnership modalities, exploring new partners (e.g., emerging donors, CSOs, academic institutions, private partnerships and fund mechanisms;
  • Undertakes other tasks as may be requested by the UNRC as directly relates to the UNRCO.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:             

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:
  • Advocates for the inclusion of UN’s deveopment priorities in the public policy agenda;
  • Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues;
  • Builds consensus concerning UN’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
  • Leverages UN’s multidisciplinary expertise to influence the shape of policies and programmes;
  • Demonstrates political/cultural acumen in proposing technically sound, fact based approaches/solutions;
  • Develops internal organizational policies promoting strategic approaches to UN’s development agenda (HQ);
  • Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives;
  • Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, political savvy and intellectual capacity in handling disagreements with UN’s policy agenda in order to promote and position UN in complex environments.
Building Strategic Partnerships:
  • Identifies and prioritizes opportunities and obstacles in the political scene (government, civil society, parliamentarians, pressure groups) to advance UN/UNCT’s strategic agendaIdentifies common interests and goals and carries out joint initiatives with partners;
  • Promotes comparative advantages of UN Agencies to strengthen partnerships;
  • Builds partnerships with non-traditional sectors by translating UN/UNCT priorities into messages that reflect the pertinence of their values and interests;
  • Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations;
  • Leverages the resources of governments and other development partners for UN/UNCT strategic priorities.
Results-Based Programme Development and Management:
  •  Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
  • Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it;
  • Makes use of a variety of resources based on UN/UNCT priorities to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches;
  • Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level;
  • Ensures the integration of strategic concern in interagency, other multilateral initiatives and multi-sectoral development frameworks such as PRSPs, SWAPs and MDGs.
Resource Mobilization:
  • Develops innovative approaches and strategies for fund raising activities to increase the resources of the organization;
  • Actively develops partnerships with potential donors in all sectors seeking to encourage their commitment to UN
  • Formulate strategies to develop a stable and diversified donor base, including governments, private sector, foundations, corporations, philanthropists, etc.;
  • Conducts donor negotiations for core and multi-bi funds demonstrating UN’s comparative advantages and reflecting priorities of donor countries.
 Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:
  • Advocates for the inclusion of development and concerns in the public policy agenda;
  • Brings visibility and sensitizes decision makers to relevant emerging issues;
  • Advocates for increased priority given to human development & MDGs internationally and in national planning frameworks;
  • Advocates for increased resources at international and national level;
  • Develop strategies to counter challenges to UN’s principles and goals.

Conceptual innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise:

  •  Conducts programme assessments to improve development of models and methodologies;
  • Designs policy models to support comprehensive interventions linking UN/UNCT’s policy objectives to programme delivery and capacity development objectives;
  • Ensures that the design of policies are appropriate to regional and country social and development context;
  • Demonstrates the ability to engage development partners at all levels in conceptual and methodological innovation that is pertinent to the global, national and local context.
 Adaptation and Application of Knowledge / Innovations in Different Contexts:
  • Collaborates with regional, national and local partners to create and apply knowledge and concepts that will help partners achieve UN/UNCT development objectives within the country and regional context;
  • Focuses on tasks/activities which have a strategic impact on programme and capacity development activities;
  • Promotes a supportive environment to enhance partnerships, leverages resources and build support for UN/UNCT’s strategic initiatives;
  • Provides evidence-based guidance to policy that work.
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:
  • Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
  • Applies knowledge to support the unit/branch’s objectives and to further the mandate of the organization(s);
  • Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch;
  • Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally;
  • Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
  • Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments.
 Promoting Organizational learning and Knowledge Sharing:
  • Actively seeks and promotes innovative methodologies and leads the development of supporting policies/tools to encourage learning and knowledge sharing;
  • Develops and/or participates in the development of policies and new approaches and participates in training of staff in their application throughout the organization;
  • Promotes knowledge sharing.
Client Orientation:
  • Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
  • Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services;
  • Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes;
  • Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UN/UNCT programmes and operations.
Core Competencies:
  • Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
  • Building support and political acumen;
  • Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
  • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
  • Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
  • Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
  • Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
  • Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master’s Degree or higher in Development, International Relations, Political Science, Economics or a related subject.
Experience:
  • A minimum of 10 years progressive professional work experience in coordination and provision of management advisory services;
  • Substantial experience at the national and international level in international development issues, both in the field and HQ;
  • Experience representing and mediating across complex stakeholders and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
  • Proven experience in challenging transition and development coordination and resource mobilization;
  • Sound knowledge of the UN system’s procedures and operational activities for development;
  • Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects is desirable;
  • Knowledge about the UN Reform Agenda.

Language:

 

  • Fluency in English;
  • Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.