Background

The position is located in the United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) in Kosovo and reports to the UN Development Coordinator (DC) who on behalf of the United Nations system, has the overall responsibility to exercise team leadership for the coordination of operational activities for development in Kosovo. 

The UN Secretary-General’s bold new global reform, repositioning the UN Development System to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for dignity, prosperity and peace on a healthy planet, was launched on 1 January 2019. As part of this process, the United Nations Development Coordinator’s Office in Kosovo is seeking qualified and experienced candidates for the following two new National Professional positions:

1. Development Coordination Officer – Strategic Planning and DCO Team Leader (NOD)

2. Assistant Development Coordination Officer – Data/Knowledge Management & Results Monitoring/Reporting (NOA) 

The core required capacity of the positions, respective to the attached separate Job Profiles, will include expertise in coordination and strategic planning, tailored policy support, results monitoring and evaluation, and strategic partnerships, including the ability to communicate effectively both to partners and within the United Nations Kosovo team.

This post is part of this new generation of strengthened UN sustainable development coordination offices globally, with the new skillset and competencies required to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

[1] All references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the UNSCR 1244 (1999) 

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities:  Within delegated authority, the Assistant Development Coordination Officer, Knowledge Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting will be responsible of the following duties:
 
Summary of Functions:

1. Contribute to monitoring and reporting of UNKT results
2. Support knowledge management and capacity development 
3. Provide substantive support for the development and implementation of UNKT’s data and research strategy
4. Develop and expand strategic research and data partnerships

Description of Functions:

1. Contribute to monitoring and reporting of UNKT results under the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 

• Support coordination and inter-agency efforts on results and progress monitoring and reporting on the UNDAF/CDP and Joint programmes, particularly through UNINFO;
• Provide support to the team in ensuring quality for the UNDAF/CDP M&E Framework and results reporting to country, regional and global levels;
• Facilitate independent evaluations of UNDAF/CDP’s as a key element of the UNDAF/CDP cycle, and other interagency work related to monitor, evaluation and reporting;
• Act as country focal point for country-level, regional and global M&E initiatives and networks

2. Support knowledge management and capacity development related to data and monitoring

• Facilitate the sharing of best practices within the UNKT and with UNKT in the (sub)region and globally, based on a solid understanding of the incentives that people need to utilize knowledge;
• Serve as key advocate for knowledge sharing, inspiring others within the DCO and UNKT to contribute their expertise through internal and external platforms and tools, working closely with colleagues at the regional level to ensure usable knowledge is shared and acted upon form one UN country team to another;
• Support the identification of good practices and lessons learned at the different levels of the U system (national, regional and global) and share findings with HQ, Regional and country colleagues so that best practices benefit N’s work;
• Lead in the UNKT’s exchange of best practices, trends knowledge and lessons learned with external partners;
• Lead in designing thematic activities and knowledge-sharing forums and encourages others to participate;
• Contributes to knowledge sharing (notably through training and facilitating peer exchange) amongst UN staff on issues related to UN strategic planning frameworks methodologies and tools;
• Draws upon other UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to provide contributions to strategic planning processes 

3. Provide analytical support for the development and implementation of UNKT’s DATA and research strategy 

• In alignment with the CCA/UNDAF/CDP (Common Development Plan), coordinate design and implementation of the UNKTs data and research strategy;
• Apply expertise in coordinating empirical analysis, data mining and visualization to assist the RC/UNKT, including results groups, in developing reports and working papers on a  range of sustainable development topics;
• Collect and share information on the latest developments of the use of new types of data sources and tools (e.g. big data) for sustainable development;
• Provide substantive  support to RC/UNKT to preparing and positioning the UN vis-à-vis SDG acceleration in the country, including the preparation of reports, as well as analytical and position papers;
• Support UNKT research and the development of adequate tools and methodologies as the country level;
• Keep abreast of emerging development issues to galvanize UNKTs analytical capacity to respond to national priorities;
• Contribute substantively to the development and implementation of peer review and quality assurance mechanisms for UNKT’s research products;
• Act as the administrator for UNINFO and lead the development of the One UN Country Results Report

4. Assist in developing and expanding strategic research and data partnerships, including with UN entities at regional and HQ level, government counterparts, research institutions, leading global thinkers and development, and civil society among others

• Support UN’s engagement with national data and statistical systems, supporting the team to facilitate this engagement with national entities and data system;
• Communicate and coordinate with existing partnerships and help form new partnerships with UN agencies, academia, the private sector, and government agencies to further use of data science for development;
• Communicate and coordinate with internal and external partners on data collection and project/research implementation;
• Support the convening of key thinkers on sustainable development and 2030 Agenda to input on, advise and steer the UNKT’s research and data agenda;
• Strengthen the UNKTs’ partnerships with research institutions and sections across the UN system through concrete collaboration on areas of the 2030 Agenda

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to undertake research, collect and consolidate reporting data, make recommendations and write draft reports on sustainable development issues.  Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

• Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business, economy, or public administration, information management, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience: 

• At least two years of relevant experience in providing strategic support to research and data analysis, data/ knowledge management or project/programme management, research and data collection, in the context of  development cooperation or related area is desirable.
• Knowledge about the UN and RC/DC systems is a strong asset. 
• Team work and experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is a must (i.e. Wordpress).

Language:

• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Excellent knowledge of the working languages (Albanian and Serbian) in Kosovo is necessary. 
• Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.   

Additional requirements: 

• National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they are serving, and their functions must have a national context, i.e. functions that require national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems.

Application Instructions:

• Click on the "Apply now" button;
• Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in, or paste your short Resume into the last box.
• Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (P-11).
• System will only allow one attachment. All docs (P11, academic qualifications/diploma) should be included as one attachment.
• Without the completed and signed P11, your application may not be considered. The UNDP Personal History Form can be downloaded at this link: http://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/operations/jobs/