Background

The overall objective of UN reform in Vietnam is to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of the UN enabling it to deliver better results in a more cost-effective manner. This means the UN has to work better together, and be more coherent and strategic in its interventions.
 
The UN in Viet Nam is improving coherence in a number of ways. The main vehicles to drive coherence are:
  • Moving towards a more strategic, focused One Plan (2012-2016), based on UN comparative advantages, and fully aligned with the Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) of the Government of Viet Nam.
  • Enhancing aid effectiveness through the One Plan, ensuring coherence in delivery;
  • Support to the coherent resource mobilization, allocation and disbursement of donor resources to the One Plan through the One Plan Fund;
  • Increasing programmatic synergies for the implementation of the One Plan among the UN through the establishment of 11 Programme Coordination Groups (PCGs);
  • Strategic functional clustering, for instance through the UN Communications Team and possibly the M&E Team, with other opportunities for thematic clustering emerging in the future when the Green One UN House is completed.
The reform process in Viet Nam is challenging, and there is no guarantee for success. The institutional changes from the establishment of Programme Coordination Groups are potentially far-reaching. There is a need to ensure consistency amongst the PCGs and to verify at a regular basis that the additional workload arising from the institutional changes is matched with, or preferably, outweighed, by the tangible gains of closer cooperation and planning among UNCT partners. Enhancing the prospects for joint collaboration and “One UN” requires a correspondingly strengthened coordination support capacity for the role of the RC, especially for support to the PCGs.
 
A revised version of the One Plan was signed on 20th June 2008, marking a milestone for completion of the planning period of the One UN Initiative and opening a new challenging phase of implementation. With the new challenges that emerge following this expansion of the One Plan from 6 to 14 UN agencies, the transition phase from LDC to MIC status that Viet Nam is going through and the upcoming challenges that the UN will be facing preparing for the Next One Plan, the Resident Coordinator’s Office needs to strengthen its coordination support capacity.
 
The Government of Viet Nam has agreed with the extension of the current One Plan up until the end of 2011. This requires the UN to clearly define the programmatic content of the extension year. The next One Plan is expected to cover a five-year period from 2012 to 2016.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Resident Coordinator’s office, the incumbent will be responsible and accountable for the following specific functions/results the RCO delivers in support to the RC and the UNCT:

  1. Coordinate the definition of the programmatic content of the extension year (2011) of the One Plan;
  2. Coordinate the current joint Government/UN review of the Programme Coordination Groups (PCGs).

Coordinate the definition of the programmatic content of the extension year (2011) of the One Plan:

  • Liaise with all UN Agencies participating in the One Plan to collect all relevant programmatic and financial information (budgets) pertaining to the extension year;
  • Ensure the timely provision to the Government of Viet Nam (by the end of 2009) of all  required information regarding the programmatic content of the extension year 2011;
  • Act as focal point within the RCO for the management of the programmatic timeline of the One Plan, current and future (plan the planning).

Coordinate the current joint Government/UN review of the Programme Coordination Groups (PCGs):

  • Prepare a UN Position Paper including proposals for changes in the current PCG architecture and modus operandi;
  • Synthesize the recommendations from the Government review of the PCGs and the UN Position Paper into proposals for a revised PCG architecture and modus operandi (by February 2010);
  • Assist the RC and the UNCT in facilitating the PCG annual reviews and reporting for 2009, and the annual work planning for 2010, in close consultation with the Planning and Development Result Officer in RCO.

Impact of Results:

The key results have impacts on enhancing UN system-wide coherence and enhancing aid effectiveness in conformity with the recommendations of the High Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence.
 
Moreover and more specifically, the impact of these results are absolutely critical in the following respects:
  • Ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the current One Plan up to the end of 2011.
  • Ensure that the structure and modus operandi of the Programme Coordination Groups supports the successful implementation of the current and next One Plan in a strategic manner by strengthening partnerships with national and international counterparts.

Competencies

  • Strategic vision, strong technical and analytical capabilities and demonstrated ability to gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavour through technical leadership in a broad range of operational areas
  • Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment, tact, and negotiating skills, and the ability to cope with situations which may pose conflict
  • Proven ability to work in a team, develop synergies and establish effective working relations within the RCO, with persons of different UN Agencies, government counterparts, donors, private sector entities and NGOs
  • Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those with her/him
  • Good knowledge of UN system, procedures and operational activities for development. Previous experience in UNDAF development is considered as plus
  • Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working relationships. 
  • Flexibility in accepting work assignments outside normal job description

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in development economics, political science, statistics, international development and/or management and coordination

Experience:

  • At least seven years of relevant experience with development projects and programmes, coordination, monitoring & evaluation, and related fields.

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent knowledge of English including writing and oral skills.