Country: Niger
Closing date: 15 Jul 2019
Org. Setting and Reporting
Under the direct supervision of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the Coordination Officer supervises and manages the staff of the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO). He/she works closely with the members of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), the programme teams and the operations of the United Nations agencies, the United Nations Development Operations Cooperation Office (DOCO), staff members, technical advisers and experts, and multilateral and bilateral donor partners to ensure successful and transparent coordination of UN activities in the Niger and implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).
Responsibilities
Leads the provision of strategic guidance to RCO/UNCT on effective, quality and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the joint country analysis and UNDAF.
- Leads and coordinates substantive support to RCO/UNCT in articulating and actively communicating a credible and convincing strategic vision for the United Nations, articulated through UNDAF, which is consistent with national development goals and priorities and with UN values reflecting the 2030 Agenda and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind.
- Provides strategic direction and develops strategic recommendations to facilitate decision-making by RC/UNCT in relation to repositioning of the UN System in the country, especially related to the Standard Operating Procedures for Delivering as One.
- Develops general policy recommendations to RC/UNCT on the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the new generation CCA/UNDAF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in the country.
- Ensures effective guidance for RC/UNCT in asserting vision and accountability for the UN to operate as a nimble, innovative and enterprising development partner, demonstrating characteristics of a knowledge-based organization and thought leader.
- Leads the strategic design of UN policy and programmatic services, operational capabilities and partnership mechanisms.
- Establishes and promotes close engagement across the humanitarian, development and peace domains, as required by the country context.
- Leads the identification, analysis and prioritization of joint programmatic work of UN entities in response to national priorities and in line with UNDAF and the 2030 Agenda, based on analysis carried out by the Sustainable Development Policy Advisor.
- Coordinates UNDAF and joint work plans; directs UNDAF monitoring and evaluation through UNINFO; guides preparation and provision of the annual One UN Country results report to the Government and other stakeholders.
- Promotes the engagement of all agencies – resident and non-resident – and other relevant UN entities, including at Headquarters and at the (sub)regional level, in inter-agency forums and in discussions with external partners.
Ensures coherence in the various inter-agency coordination bodies, including with humanitarian country teams and security management teams.Initiates, establishes and coordinates external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the new generation UNDAF
Initiates, establishes and coordinates effective working relationships with national and international public and private partners to ensure knowledge sharing in support of Common Country Analysis (CCA)/UNDAF development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation;
Directs substantive support for positioning the UN as a key provider of integrated services and as a platform in support of the SDGs, in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders;
In close collaboration with the Development Partnerships Officer, leads the formulation and implementation of the UN Partnership Strategy as well as the Resource Mobilization Strategy, and other initiatives in support of SDG achievement through UNDAF;
Leads the design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of joint programming processes among UN entities, as well as the preparation of related reports;
Based on UNDAF and joint programmes, coordinates joint resource mobilization and partnering efforts at country level;
Manages the implementation of the SDG Country Fund (where relevant) in support of UNDAF and SDG acceleration;
Oversees strategic messaging and communication initiatives by RC/UNCT.
Coordinates the Business Operations Strategy and develops business innovations
- In collaboration with the Operations Management Team (OMT), directs substantive support to RCO/UNCT on business innovations for the UN in the country;
- Provides substantive direction in formulating, implementing and monitoring the UN Country Business Operations Strategy;
- Guides the OMT in organizing common premises, and in establishing a common back office for location-dependent services;
- Promotes a culture of continuous improvement and client-orientation in operational service delivery;
- Ensures effective guidance on the establishment of common services arrangements to participating organizations/agencies at the country level.
Manages and directs knowledge management and capacity development activities in and outside the UN System.
- Coordinates the transfer of knowledge and effective communication across different UN and non-UN entities;
- Leads the sharing of best practices, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across the UN System and with external partners;
- Directs thematic activities and knowledge-sharing forums and encourages others to participate;
- Coordinates knowledge sharing (including through training and facilitating peer exchange) among UN staff on issues related to UN strategic planning frameworks, methodologies and tools;
- Oversees the analysis of UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to contribute to strategic planning processes.
Leads and coordinates overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures
- Coordinates the formulation and implementation of the substantive work programme of UNCT; allocates and monitors RCO resources for delivery of outputs and reporting on results;
- Supervises RCO activities, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion;
- In close collaboration with UNDP, manages processes related to human and financial resource management, procurement, general administration, security, and information technology for RCO;
- Manages, guides and trains staff under his/her supervision; promotes teamwork and communication among RCO staff and across organizational boundaries;
- Establishes and maintains a work environment in RCO and across UN entities that is conducive to innovation and engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders and delivers results in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Competencies
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Planning and Organizing
- Leadership
- Judgement/Decision-making
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education or a 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.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, project/programme management, or resource mobilization in the context of development cooperation is required.
- A minimum of five years of experience in development cooperation in the Africa region is required.
- Experience in the United Nations System or in a similar international organization is desirable.
- Experience heading large multicultural teams at the national, regional and international level is required.
- Experience of development cooperation in the field is desirable.
- Professional experience in the planning of activities and the formulation of development policies is desirable.
- Experience of inter-agency or inter-organization collaboration in development activities is desirable.
- Experience of coordination mechanisms in the United Nations or in a similar international organization is desirable.
Languages
Fluency in English and French is essential for this post.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview
Special Notice
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
How to apply: