Coordination Specialist -UN

The UN Development System for Asia and Pacific provides strategic guidance, policy advice, technical support and oversight to country-level operational activities of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFP), to help achieve national development goals and meet the SDGs, and help enhance effectiveness, efficiency and programming coherence of UN system at the country level.

The UNDS is undergoing important transformation, including at the regional level. In line with the guidance provided by Member States in UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution E/RES/2019/15, the Secretary-General has launched the final phase of the regional review, which aimed to provide further details and regional specificity to the five broad transformative areas previously put forward by the Secretary-General as critical to reposition the UN regional assets. These include, in summary:

The General Assembly approved recommendations 2 to 5 above but has not yet approved the formation of the “UN Regional Collaborative Platform”.  In the meantime, the UN Development System meets in a collaborative manner, co-chaired by the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP and the Regional Director, UNDP.  ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment is expected to review and agree on the recommendations of the Regional Review in its May 2020 session.

Reporting to the Deputy Regional Director, the UN Coordination Specialist will work closely with the Secretariat of the UN Development System in Asia-Pacific, ESCAP, the Regional Director of Developement Coordination Office (DCO), and Regional Directors of Agencies, Funds, and Programmes to support the Regional Director in her role as co-Chair towards development, coordination and monitoring of regional activities to achieve outcomes as articulated in the UNDS–AP workplan.

Ensures effective support to co-chair on UNDS-AP progress in achieving planned priorities and results, including:

• Participates in formulation of the UNDS-AP work-plans and budgets, in line with the global UNSDG Strategic Priorities; monitors and oversees the progress towards achieving work-plan targets and benchmarks, ensures adherence, and alerts on potential challenges and risks that jeopardize progress, and makes recommendations to preclude delays;
• Performs analysis, provides technical inputs and reviews information from UNDS-AP Working Groups, Task Teams, Issue-Based Coalitions and other mechanisms, for updates and reports on progress achieved; drafts inputs to Progress Reports of the UNDS-AP and Regional Results Reports, in coordination with ESCAP and DCO teams;
• Identifies areas of cooperation between UN organizations; provides advice and inputs, and facilitates the implementation of inter-agency initiatives, as articulated in the workplan and outside the workplan, as initiated/agreed upon by the UNDS-AP;
• Organizes segments of UNDS-AP’s meetings: drafts background documents, drafts meeting minutes and ensures relevant follow-up on agreed decisions;
• Coordinates organization of UNDS-AP retreats and contributes to planning and organizing Annual SD Forums, jointly with ESCAP and Reg DCO teams.

Ensures effective support to UNDS-AP in the implementation of UN reform and coherence policies, including SG Recommendations 2-5 of the Regional Review:

• Supports the Regional Director in the effective internal/external communication and exchange of information on UN reform, UNDS Repositioning and Regional Review outcomes, priorities and regional/sub-regional trends among global, regional and country levels;
• Reviews UN Reform and UNSDG documents, policy papers, analyses, and consolidates and aggregates reginal data to contribute to UNDS-AP activities and events; prepares policy briefs on regional issues; provides inputs to draft joint messages of the two co-chairs UNDS-AP if required;
• Ensures the timely provision of updates, briefs, reports on the implementation of UNDS Repositioning and Regional Review recommendations based on systematic monitoring of progress in all areas of the reform as agreed by UNDS-AP;
• Organizes and facilitates training events to increase awareness of UN staff on the UN reform, UNDS Repositioning and Regional Review implementation and their impact on UN system coherence and effectiveness, in collaboration with counterparts in regional AFPs, Reg DCO and ESCAP;
• Provides technical advice to UNDS-AP Chair and to RBAP participants in regional mechanisms on the good practices and lessons learnt emerging from the implementation of the Regional Review recommendations; supports the exchange of information among counterparts in regional AFP offices, Reg DCO and ESCAP.

Ensure effective partnerships in support of implementation of UNDS-AP work-plan, including:

• Maintains effective cooperation with the UNESCAP and Regional DCO, including joint mechanisms such as working/thematic groups and issue-based coalitions, and joint activities such as reports, forums, meetings/events, communications and programmes; helps identify new areas of collaboration and coordination with these stakeholders, as per the Workplan and priorities;
• Supports UNDS-AP co-Chair in the advancing of ASEAN-UN Partnership;
• Identifies and manages other partnerships relevant to the implementation of UNDS-AP work-plans.

Ensures effective knowledge building and management and communication, including:

• Identifies, compiles and disseminates lessons, good practices and innovative approaches to the implementation of UN Reform at the global, regional and country level, for strengthening UN coherence and coordination; contributes to global, regional and sub-regional fora, knowledge networks and communities of practice;
• Facilitates information sharing with UN partners and other stakeholders on UNDS-AP work and results; establishes electronic and other mechanisms for UN regional and country level partners to access information and analytical resources on UN reform, coherence and coordination, UNDS-AP initiatives and priorities;
• Formulates and manages media and communication strategies/plans (if required); and promotes UNDS-AP advocacy initiatives; provides inputs to communications briefs, updates and other materials for target audiences;
• Maintains the UNDS-AP pages on relevant websites providing up-to-date information, good practices in/for A-P region; contributes to the design and conduct of global and regional surveys on UN reform and coherence, etc.

IV. Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional

Results Based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrated results

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda📌 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯? 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 👨‍🎓👩‍🎓

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Communications

Ability to effectively communicate intentions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders

Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Developing new approaches

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Partnership Building

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UN Goals

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Client Orientation

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services in UN coordination, strategic planning, etc. is required.
• Experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects would be an asset;
• Professional experience in a UN agency would be an advantage;
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the UN system is a strong advantage;
• Computer proficiency in the use of up-to-date software packages; experience in handling of web-based information management systems.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in English. Working knowledge of other UN language desirable.

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension

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