United Nations Partnerships Officer

Introduction

PARTNERSHIPS establishes and develops strategic partnerships in close interaction with other portfolios ILO and with the Regions. It is responsible for developing the ILO’s strategy for development cooperation. PARTNERSHIPS leads consultations and negotiations with development cooperation partners and is responsible for mobilizing voluntary contributions for the ILO’s programme, as well as coordinating technical and financial reporting to partners. PARTNERSHIPS facilitates streamlining of work processes and procedures and provide assistance to enhance service delivery in the field. 

PARTNERSHIPS comprises: The Development Cooperation and Management Support Unit, the Bilateral Partnerships Unit, the South-south Technical Cooperation & Emerging Partnerships Unit, the International Economic Organizations Unit, and the UN and Civil Society Branch. The position is located in the UN and Civil Society Branch.

The United Nations and Civil Society Branch is responsible for building and maintaining relations with the UN system and the civil society within the remit of ILO’s mandate towards decent work and social justice. This involves building partnerships for both policy coherence and mobilizing funding for development cooperation. 

The United Nations Partnerships Officer Programme and Operations Officer will work with a team of professionals in the area of multilateral policy coherence, resource mobilization and development cooperation, and will coordinate specifically on ILO engagement with, and resource mobilization through the UN system.  

Under the overall supervision of the Director of PARTNERSHIPS, the position reports to the Director of the UN and Civil Society Branch. The incumbent will work closely with technical specialists, programme officers and directors in HQ and in the Regions and with the ILO New York Office. 

Specific Duties

1.    Contribute to the formulation of ILO policies and operational guidelines/internal procedures in response to a changing international and UN system-wide context in coordination with the field structure, technical and the administrative sectors.
2.    Broaden and strengthen the partnerships with other UN entities and serve as focal point regarding the UN portfolio projects and the relations with the Multi Partners Trust Fund Office, as well as UN Funds and Programmes. Provide substantive inputs and support to ILO relations with UN agencies within the United Nations Reform and system-wide coherence processes.
3.    Work closely with relevant departments dealing in the office with issues relating to the operationalization of the UN system-wide coherence, and relevant work items dealing with the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, in particular related to operations at country level.
4.    Ensure that the ILO field structure is continuously informed of changes in the UN operational activities and guided by appropriate instructions, policies and procedures, as well as good practices and lessons learned, generated by the relevant UNSDG machinery.  Participate in capacity development activities in this context.
5.    Support relations with the emerging countries as they pertain to the UN system: (a) identification of trends and opportunities within the UN system to promote the Decent Work Agenda in the framework of South-South and triangular cooperation, in close cooperation with the SSTC & Emerging Partnerships Unit. (b) support the management of the development cooperation projects portfolio within that remit.
6.    Support the representation of the ILO in discussions in inter-agency and UN fora on operational activities. Represent the UN & Civil Society Branch at international, regional and national fora and undertake field missions as required.
7.    Coordinate the submission of proposals, ensuring quality and relevance to UN partner requirements (e.g.in terms of formats and timing), including pro-active support to field offices for local engagement.
8.    Propose funding mechanisms for UN partners to ILO programmes, especially for strategic priorities, including appropriate pooled and parallel funding arrangements where feasible.
9.    Maintain an overview of the status of negotiation of funding agreements with partners, including corporate framework agreements, and ensure compliance with ILO rules, regulations, directives and procedures. Handle formal correspondence with UN partners in relations to signed agreements and related internal instructions;
10.    Prepare multilateral donor reviews and assessments of the ILO. Plan and follow-up on annual consultations and review meetings with individual development partners.
11.    Maintain oversight of project portfolios by UN partner, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations of funding agreements. Ensure and facilitate the timely start-up and closure of projects.
12.    Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

optional section (only if needed)

Generic Duties

1.    Identify, describe and justify project possibilities in connection with approved development cooperation programmes and ongoing activities. 

2.    Provide administrative and technical backstopping to projects.

3.    Exchange information required for project formulation and implementation with relevant substantive units, field offices, administrative services, and donor agency representatives.

4.    In consultation with relevant technical units and external offices, analyse and appraise project proposals for multi-bilateral financing. Recommend the selection of project proposals for submission to donors. Follow up on donor negotiations, and prepare project agreements with donors upon approval.

5.    Review and adjust project proposals to ensure consistency with national, sub-regional, regional and sectoral priorities and programmes, and with available resources. Formulate and present such proposals on the basis of technical and substantive input in accordance with required format for final review and approval.

6.    Monitor the various ongoing projects and report on their progress to the relevant donor(s). Maintain contact with donor representatives and undertake visits to donor organisations as required. 

7.    Monitor and expedite programme implementation through discussions with technical, substantive and project staff, field visits, analysis of progress reports, and participation in reviews and evaluations. Prepare reports based on the information obtained as an input to corrective decision making and revisions.

8.    Participate in workshops and seminars and prepare reports, training materials and presentations.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, social science, international studies or other relevant field.  

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned fields or other relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the required experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least five years of professional experience related to the negotiation of funding agreements including framework agreements, for development cooperation programmes, in the UN system. 

Languages

Excellent command of one working language and a working knowledge of a second working language. One of these languages must be English.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

•    Good knowledge of the role and operations of UN system activities for development and its reform process;
•    Good knowledge of evaluation concepts and procedures, the Organization’s financial rules and regulations, administrative policies, procedures, practices and programmes of the Organization, specifically related to development cooperation, including on how these are captured and negotiated in funding agreements;
•    Good knowledge of project formulation, administration and evaluation techniques and practices;
•    Ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects;
•    Proven ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and to deal with people with tact and diplomacy. 
•    Ability to negotiate persuasively with UN partner representatives and to resolve issues;
•    Excellent analytical skills    
•    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.