Sustainable Development Analyst

Background:

The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General in Egypt and guides the UN’s engagement in development activities in the country. The RC’s main responsibilities include ensuring the coordination of the UN’s development activities, creating a platform of coordinated delivery, and promoting the enhancement of national capacities; and ensuring effective advocacy of UN values, standards, principles and activities on behalf of the UN with the highest level of Government.

The RC is also responsible for advancing the UN Secretary-General’s ‘increased coherence’ agenda in Egypt. The overall goal of this agenda is to bring UN agencies, funds and programmes to work more closely together to increase effectiveness, relevance and efficiency.

The UNPDF acts as the agent of change between the SDGs and the SDS. The document consists of four UN outcomes which include 1) equitable economic development, 2) social justice, 3) sustainable development and 4) women's empowerment.  The document essentially outlines the comparative advantages that the UN has in order to achieve these outcomes and it is used as a platform for the establishment of the Joint Work Plans that aim to outline the activities to be conducted in order to achieve the desired outcomes.

Purpose:

The UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) is steering the process for the Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS) as well as the implementation of the SDGs in the context of the Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) that the Government of Egypt has issued.

A multi-disciplinary team at the RC’s Office supports the RC and UN agencies, funds and programmes in:

• Strengthening the coordination of development activities within the UN and between the UN and partners;
• Furthering coherence within the UN by way of joint strategic planning and programming of development activities, through the United Nations Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF);
• Strengthening joint communications, advocacy and reporting on the collective contribution of the UN to the development of Egypt;
• Supporting the harmonization and simplification of business practices and administrative procedures;
• Engaging in joint resource mobilization.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets that the world committed to achieving by 2015. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development since September 2015 and the commitment of the Government of Egypt towards the achievement of the SDGs create a unique opportunity for the RCO to coordinate between all UN agencies in Egypt (23 country and regional offices) and promote the transformative potential of the new agenda at all levels. In line with the 2030 Agenda, the Egyptian Government has launched a working plan called Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt Vision 2030 (SDS), which encompasses the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. SDS promotes economic flourishing based on justice, social integrity and participation. It is under the SDS that all development plans in Egypt are incorporated while at the same time being strongly guided by the SDGs. The multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach will be critical to guarantee that the inter-linkages, indivisibility and the universality of Agenda 2030 is kept and promoted and organized civil society will have an important role to play in this regard.

Reporting structure and partners:

The Sustainable Development Analyst will report directly to the Head of Office.

Content and methodology of supervision:

As part of the UNDP JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following supervision modalities:

• Structured guidance provided by the supervisor, especially in the beginning of the assignment, with the purpose of gradually increasing the responsibilities of the JPO
• Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results
• Effective supervision through knowledge sharing and performance/development feedback throughout the assignment
• Easy access to the supervisor
• Participation in Unit/Team/Office meetings to ensure integration and operational effectiveness
• Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise
• Completion of the yearly UNDP Performance Management Document (PMD)

If more than one supervisor; clear agreement of the roles and responsibilities between the relevant parties

Training and Learning

As part of the UNDP JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following training and learning opportunities:

• Participation in a two-week long Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course in New York within the first 3 to 6 months of assignment
• Use of yearly JPO duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
• Other training and learning opportunities, as presented in the UNDP JPO Orientation Programme

In addition, the JPO will benefit from the following specific training and learning modalities/opportunities in the receiving office.

Management of the Egypt SDG Action Campaign (30%)

1. Assist the UN Country Team in implementing its SDG awareness strategy;
2. Contributing to producing publications and reports on the SDGs, including policy related; progress reports; annual reports;
3. Support developing platforms for communication and knowledge sharing;
4. Enhance efforts towards the widespread implementation of the SDGs through:

• Facilitating south-south and triangular cooperation;
• Analysis and research on whole-of-society approaches, to ensure inclusivity and leaving no one behind, in the implementation of the SDGs

Coordination support to implementation of the UNDG MAPS (40%)

1. Function as secretariat for a Government-UN “SDG Task Force” responsible for the oversight of the SDG Roadmap that ensures national policy alignment;
2. Support the implementation of recommended action plan emerging from the MAPS SDG Roadmap;
3. Support in the identification of SDG accelerators to be implemented through among other UN joint programming and programmes;
4. Support the UN and national partners in mapping of new and innovative financing options, e.g. Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

Support with tasks related to the UN Coordination and implementation of UN Reforms (30%)

1. Provides secretariat support to UNPDF Results Groups through the preparation and implementation of the UN Country Team's Joint Work Plans;
2. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management around the work of the UN Country Team;
3. Provides support to UNCT in preparation and implementation of country programming processes and products, including common country assessment and UNPDF and UN programmes coordination.
4. Assists the RC office with any other duties as may be deemed necessary.

Education:         

• Master’s Degree or equivalent, or higher Advanced Degree in International Development, Political Science, Social Science or other related field of expertise

Experience:       

• A minimum of two years of relevant paid work experience in the relevant development discipline.
• Experience in international cooperation work, International NGOs, field work and/or UN experience.
• On-the-ground work experience in developing countries preferably in the Arab and/or African region

Language Requirements:

• fluent in both written and spoken Danish and English
• Proficiency in Arabic language is an advantage (not a requirement)

Other desirable education, languages and work experience:

• Required computer skills in a standardized language

Nationality:

Under the UNDP JPO Programme framework, the following position is open only to Danish nationals and permanent residents of Denmark.

For the full requirements and information about the JPO Programme, please visit: http://www.jposc.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home/how-to-join/the-jpo-programme.html

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

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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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