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Special Assistant to the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR – Coordination Specialist

Juba

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Juba
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • UN Coordination
    • Managerial positions
    • UN SYSTEM COORDINATION
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

SARC Programme:

The Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator (SARC) Programme is managed by the JPO Service Centre on behalf of the UN System.

The objective of the SARC Programme is to strengthen UN coordination and coherence in the field.  SARCs are placed with the Resident Coordinator Office, and support a wide range of management and coordination functions of the UN Development System at country level, including among others: UNDAF and joint programming processes, annual reporting and M&E, joint UN communication strategies, and interagency coordination of SDG campaigning and implementation as well as supporting liaison between field offices and the RCO centrally.  

Job Purpose:

South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, following the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement with Sudan and ensuing referendum. The United Nations provides multi-faceted support to help the newly independent Republic of South Sudan address its peace- and state-building challenges. United Nations support includes a multi-dimensional peacekeeping mission (UNMISS), as well as development and humanitarian support from more than 20 UN agencies.

With the introduction of The New Way of Working and other UN reform initiatives, the Resident Coordinator system will strengthen implementation of activities founded on leadership, cohesion across pillars, accountability and results. The SARC will contribute to such processes in order to provide integrated- and aligned responses to the humanitarian and development needs of South Sudan.

In this context, the imperative of addressing the humanitarian-development nexus is increasingly important, as custodian of the SDGs, the UN system in South Sudan is using that framework to provide necessary humanitarian relief to affected populations while maintaining a focus on longer term foundations for recovery, stabilization and development work.   

The SARC will provide direct support to the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative (DSRSG/RC/HC/RR) through four main functional areas including direct support to the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR, programme support, and coordination and alignment of UNCT /HCT. The SARC is required to innovate and find practical ways to advance humanitarian-development nexus in a context such the one in South Sudan

The DSRSG/RC/HC/RR main responsibilities include ensuring that the Humanitarian- and UN Country Teams are cohesive, flexible, lean, efficient and focused in their scope and ensure enhanced coordination and effectiveness with UNMISS, under the guidance of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the peacekeeping mission. The country teams must respond to evolving humanitarian situation and national priorities in an integrated and holistic way. In his efforts, he is assisted by a team of strategic planners, specialists and analysts, as well as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Local reporting structure and partners:

Under the overall guidance of the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR and direct supervision of the Head of the Resident Coordinators Office and as part of the RCO team, the SARC reinforces the capacity of his/her team to support high quality, focused and strategic assistance frameworks for UN agencies and UNMISS; to respond to the humanitarian crisis and post-crisis contexts with peacekeeping, peace-building, humanitarian and development assistance; to support national priorities and plans; to develop and implement integrated and joint programmes; to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to the 2030 Agenda; to liaise with UN member state representatives; and to enable national counterparts to access the expertise of UN agencies.

The SARC works in close collaboration with UN agencies, their programme and operations teams, UNMISS, government officials, technical advisors and experts, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society to ensure successful and transparent coordination of UN activities.

Training opportunities

As part of the SARC Programme overall framework, the SARC will benefit from the following training and learning opportunities:

  • Use of yearly SARC duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
  • Other training and learning opportunities offered in partnership with UNDOCO
  • Detailed assignment to field offices / UN Agencies

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

·         Possibility to participate in the 12 months UNDP Leadership Development training programme.

·         Talent Development System - https://intranet.undp.org//SitePages/Learning-Announcement.aspx

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Ensures effective direct support to the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR as Special Assistant (40%)
 
Main responsibilities include:
  • Provide substantive support and strategic advice to the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR
  • Keep DSRSG/RC/HC/RR informed about all matters requiring his personal attention
  • Ensure that priorities of the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR are aligned to his work plan, strategy and stakeholder expectations
  • On the basis of the political landscape, trends and emerging issues, assess implications and make recommendations for decision making, UN policies, strategies, and other measures;
  • Assist in formulating options as to how issues might be handled as they arise, and ensure appropriate follow-up, as directed;
  • Coordinate/draft summaries, analytical reports and proposals for financing; coordinate implementation of the DSRSG/RC/HC/RR Work Plan
  • Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the broader UN family, the authorities, civil society, donors and other national and international partners on coordination and policy matters
  • Prepare talking points, take notes in meetings and give inputs to speeches
  • Assist in the selection of new staff
  • Supervise and arrange official missions and travel of the DSRSG/RC/HC
  • Perform other relevant duties as requested by the DSRSG/RC/HC
2. Facilitates formulation and implements agency and inter-agency projects, programmes and initiatives (30%)
 
The SARC Supports coordination, planning and accountability to help provide a platform for UN Country Teams to transform overlaps into synergies and to help stakeholders and government identify partners to bridge gaps. For example, the reach and effectiveness of joint programmes and projects increase as coordination, planning and accountability increase. This work can relate to development of joint programmes, acting as a sounding board for ideas and issues related to implementation and bringing relevant agency focal points together to facilitate problem solving processes. 
 
Main responsibilities include: 
  • Identify and formulate strategic and innovative programme areas of cooperation with existing and new partners in collaboration with UN agencies and humanitarian actors in and outside South Sudan, especially in relation to addressing the humanitarian-development nexus 
  • Manage RCO anchored projects and initiatives such as Peace Building Fund projects and others. 
  • Support development, implementation and monitoring of joint programmes and projects along the project/programme cycle
  • Coordinate and provide quality assurance to preparation and launch of joint projects under the UN Cooperation Framework and assist agency projects through monitoring missions 
  • Gather lessons learned and good practice in relation to support provided, as well as strengths and weaknesses of UN Agencies projects and programmes in the context of the UN Cooperation Framework, and the SDGs
3. Ensures coordination and alignment of the UN Country Team and Humanitarian Country Team (30%)
 
The New Way of Working emphasizes simultaneous humanitarian assistance and support for recovery and resilience, which requires coherent strategies, coordination and alignment of end objectives between UNCT and HCT. This is an emerging challenge of the RCO team that will require additional efforts.
 
Main responsibilities include: 
  • Maintaining a functional relationship between the UNCT, HCT and UNMISS 
  • Analyse, advise on and monitor humanitarian political and economic developments and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of the UNCT and HCT work plans
  • Participate in the preparations for and implementation of the annual, cost-shared UNCT workplan by the RCO team
  • Drive innovation and find practical ways to advance the development/humanitarian nexus in the context of South Sudan 
  • Drive collaborative partnerships forward to support simultaneous humanitarian assistance and support for recovery and resilience
  • Conduct analysis and research of the humanitarian, developmental, political, social and economic situation in the country, to be translated into the preparation and revision of cooperation frameworks.
  • Coordination of substantive preparations and support provided for UNCT retreats to review the annual UNCT workplan, as well as for preparation and support for effective and focused functioning of UNCT meetings and other UNCT processes.
  • Coordinate and facilitate mandatory and annual reporting.
 
 

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work
  • Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow
  • People Management - Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
  • Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
  • Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical Competencies

  • Knowledge and Learning Management - Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge (level 5)
  • Coordination Effectiveness - Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships (level 5)
  • Quality Assurance - Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled (level 5)
  • Management and Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow (level 5)

Required Skills and Experience

Education:         

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in development studies, economics, International Relations, or Social Sciences.

Experience:       

  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing advice and support to decision-makers.
  • Strong experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes/projects or frameworks.
  • Knowledge of the UN System, including peacekeeping operations and South Sudan would be an advantage.
  • Full proficiency in the use of office software packages, including spreadsheet, presentation and database applications, as well as experience in using web-based systems.

Language Requirements:            

  • Fluency in oral and written English as well as Danish is essential.
  • Knowledge of a second UN language is desirable.

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

Disclaimer

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. For more information please click here and here.

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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