Senior Regional Development Advisor

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Regional Development Advisor

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Regional Office for South East Asia, located in Bangkok, Thailand (RO Bangkok) covers fourteen countries, i.e., Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri-Lanka, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Singapore, and Viet Nam.  These countries are usually collectively referred to as the "Bangkok Cluster".  Six of these countries have their own Representations (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand).  The Regional Representative is the accredited UNHCR Representative for the other eight countries.

The search for durable solutions as part of the Solution Strategy is at the forefront of UNHCR¿s responsibility towards refugees and other persons of concern. Resolving long-standing displacement situations requires reaching out beyond the humanitarian community. Engaging closely with national and local ministries and development actors, international financial institutions and the private sector is essential in order to link displaced communities with development and peacebuilding processes, to provide them with legal status, and to help them become socially integrated and economically self-reliant.

The Senior Regional Development Advisor advocates for and promotes development solutions for UNHCR's populations of concern (PoCs) in the Asia and the Pacific region. The position contributes to provision of coordination and support to the field offices in the region and to advancing the implementation of the solutions strategy.

The incumbent will assist the Regional Representation in maintaining high level contacts with the governments, the regional institutions and initiatives (such as ASEAN, SAARC, the Bali Process), development partners and the private sector, as well as the UN actors, in formulating and developing a multi-partner, evidence-based regional solutions strategy.

The Senior Regional Development Advisor functions under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Representative. The incumbent is supported by the multi-disciplinary units at the Regional Office, and works in close cooperation with the out-posted regional units of various Divisions.



FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- Support is provided to the UNHCR operations under area of responsibility and humanitarian and development actors in designing comprehensive and evidence-based regional/country level solutions strategies and action plans according to country/regional contexts.
- Strategic partnerships with the Government, donors, development actors, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the private sector, refugee/IDP representatives and any other relevant partners are developed and maintained to bring development solutions to PoCs.
- The design of durable solutions structures and implementation mechanisms are supported.

Responsibility
- Provide support and guidance to UNHCR Operations for the development of multi-partner, multi-year, evidence-based and country/regional level solutions strategies and related action plans, taking into account legal, political, economic and social challenges and opportunities with clear, quantified targets.
- Provide support and guidance to UNHCR Operations for the development of monitoring frameworks that include baselines by which to evaluate progress towards stated goals.
- Map existing and potential partners in the Governments, donors, UN agencies, IFIs, private sector, NGOs and other entities that are best able to promote sustainable solutions to refugee/IDP situations.
- Monitor and map development financing in the countries/region that has the potential to benefit PoCs.
- Support UNHCR Operations in coordinating and facilitating an inter-agency approach to assessments on durable solutions for PoCs in close coordination with established coordination mechanisms.
- Contribute to studies and analytical activities that build the conceptual framework and evidence base for comprehensive, development-oriented responses to forced displacement.
- Assist the Country Representatives to identify the most successful rural and urban development programmes which could be tapped into for returnee reintegration and IDP local integration.
- Establish partnerships and regular contacts, identify regional contact points, and coordinate with the regional inter-governmental institutions, international organisations, donors, civil society and private sector organisations, in view of identifying and implementing appropriate sustainable development processes/programmes.
- Provide technical guidance and support to UNHCR Operations in relationship building with national/local government authorities, development actors and IFIs through the different stages of policy and programme identification, implementation and monitoring.
- Ensure close coordination of durable solutions initiatives within the region under purview of the Regional Office.
- Work towards ensuring complementarity of UNHCR durable solutions initiatives for PoCs and those of development actors operating in the region.
- Provide support to the UNHCR Operations for advocating with the respective governments, development actors and donors to integrate PoCs' priorities into policy dialogue, national and local level plans and all stages of programme cycles in the relevant sectors.
- Engage and provide practical advice on securing linkages with development planning processes and mainstreaming of solutions in transition, peacebuilding, and recovery, and development frameworks and processes, including financing mechanisms as applicable (incl. pooled funding processes, political and economic processes, sector coordination mechanisms, UNDAF, national and local development plans, etc.).
- Develop, support and/or lead inter-agency coordination mechanisms at the regional level for durable solutions targeting PoCs.
- Maintain relevant data concerning the PoCs at the regional level, with a view to support their inclusion in development actors' planning.

Authority
- Have direct engagement with regional inter-governmental institutions, regional units of UN agencies, IFIs, NGOs and Donors.
- Advise on operational resources management.
- Advise external relations/PI sections of the Country Offices in the region on information and advocacy messaging.
- Monitor and evaluate ongoing projects and advise on the roll-out of the new projects in close coordination with the Country Offices as well as the programme and relevant units of the Regional Office.


ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in a relevant field (economics, development economics, political science, business administration, etc.) plus minimum of 11 years of relevant work experience in government, UN, bi/multilateral donor agencies, development agency, civil society or private sector out of which minimum of 6 years of development experience is an essential requirement. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 12 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 10 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Excellent knowledge of the development landscape and language and linkages between humanitarian and development fields.
- Working knowledge of development (bi- or multi-laterals) or a mixture of humanitarian development experience in planning and/or implementing country-level transition/development programmes, preferably on (re)integration/local economic development in conflict/displacement contexts. 
- Technical expertise working with development policies (PRSP, CCA/UNDAF, etc.), instruments, processes as well as governance, capacity building, national budget planning and accountability frameworks especially in conflict/displacement contexts.
- Strong coordination, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.
- Knowledge of (inter)national strategies for multi-partner solutions and stabilization/peacebuilding interventions in varied contexts and countries.
- Experience in resource mobilisation and donor programming and funding mechanisms.
- Experience in development and humanitarian coordination and leading inter-agency needs assessments.
- Experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring solutions (and managing multiple projects).
- Experience in working effectively with government authorities, development partners, beneficiaries and preferably public-private partnerships.
- Excellent conceptual and analytical capability.
- Excellent drafting skills in English with an ability to present information in a concise, coherent and useful manner.
- Fluency in oral and written English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of/familiarity with and/or work experience in the region is an added advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in planning, designing/implementing strategies would be an added advantage.
- Experience with one or more relevant sectors for durable reintegration/integration solutions, including education and skills, housing, job creation, peace-building etc. will be an asset.
- Experience and demonstrated programme skills acquired in large multi-stakeholder operations are considered an asset. C002L4 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 4
C001L4 - Accountability Level 4
C003L4 - Communication Level 4
C004L4 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 4
C005L4 - Client & Result Orientation Level 4
C006L4 - Organizational Awareness Level 4
M002L4 - Managing Performance Level 4
M001L4 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 4
M003L4 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 4
M006L4 - Managing Resources Level 4
M005L4 - Leadership Level 4
M004L4 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 4
X001L4 - Analytical Thinking Level 4
X007L4 - Political Awareness Level 4
X005L4 - Planning and Organizing Level 4
X004L4 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 4
X008L4 - Stakeholder Management Level 4

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).