Development Coordination Officer, Data Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting - NOC

The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Colombia and reports to the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader.

The UN has been working for Colombia for 68 years, and the UN Country Team (UNCT) is currently composed of 21 residents and 5 non-resident agencies. It has over 170 offices in 67 locations throughout the country and has a total of 2.330 staff members (93% are nationals). In line with the prevention and sustaining peace vision of the Secretary General, the UNCT, in close coordination with the UN Verification Mission to Colombia, aims to address structural development gaps and to reduce and prevent violence. The UNCT also coordinates closely with the Humanitarian Country Team towards establishing collective outcomes to address the root causes of humanitarian needs.  Our work focuses on supporting countries in reaching Sustainable Development Goals and on those most vulnerable so that no one is left behind.

Within delegated authority, the Development Coordination Officer, Data Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting will be responsible of the following duties: (These duties are generic and may not be carried out by all Development Coordination Officers, Data Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting.)

Summary of Functions:

1. Provides substantive support for the development and implementation of UN Country Team (UNCT) data, joint analysis and research strategies
2. Develops and expands strategic research and data partnerships
3. Coordinates monitoring and reporting of UNCT results
4. Supports knowledge management and capacity development

Description of Functions:

1. Provides substantive support for the development and implementation of the UNCT data, joint analysis and research strategies

• Plans and facilitates the design and implementation of the UNCT’s data, joint analysis and research strategy in alignment with the Country Common Analysis (CCA) and UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF);
• Undertakes empirical analysis, data mining and visualization to assist the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UNCT, including results groups, in developing reports and working papers on a range of sustainable development and sustaining peace topics;
• Collects information on the latest developments of the use of new types of data sources and tools (e.g. big data) for sustainable development and sustaining peace;
• Provides substantive and analytical support to RC/UNCT in preparing and positioning the UN to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to sustain peace in the country, including the drafting of reports, as well as analytical and position papers;
• Undertakes research and development of data and research UNCT tools and methodologies at the country level;
• Keeps abreast of emerging conflict, development and political issues to optimize UNCT analytical capacity to respond to national priorities;
• Contributes substantively to the development and implementation of peer review and quality assurance mechanisms for UNCT research products;
• Administers UNINFO, the ongoing UNCT joint information management and analysis initiatives, and facilitates the development of the One UN Country Results Report.
• Carries out other duties as assigned by the RC in support of the UNDAF and UNCT coordination.

2. Develops and expands strategic research and data partnerships, including with UN entities at regional and HQ level, government counterparts, research institutes, leading global thinkers on development, and civil society, among others.

• Supports the UN’s work with national data and statistical systems, facilitating engagement with national entities and data systems;
• Communicates and coordinates with existing partners and helps form new partnerships with UN agencies, academia, the private sector, and governmental agencies to further the use of data science for development and sustaining peace;
• Communicates and coordinates with internal and external partners on data collection and project/research implementation;
• Supports the convening of key thinkers on sustaining peace, sustainable development and 2030 Agenda to provide inputs for, advise and steer the UNCT’s research and data agenda;
• Assists in strengthening the UNCT’s partnerships with research institutions and similar entities across the UN system through concrete collaboration on areas of the 2030 agenda.

3. Coordinates monitoring and reporting of UNCT results under the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)

• Supports inter-agency efforts on results and progress monitoring and reporting on the UNDAF, Joint Programmes, and Integrated Strategic Framework, particularly through UNINFO and the ongoing UNCT joint information management and analysis initiatives;
• Provides quality assurance review of the UNDAF monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and results reporting to country, regional and global levels;
• Facilitates independent evaluations of UNDAFs as a key element of the UNDAF cycle and other interagency work related to monitoring, evaluation and reporting;
• Serves as country focal point for country-level, regional and global M&E initiatives and networks.

4. Supports knowledge management and capacity development related to data and monitoring

• Facilitates the sharing of best practices within the UNCT and with UNCTs in the (sub)region and globally, based on a solid understanding of the incentives that people need to utilize knowledge;
• Advocates for knowledge sharing, inspiring others within the RCO and UNCT to contribute their expertise through internal and external platforms and tools and working closely with colleagues at the regional level to ensure usable knowledge is shared between and applied by UNCTs.
• Identifies good practices and lessons learned at the different levels of the UN System (national, regional and global) and share findings with HQ, Regional and country colleagues so that best practices benefit UN’s work;
• Plans and facilitates the UNCT’s exchange of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned with external partners;
• Organizes thematic activities and knowledge-sharing forums and encourages others to participate;
• Contributes to knowledge sharing (including through training and peer exchange) amongst UN staff on issues related to UN strategic planning frameworks, methodologies and tools;
• Draws upon other UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to provide contributions to strategic planning processes.

• Professionalism: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis on sustainable development topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection.  Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

• Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education:         

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, information management, statistics, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related area.

A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in providing strategic support to research and data analysis, knowledge management or project/programme management in the context of development cooperation or related area is required. Experience and knowledge of international donor and/or UN information management and analysis processes in Colombia is an advantage.

Language:          

Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.  

Additional requirements:

National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they are serving, and their functions must have a national context, i.e. functions that require national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems.

Important applicant information

All posts in the NO categories are subject to local recruitment.

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