The UN Secretary-General’s bold new global reform, launched on 1 January 2019 in response to General Assembly resolution 71/243, repositions the UN Development System to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for dignity, prosperity and peace on a healthy planet.
 
Central to this process, and as further mandated by General Assembly resolution 72/279, a new generation of UN Resident Coordinator Offices across the world are being strengthened under the leadership of an empowered UN Resident Coordinator, the highest-ranking representative of the UN Development System and the UN Secretary-General at country level.
 
In order to effectively coordinate the collective work of the UN Sub-regional Team in support of national aspirations, Resident Coordinator Office for Barbados and OECS sub-region enhanced core capacities will include expertise in coordination and strategic planning, economics, tailored policy support, results monitoring and evaluation, strategic partnerships and robust communications.

The Resident Coordinator leads the United Nations Sub-regional Team (UNST) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. The sub-region is comprised of seven countries (Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) and three British Over-seas Territories (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Montserrat).
There are ten resident UN agencies based in Barbados and seven non-resident UN agencies comprising the United Nations Sub-regional Team (UNST) for Barbados and the OECS.

In this regard, the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office for Barbados and OECS is seeking qualified and experienced candidates for several new National Professional positions within the team.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:  The position, located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) for Barbados and OECS (Bridgetown Duty Station), is under the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and OECS countries and reports to the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader.
 
Responsibilities:  Within delegated authority, the Development Coordination Officer for Data Management and Results Monitoring/Reporting will be responsible of the duties outlined below.  
 

1.    Provides substantive support for the development and implementation of the UNST data and research strategies

•    Plans and facilitates the design and implementation of the UNST’s data and research strategy in alignment with the Common Multi-Country Analysis (MCCA) and Multi-country Sustainable Development Framework;
•    Undertakes empirical analysis, data mining and visualization to assist the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UNST, including results groups, in developing reports and working papers on a range of sustainable development 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;
•    Provides substantive and analytical support to RC/UNST in preparing and positioning the UN to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country, including the drafting of reports, as well as analytical and position papers;
•    Undertakes research and development of data and research UNST tools and methodologies at the country level;
•    Keeps abreast of emerging development issues to optimize UNST analytical capacity to respond to national priorities;
•    Contributes substantively to the development and implementation of peer review and quality assurance mechanisms for UNST research products;
•    Administers UNINFO and facilitates the development of the One UN Subregional Results Report as well as country-level reports.
•    Provides guidance and support to inter-agency thematic groups, such as the M&E group, to strengthen the UNST’s capacity to monitor and report on programmatic and operational progress.

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;
•    Communicates and coordinates with internal and external partners on data collection and project/research implementation;
•    Supports the convening of key thinkers on sustainable development and 2030 Agenda to provide inputs for, advise and steer the UNST’s research and data agenda;
•    Assists in strengthening the UNST’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 UNST results under the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework

•    Supports inter-agency efforts on results and progress monitoring and reporting on the MSDF and Joint Programmes, particularly through UNINFO;
•    Support regional efforts on results and progress monitoring and reporting, particularly through regional mechanisms such as the MSDF M&E Task Team;
•    Provides quality assurance review of the MSDF monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and results reporting to country, regional and global levels;
•    Facilitates independent evaluations of MSDF as a key element of the MSDF cycle and other interagency work related to monitoring, evaluation and reporting;
•    Serves as sub-regional focal point for sub-regional-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 UNST 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 UNST 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 UNST’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.

Language:   Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Barbados and the OECS is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.  

Nationality: Interested Nationals of Barbados and the OECS are invited to apply.

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 TA categories are subject to local recruitment.

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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