Senior UN Advisor_(UNRCO_Myanmar)

Myanmar stands at a crossroads in its history. Political, economic, legislative and administrative reforms and peace-building initiatives since 2011 deeply impact Myanmar’s interactions with internal and external actors, including the United Nations (UN). The transitions that Myanmar is experiencing bring large opportunities as well as challenges such as armed conflicts and displacement of people. Since renewed armed conflict broke out in Kachin State in 2011, more than 97,000 people remain in situations of protracted displacement across 140 camps or camp-like settings. While Kachin has seen limited new armed conflict or displacement since August 2018, a host of obstacles to durable solutions persist, including widespread landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination, limited basic services and deeply rooted housing, land and property rights challenges. Human trafficking is also a significant concern. Against this complex backdrop, humanitarian agencies, both national and international, have been facing challenges in accessing all affected population in Kachin State. The UN has not been able to directly access an estimated 40,000 people in displacement sites in areas of Kachin State outside Government control since June 2016. 

To respond to the complicated multi-faceted situation in Kachin, organizations of the UN system are looking at supporting solutions to the immediate needs and root causes of the situation in the State in line with international norms and standards. The provision of development assistance in Kachin State should be provided with full regard for conflict and context sensitivity and in consultation with the State Government, local communities, humanitarian partners on the ground and other national and local stakeholders. The Senior UN Advisor will be based in Myitkyina, to facilitate the coordination of nexus activities across Kachin and engagement between development actors, peacebuilding stakeholders and humanitarian organizations on the ground.  The incumbent will report to the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) or his designate and provide strategic advice to the UN Country Team (UNCT). S/he will provide leadership in the State on behalf of the UNRC, coordinate development activities of UN agencies, and, working in close collaboration with UNOCHA and other humanitarian actors, facilitate smooth and seamless cooperation and complementary between humanitarian and development support. The incumbent will also lead strategic engagement with the State Government and other national and local stakeholders on matters pertaining to nexus issues on behalf of the UNRC and the UNCT. S/he will ensure ongoing regular consultations between the UN agencies and donor partners, as well as between the UN agencies and the civil society counterparts. In the discharge of her/his duties the incumbent will be supported by UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Yangon and by UN RCO staff in Kachin.

 

Under the direct supervision of the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC) or his designate and in close collaboration with the UN Country Team and UN staff working in Kachin, the Senior Advisor for Kachin State will have the following main functions and responsibilities:

 

• Provide strategic and analytical support to the RC and the UNCT in building their relations with government officials, academia, civil society, and with the wider political and civic leadership in Kachin. Regularly meet with such stakeholders on behalf of the UNCT and/or RC;
• Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with key actors and development partners in Kachin;
• Explore options for establishing and strengthening partnerships with the private sector in Kachin;
• Ensure extensive stakeholder consultations on the development and implementation of an overall Kachin Development Plan and, as requested, be a resource for other stakeholder consultations and activities;
• In coordination with the RCO in Yangon, facilitate and coordinate the preparation and implementation of a Kachin specific communications strategy on development assistance;
• Carry out the above responsibilities with a view to enhancing the understanding of and listening to, the grievances between various communities.

• Support, facilitate and communicate the definition of the UN and wider international development community role in Kachin State;
• Support the UNCT in facilitating consultative, transparent and participatory development needs assessments and other analytical work to help determine the UNCT’s strategy and priorities in Kachin, in line with the draft UNDAF, other relevant UNCT strategies and Government priorities;
• Support the UNCT and its partners in planning and coordinating the implementation of activities under the JSBP and under a Kachin specific development plan to ensure coherence and create synergies within the UN system as well as with other actors present in the field;
• Establish and lead a development coordination mechanism in Kachin State among the various stakeholders including UN agencies, INGOs, government authorities, civil society and bilateral and multilateral development partners;
• Work closely with OCHA and humanitarian coordination structures to ensure seamless and complementary cooperation between humanitarian aid and development assistance where appropriate;
• As requested, represent the RC and UNCT in coordination or other meetings with a wide range of stakeholders;
• On behalf of the RC and UNCT, lead on resolving issues with government and other stakeholders in order to ensure smooth implementation of development activities;
• Guide knowledge management effort on development, humanitarian and peace related activities in Kachin state, including by streamlining information flows and maintaining a current database on international assistance.

• Be the focal point in Kachin for coordinating inputs into the Kachin Human Security System comprising ongoing contextual analysis and an early warning/early action component; the continuing context analysis includes analysis on political developments and conflict dynamics with a view to identifying appropriate entry points for conflict prevention and recommending appropriate strategic responses for the UN system; coordinate closely with the RCO in Yangon in this regard.
• Build and keep up to a date a stakeholder analysis and mapping of key stakeholders in Kachin;
• Establish and maintain networks and strategic partnerships for conflict prevention, management, mitigation and response;
• Identify areas of programmatic or other engagement and support the RC and the UNCT in the preparation of the UN response to government requests related to conflict prevention, dialogue, early warning and early action;
• Provide substantive leadership for strategic initiatives on conflict prevention including convening on behalf of the RC and the UNCT dialogue processes; assisting conflict resolution activities in conflict-affected communities; building skills for negotiation and mediation for all stakeholders; establishing and extending the capacities of networks of mediators and facilitators at the state and local levels.

Description of Competency at Level Required

(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the competency inventory)

In this section list all core competencies as well as the most relevant technical/functional competencies the role will require along with the appropriate level.  A Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through the following link:

 

https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

 

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 6: Exercises stakeholder-centered design approaches for office / programme / division

 

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 6: Ensures teams are resourced for success  and empowered to deliver

 

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 6: Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity

 

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 6: Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen

 

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 6: Accepts accountability for the outcomes of programme delivery and facilitates improvement and innovation in the delivery of products and services

 

Technical/Functional

Detailed list of competencies can be accessed through https://intranet.undp.org/unit/ohr/competency-framework/SitePages/Home.aspx

and hiring managers are encouraged to familiarize themselves for more information

 

 

Education:

Experience:

Language Requirements:

 

Only those candidates in whose qualifications and experience the Organization has further interest will be contacted for subsequent interview(s).  UNDP regrets its inability to reply individually or attend to telephone or e-mail queries on the advertised posts.

 

Women are encouraged to apply for the post.

 

UNDP is an equal opportunity employer. UNDP regrets its inability to reply individually or attend to telephone queries on the advertised posts.