Director - Africa Centre For Sustainable Development

• The Centre’s Director, acting as the strategic supervisor of the Centre and responsible for the external outreach and representational activities of the Centre; 
• The Centre’s Manager, responsible for its day-to-day activities and operations. 

• Be responsible for ACSD’s external relations and advocacy functions; 
• Lead and support the Centre in cultivating, building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of ACSD. These relationships encompass a wide range and number of key constituencies and development partners, especially those related to resource mobilization and donor relations, G7, G20 and programme countries, multilateral institutions such as the IFIs, the European Commission, civil society, the private sector, foundations, academia and think tanks, the wider UN system, and various UN inter-governmental bodies; 
• Contribute to shaping and monitoring overall strategic directions, contributing to the achievements of organizational priorities and identified outcomes;
• Supported by the Manager, lead external communications function for the Centre;
• Represent ACSD in key international fora as appropriate;
• Lead by example and encourage excellence, professionalism, competence, integrity and ethics and values enshrined in the UN Charter;
• Guide, mentor and develop a team of qualified staff; 
• Oversee, under the guidance of the Steering Committee, the Centre’s financial, human resources, procurement and general operations, in line with UNDP Policies and Procedures.

• Lead the conceptualization of the activities and outreach of the Africa Centre for Sustainable Development;
• Lead the organization and reporting for, as appropriate, regular meetings with the donor(s);
• Promote, advocate for and represent the ACSD at key events;
• Identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones through innovative approaches to partnership development;
• Maintains collaboration and coordination within the GPN and RBA to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices;
• Liaise with UNDP senior management, technical partners, as well as, the Government of Italy on interventions and initiatives on the relevant focus areas of ACSD.

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

• Ability to persuade others to follow.

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

• Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals.

• Knowledge of multilateral agencies (OECD, IFIs, EU, Regional Development Banks, etc.), including respective mandates and ways of working. 

• Knowledge of HR management issues and principles and the ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations.

• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

• Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions.

• Master’s Degree or higher in management, economics, international relations, law, natural or social sciences related to sustainable development.

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant work experience related to sustainable development; 
• A strong record of progressively responsible, substantive and results achievement experience at the international level, including in development programming, resource mobilization and advocacy is especially relevant;   
• Experience in interagency and international co-operation, negotiation of partnerships, mobilization of resources, and management of programmes are especially relevant. The candidates will have held leadership roles and demonstrated his/her ability to advocate for effective solutions;  
• The candidates should have in-depth knowledge of developing Countries’ contexts, managing complex situations, including the ability to influence/advance dialogue and present such material at global and regional fora; 
• Prior experience of working in developing countries or countries with economies in transition is an asset;
• Knowledge of G7 processes is an asset;
• The candidates should have held senior positions in the UN and/or other intergovernmental institutions and international entities. 

• Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Fluency in Italian and/or French is highly desirable. 

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. 

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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