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Manager - Africa Centre for Sustainable Development

Rome

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Rome
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Environment
    • Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
    • Managerial positions
    • Poverty ReductionEnvironment and EnergyEnvironment&Disaster Reduction
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. 
 
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts. 
 
The Africa Centre for Sustainable Development was established through the declaration endorsed by the G7 meeting of the Environment Ministers in June 2017, with the aim to facilitate coordination among the G7 and African countries on common initiatives in Africa, to achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. Subsequently, at the request of the Italian Government, UNDP agreed in September 2017, to host and establish the above Centre, using its extensive country office network and programmatic hubs, and global expertise and knowledge, to enable countries to access the resources available through it. 
 
The Centre was inaugurated in January 2019. By the end of 2019, ACSD has completed its start - up phase: a minimum core staffing has ensured the setting up of the elementary vital functions of the office; all operational and management procedures have been successfully established; a number of country engagements have already started, and a Steering Committee of the Italian Environment Ministry and UNDP has been set up in order to define the Centre’s governance and management arrangements and programmatic focus in the years to come.
 
The Centre’s revised senior management outlook entails two key roles:
  • 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. 
The Manager will, among others, provide Secretariat services to the Steering Committee and as well to the Advisory Board of the Center, in addition to managing the Center on a day-to-day basis in close coordination with the relevant funding partners.  The Manager, under the guidance of the Centre’s Director, will ensure that ACSD delivers on the results of its workplan and effectively communicates to the public the work of the center, providing visibility to the initiative and establishing new partnerships from both the public and private sectors.
 
The Manager will report to the ACSD Director. As a UNDP staff member, s/he will also ensure that all actions taken on behalf of the Center respect UNDP policies and guidelines and are compliant with UNDP rules and regulations. 
 
The Manager will be based in Rome, Italy and may be required to travel frequently. 
 
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the ACSD Director and the overall guidance of the Centre’s Steering Committee, the Manager of the Africa Centre for Sustainable Development (ACSD) will manage the center’s day-to-day operations and activities ensuring the successful implementation of the ACSD workplan.
 
Project Leadership and Management
  • Support the ACSD Director in performing his/her leadership and conceptual role related to the activities and outreach of the Africa Centre for Sustainable Development;
  • Provide the required secretariat services for the effective functioning of the Centre’s Steering Committee;
  • Organization of, and reporting for, regular meetings with the donor(s), Steering Committee, joint working group and Advisory Board;
  • Ensures the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the ACSD;
  • Promoting, advocating for, and representing the ACSD at key events, as appropriate;
  • Support liaison services between UNDP and technical partners, as well as, between UNDP and Italy on interventions and initiatives on the relevant focus areas of ACSD.
Resource Mobilization and Communication
  • Seek further resources for the center for long-term sustainability;
  • Develop an engagement plan with funding partners, especially of the G7, to contribute to the functioning and results of the ACSD;
  • Under the guidance of the Director, communicate the value and results of the ACDS to contributors and constituents to advocate for the mandate and role of the ACSD.
Operational effectiveness
  • In consultation with the Director, is responsible for recruitment, performance and career management, and supervision of all ACSD staff to motivate and promote organizational excellence;
  • Prepare annual work plans and progress reports for the Steering Committee and UNDP;
  • Provide financial and budgetary oversight for the funds;
  • Advises the Director on operational issues affecting the Center’s delivery and overall operations; 
  • Identifies approaches and modalities to achieve management targets and increased cost-effectiveness;
  • Provide the necessary results and financial reports of the project as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Knowledge management

  • Support the provision of relevant conceptual inputs related to the activities of the Africa Centre for Sustainable Development.

 

Competencies

Core
 
Innovation
  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Leadership
  • Ability to persuade others to follow.
People Management
  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Communication
  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Delivery
  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
 
Technical/Functional
 
Partnerships
  • Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.
Financial Planning and Budgeting 
  • Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals.
Multilateral Affairs 
  • Knowledge of multilateral agencies (OECD, IFIs, EU, Regional Development Banks, etc.), including respective mandates and ways of working.
Human Resources Management (General)
  • Knowledge of HR management issues and principles and the ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations.
Office Administration 
  • Ability to manage day-to-day office activities (including but not limited to travel management, facilities and asset management, policy and procedures maintenance) to meet operational needs.
Sustainable Development
  • 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.
Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
 

Required Skills and Experience

Education
  • Master’s Degree or higher in management, economics, international relations, law, natural or social sciences related to sustainable development.
Experience
  • A minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience related to sustainable development and climate change;
  • Knowledge of, and experience with, project/programme development and management;
  • Previous experience managing staff and operational systems;
  • Knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices on operations, travel, procurement, and revenue management desirable;
  • Documented experience with, and knowledge of, UN interagency cooperation;
  • Prior experience working in developing countries or countries with economies in transition is an asset;
  • Knowledge of G7 processes is an asset. 
Language Requirements
  • Excellent knowledge of the English and French language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
  • Fluency in Italian is highly desirable. 
 

Disclaimer

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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This vacancy is now closed.
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