Programme Analyst, Sahel Team

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

In 2012, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2056 that requested the Secretary-General to develop and implement, in consultation with regional organizations, a United Nations Integrated strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) region encompassing security, governance, development, human rights and humanitarian issues. Pursuant to the resolution, UNISS was developed and launched in 2013 with the aim of reducing the socio-economic vulnerability of the populations in the Sahel region. In 2017, following an internal review of UNISS, a recalibration of the strategy by the regional entities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (R-UNSDG) for West and Central Africa with UNOWAS resulted in the elaboration of a United Nations Sahel Support Plan (UNSP) to better align UN’s collective support to address the needs and priorities of the people and Governments in the region. The UN Support Plan (UNSP), which covers the period 2018-2030, serves as a vehicle for articulating and operationalizing the UNISS and the commitments of the UN system and partners in the region. It aligns the UNISS with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the core priorities of national and regional partners; especially in the areas of peace, security and development in the region. Through the UNSP, the UN commits to strengthen national and regional initiatives and to provide a platform through which the UN’s extensive regional expertise and capacities can be leveraged,  operationalize the new way of working in the region through better integration of its political, security, humanitarian and development efforts; places stronger focus on inter-agency programming, pooling of technical resources in the region for scaling up UN’s support for the Sahel; and prioritizing cross border cooperation to address issues that transcend national boundaries.

In September 2019, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, through the Deputy-Secretary-General, endorsed a proposal by the R-UNSDG to establish an Implementation Support Unit (ISU) to focus actions and UN system’s resources towards upscaling programme implementation efforts around four key initiatives on Renewable Energy, Resilience, Governance and Economic revitalization through Climate Resilient Agriculture. Further, UNDP, as the chair of the R-UNSDG was requested to lead the UNISS’ development response relative to the UN’s engagement in the Sahel region in collaboration with UNOWAS and other partners.

As the lead of the UN Development System in the Sahel, UNDP developed a specific offer to help regenerate the Sahel from the protracted crises and key challenges that have impeded sustainable peace and human development. UNDP’s Offer for the Sahel has four mutually reinforcingapproaches: prevention, stabilization, transformation and sustainability and four transformative programmatic pillars, namely energy, governance, youth and socio-economic response to COVID-19. The development context of each locality will determine the entry point and menu of development approaches and programmes to address the evolving and dynamic socio-economic, political and security landscapes. The offer prioritizes innovative partnerships with Sahelians at the forefront of leading the pathway to peace and sustainable development to help change the narrative from one of crises to hope. The offer acknowledges the complex geopolitics of the Sahel region and frames a multidimensional differentiated approach to build resilience and peace consolidation.

To give effect to the overall implementation of the UNDP Sahel offer, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa is augmenting its capacity both at Headquarters in New York/HQ and in the Sahel region. The New York Sahel team will be an integral part of Country Oversight and Support Team under the overall strategic guidance of the Regional Director for Africa/R-UNSDG/ Chair. The team will work closely with the UNISS Implementation Support Unit (ISU) and the Dakar-based sub-regional hub for West and Central Africa and the Borderlands Lab, Regional Service Center, and the country offices in the Sahel countries as required.

Reporting structure and partners

The Programe Analyst will be part of the Sahel Team based at HQ and she/he report to the Programme Advisor. Key internal partners will include other teams in the Regional Bureau for Africa in New York, Addis Ababa and Dakar. Key external partners include the UN Secretariat, UNISS, ISU, and other UN Agencies, Members States and relevant associations and organizations.

Duties and responsibilities

Providing strategic programme and policy advice for the implementation of the UNDP Sahel Offer:

• Support the adaptation and implementation of the Sahel offer (resilience; renewable energy; climate and sustainable agriculture; and governance), including development of reporting tools to monitor progress, challenges to inform decision making;
• Support programme and policy development in a key thematic area of the Sahel offer;
• Contribute to analysis of regional trends and programmes, maintain datasets, case evidence and research findings to distil relevant lessons learned relative to implementing the Sahel

Supporting strategic partnerships, communication, resource mobilization:

• Assist in the development and design of advocacy and communication materials, including contributing to / drafting power-point presentations, speeches, and press releases as well as developing advocacy strategies for disseminating and raising awareness of key development challenges and opportunities in the Sahel region
• Assist in the development and updating of databases of UNDP interventions in the Sahel region;
• Support the organization ofregional and international eventson the Sahel in collaboration with key stakeholders within UNDP and other partners in HQ and other locations as required.
• Assist in the maintenance of a database of institutional partners and mapping of potential donors and partners in New York to the Sahel Offer;
• Support the development of targeted funding proposals for projects dealing with the Sahel offer.

Enhances innovation and knowledge management:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of new tools to address the challenges and harness opportunities presented by the increasing coverage of the Sahel crisis through social media and technology;
• Draft project reports, minutes of meetings and terms of reference as required.
• Support the development / monitoring of the regional initiatives pertaining to the Sahel development challenges;
• Support the development of work plans, monitor/report on progress of programmes in the Sahel region;
• Contribute to building a community of practice through partnership building, communications, and outreach to other practices, Regional Bureau focal points, UN partners and other relevant organizations; develop networks with HQ based UN entities working in the Sahel region and other responsibilities as required to support UNDP’s engagement in the Sahel region from HQ perspective.

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

UN System

• Knowledge of the UN System and ability to strategic and/or practical situations.

Representations

• Ability to productively share UN knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues).

Relationship Management/Partnerships

• Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships

Brief and Speech Writing

• Ability to prepare quality briefs and/or speeches.

Knowledge Management

• Ability to efficiency handle and share information and knowledge.

Development Planning

• Knowledge of development planning processes and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Knowledge and Voice

• Ability to support an effective knowledge brokering function.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree) in Development Studies, Natural Resources Management, Political Science, International Relations, Social Science, Law or related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in supporting the implementation of programmes and projects dealing with one or another aspect of sustainable development;
• Working experience in interagency coordination work on related sustainable development issues, required;
• Strong abilities in strategic planning and analysis;
• Working experience in designing and/or implementing multi stakeholder, inter agency cross border joint programming with humanitarian-development nexus focus, is an asset;
• United Nations experience including field experience, is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in the English language is required;
• Working knowledge of the French language is 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.

Scam warning