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Senior Advisor (Africa) - Strategic Partnerships with Europe

Brussels

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Brussels
  • Grade: Senior Executive level - D-1, Director - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

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

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP engages with the countries of Africa, supporting the development ambition of the region and future beyond international development assistance. The EU is highly active as a development policy actor at the global level, and its component institutions, in particular the European Commission, constitute important partners of UNDP in terms of development policy, programme partnerships and funding.


The UNDP-Europe partnership has become dynamic with growing EC-UNDP inter-institutional relationship (guided by a Strategic Partnership Agreement focused on thematic focuses such as governance, conflict prevention/recovery, Climate Change and increased regional focus on Africa), robust engagement with Nordic countries with Africa being at the center of the partnership, and key partnerships with European Member states such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.

The partnership with Europe has been nurtured via the UNDP presence in Europe through the UN/UNDP Brussels Office representing both UNDP vis-a-vis the EU and the Government of Belgium; the Nordic Representation Office with a focus on the 5 Nordic countries, and the Geneva Office serving as the UNDP Platform for Geneva and the Geneva-based organizationsThese offices in Europe  play an active role in facilitating UNDP’s overall engagement with the European Union and its member states throughpolicy dialogue, co-financing of projects, joint research/study, joint conferences and seminars, and joint advocacy and publicity activities among other things.

The Africa Region particularly offers scope to deepen joint programmatic and policy work between UNDP and EU on the one hand and with EU member States on the other hand, given the significant convergence in thematic emphasis, complementarities in approach, and the opportunities offered by ‘Team Europe’ approach currently pursued by the European Union. The representation offices in Europe have made significant headway in developing the partnership on Africa through establishing a strong inter-institutional/joint dialogue on Africa andhelping develop shared commitment to strengthen the engagement to better support Africa.

The Senior Advisor (Africa)will represent UNDP/Africain Europe. This includes identifying and negotiating new partnerships in support of development and peace in Africa and nurturing the existing partnership with the European member states, notablythe Nordics, Germany and France (particularly in relation to stabilization and Sahel); Netherlands,as well as at the EU level with the different EU institutions.The incumbent will also act as liaison to OECD.

The position will be part of the UNDP Representation Office in Brussels/Copenhagen and the Senior Advisor will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Director for Africain New York and theDirector of the Office in Brussels.

Duties and Responsibilities

The over-arching responsibility of the Senior Advisor is to provide policy, strategic and analytic leadership on corporate initiatives targeting partnership with the EU and EU member states including France, Germany, Netherlands and the Nordics in support of Africa’s development agenda. A key dimension of the Senior Advisor’s task is to strengthen RBA’s strategic outreach with the EU/EC, Nordic countries, EU member states in close partnership with the UNDP Brussels/Nordic/Geneva Offices. Partnership with the private sector and IFIs such as the EIB and EBRD; and national development banks such as KFW, will also be a key dimension of the Senior Advisor’s portfolio.

Summary of Main Functions:

  1. Strategic Partnerships/Networking and Policy Advice;
  2. Support to Programme/Project formulation, Management and Reporting;
  3. Analytics and Outreach.


1. Strategic Partnerships/Networking and Policy Advice

  • Act as prime anchor in promoting RBA’s work and its profile within the EU member states and EU/EC institutions,  advancing key RBA policy and programmatic offers to the continent, and  practices maximizing development results, and in strengthening institutional partnership between RBA and the EU/EC, MS/Nordic countries.
  •  
  • Track and analyze EU and EU member states external relations and policies that impact on Africa and pro-actively advise the RBA Directorate and UNDP corporate leadership of crucial developments, risks and opportunities.
  • In close cooperation with the RBA leadership, policy advisors and specialists in the RBA HQ and Regional Service Center for Africa,  as well as other stakeholders, develop and implement a strategy for RBA policy dialogue and outreach with the EU and member states .
  • Provide substantive knowledge services, policy advice and policy advocacy in support of the advancement of Africa’s development agenda within the EU and member states.
  • Identify, map and negotiate key RBA entry points in EU institutions (European Commission (DG DEVCO, DG HOME, DG CLIMA), EEAS, Council, European Parliament, EIB)), permanent representations of both European and African countries, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), EU member state parliaments, non-governmental organizations, civil society, think tanks, the private sector, relevant media, UN agencies.
  • Establish/maintain partnerships with European Private sector, IFIs/DFIs in particular the EIB, KFW, , foundations, Academia with a view to bring new dimensions of Africa-Europe partnership.
  • Establish and maintain a network of relevant contacts within the Africa constituency in Brussels,the Nordics, Geneva, etc directly dealing with Africa.
  • Facilitate the integration and promote the role of RBAin the development of UNDP-EC Strategic Partnership processes and other UNDP strategic initiatives in Brussels. The Senior Advisor will play the same role in relation to UNDPpartnerships with the Nordics, Geneva based platforms, bilateral EU member state working in tandem with the BERA HQ team, Nordic and Geneva representation offices.
  • Lead, facilitate and stimulate engagement (or foster partnerships/initiatives) between the Regional Service Center for Africa and the Country offices in their cooperation with the European Union, including by mentoring and supervising colleagues visiting Brussels and/or coming on detail assignment to Brussels.
  • Serve as the RBA focal point for engagement with the EU institutions, European IFIs/DFIs, Geneva based platforms and Nordic countries on policy and political issues of relevance to Africa and the Organization of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
  • Support missions to Europe of RBA Senior Management, RBA Country Office leadership and Policy Advisors; organize targeted meetings, and ensure follow up;
  • Prepare and systematically disseminate information to strategic partners in Europe, on UNDP's policy and programmatic work in the Africa region;
  • Oversee the preparation of background documentation and briefings for senior RBA meetings with EU and member states.
  • Provide substantive contribution to RBA resource mobilization efforts targeting the EC/EU, member states, and Nordic Countries including leveraging RBA’s new strategic offer for Africa.
  • Consult with the leadership of the UNDP Representation Offices (Brussels, Nordics and Geneva) on the appropriate content and drafting of briefing files for high level missions.
  • Undertake other duties as agreed with the RBA senior management and UNDP Brussels/Nordic/Geneva Offices.


2. Strategic Support to Programme/Project Formulation and Management

  • Identify high level opportunities for joint programmatic and other activities with European Commission, EU member States, EIB, Nordic countries and the OACPS; stimulate and support the development of a programmatic portfolio, including through leveraging relevant RBA and corporate products on Africa;
  • Design and develop strategic products and programmes to leverage opportunities and identify, map, and engage on key entry points under the new EU funding cycle with a focus on regional programming on Africa, through proactive cooperation with relevant EC services and the OACPS Secretariat.”
  • Strategic engagement with Country Offices in support of BRO (CMT) advisory role on e.g. reportingprogress achieved and aid COs in trouble shooting, including on matters related to the EC-UN Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement (FAFA), and in handling verification missions.
  • Provide direct advisory and subject-matter expertise services (remote and through missions) to country offices on the expansion and review of proposals for project submission to be funded by the European Commission (project fiches, project terms of reference, etc), European IFIs, or bilateral European donors.

3. Analytics and Outreach

  • Assess and prioritize information concerning events, policy development and programme directions of the EU/EC, and other EU member states of relevance to RBA and communicate relevant issues for RBA management.
  • Support missions to Europe of RBA experts and senior management. Organize targeted meetings, launches, workshops, briefings relating to RBAreports and activities; represent the office and assist in follow up.
  • Organize dialogues and seminars on EU-Africa Partnerships bringing together both EU and Africa experts, think tanks with a view to nurturing proactive discussions and agenda setting on key issues that matter to the partnerships.
  • Facilitate constituency building with the African member states within the OACPS and provide technical and analytic support in representing African issues and promoting Africa’s interests within the EC, the EU’s private sector and civil society at large.
  • Prepare, update and systematically disseminate informational materials on UNDP RBA to contacts in Brussels, Geneva, Nordic countries and Europe in general.
  • Develop, lead and deliver country Office training programmes on UNDP’s Africa Officer in the EU and EU member states.
  • Lead the organization of regional meetings taking place in Europe as an instrument to foster mutual knowledge and experience between UNDP and the EU and other European partners.

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.

   
Technical/Functional    
 
Collaboration and Partnership

  • Ability to develop, maintain& strengthen partnerships with others, inside & outside the organization who can provide information and support.  Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships contributing to the overall positioning of UNDP

Advocacy and Activations

  • Ability to design and implement strategic short/long term campaigns and carry out customized activations to highlight UNDP’s position and support issue based advocacy.

Design Thinking

  • Knowledge of method(s) for practical, creative resolution of problems and creation of solutions, with the intent of an improved result.

Facilitation and Knowledge Exchange

  • Ability to harvest country voices for global policy dialogues on policy and finance framework.

Project Management

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

Results-based Management

  • Ability to manage programmes & projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Trends and emerging areas analytics

  • Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiatives to bring into policy and programme design.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:    

  • Master's degree in Development Studies, Political Science, Public Administration orother related areas.

Experience:

  • At least fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience at the international level or at the national goverment, with a particular focus on strategic engagement with the European Commission and related EU bodies;
  • Demonstrated expertise in EU accession and development cooperation, an asset.
  • Proven knowledge and experience of the Africa region, is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

  • Proficiency in the English language, is required;
  • Fluency in French is desirable and an advantage.

Other:

  • Non-Smoking environment.

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.

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This vacancy is now closed.
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