Spotlight Initiative Senior National Coordination Officer

Kabul

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Kabul
Grade: Mid level - NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Crisis Prevention and Recovery
- Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
- Crisis Response
- Gender-based violence
- Managerial positions
- RESIDENT COORDINATOR OFFICE AFGHANISTAN
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Afghanistan and works under the overall guidance of the Resident Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Head/RCO.

With the launch of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative/Afghanistan (SI/AFG), it will be essential to have a dedicated senior Coordination Officer (SI-CO) within the RCO structure, to oversee and advise the Head of the RCO on the progress of the initiative. The RCO supports the oversight function of the RC and provides secretariat support to the Country Programme Steering Committee and the CS-NRG. Interactions and communications with the EOSG, Spotlight Initiative Secretariat, Government, EU Delegation, development partners and the CS-NRG are – in principle – streamlined through the RCO. As such, the RCO will be strengthened with a national Coordinator, a national UNV Communications Officer, and an International UNV Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Officer. The SI-CO will supervise the daily work of the two UN Volunteers.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the SI-CO will be responsible for the following duties:

Summary of Key Functions:

Coordination amongst the RUNOs’ focal points for M&E, Communications and Knowledge Management, and Reporting;
Programmatic coordination and coherence in the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative, with emphasis on securing overarching technical coherence and coordination across the six outcome areas, and effective and harmonized programme management for results;
A coherent support system is established and provides solid foundations for collaborative technical decision-making by the inter-agency technical team, and for strategic decision-making by the Steering Committee

Description of Functions:

1. Ensures coordination amongst the RUNOs’ focal points for M&E, Communications and Knowledge Management, and Reporting.

Provides advice on the implementation of the SI in alignment with the SI guidelines and approved results framework;
Oversees the work of the IUNV M&E Specialist and the NUNV Communications Officer, and ensures close coordination with their counterparts within the RUNO’s to produce timely and quality reports and products;
Oversees the development of the workplans for the UNVs.

2. Ensures programmatic coordination and coherence in the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative, with emphasis on securing overarching technical coherence and coordination across the six outcome areas, and effective and harmonized programme management for results.

Convenes coordination meetings with the RUNO personnel on a regular basis to ensure good flow of information;
Provides regular feedback and progress reporting to the Head/RCO, and to the RC as requested;
Consistently interacts and coordinates with UN Women’s SI Technical Advisor on programmatic issues related to the technical coherence of the planning, implementation and reporting by all RUNOs.

3. Ensures a coherent support system is established and provides solid foundations for collaborative technical decision-making by the inter-agency technical team, and for strategic decision-making by the Steering Committee.

In collaboration with the Head/RCO, coordinates all high-level meetings, formation of the required governance mechanisms, and overall coordination of the SI implementation;
Ensures that the necessary documentation, processes, and information are provided in a timely and professional manner by the SI Unit in the RCO;
As required, provides the RC with requested information, briefings, etc;
Works closely with the Head/RCO to ensure stakeholder engagement is maintained consistently and regularly throughout out the life of the programme;
Convenes and chairs regular meetings of the RUNOs’ technical leads;
Oversees the development and implementation of all strategic planning required by the programme (visibility, communications, M&E and reporting, etc.);
Supervises the SI Unit’s day-to-day work and keeps the Head/RCO informed of any issues or support requirements.

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:

Professionalism: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis on sustainable development topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

With Master’s degree 5 years and with Bachelor’s degree 7 years of progressively responsible experience in providing strategic support to partnerships, project/programme management, resource mobilization or development finance in the context of development cooperation or related area is required.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required and fluency in written and spoken Dari or Pashto is required; Ability to translate between English and Dari or Pashto is desirable.

Other:

National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they are serving, and their functions must have a national context, i.e. functions that require national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems;
Willingness to travel as required;
Good knowledge of standard office computer systems and programmes (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.); ability to create presentations, etc. required.

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.

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