UNDP - Joint Programme Coordination Officer (JPCO)

More than ten years of crisis have had a devastating impact on Syria’s economy, infrastructure, services and social fabric. Whereas in 2010, Syria had achieved - or had made significant progress towards - many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), by the end of 2020, most of these economic and social gains have been reversed.

The UN Joint Programme (JP) entitled “UN Joint Programme to build Urban and Rural Resilience and Recovery in Syria” has been developed to enable the UN Country Team to respond to this dynamic environment. The Joint Programme brings the expertise and capacities of six UN agencies – FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, and WFP – to support four overarching goals: (i) strengthening the resilience of displaced populations and host communities; (ii) promoting local economic recovery; (iii) socio-economic stabilization in cases of rapid changes on the ground; and (iv) creating the enabling conditions for voluntary return. More broadly, the Joint Programme is coherent with the Strategic Framework for Syria.

Through a consultative planning process an entry point will be created to strengthen local governance. By focusing on rural and urban areas, the Joint Programme will help restore vital economic and livelihood connections disrupted by the crisis. Joint monitoring against the baselines established through the Neighbourhood Planning Approach will allow all stakeholders to assess the impact of the activities against the neighbourhood plans and the programme’s four strategic objectives.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNDP Resident Representative, and in close cooperation and consultation with the portfolios and Operations team leaders, the Joint Programme Coordination Officer (JPCO) will be responsible for the ensuring the timely preparation and internal consultation and coordination of the JP at UNDP, for the purpose of facilitating consolidation of relevant technical inputs of UNDP and acting as focal point of JP at UNDP.

Summary of Key Functions:

Support the preparation, managing and internal coordination of the UNDP inputs to the UN Joint Programme through:

• Prepare and coordinate inputs required for regular and ad-hoc JP Technical Working Group meeting, prep-meetings, the Steering Committee and other associated meetings of the JP. Ensure that all info relevant to UNDP to be presented at the meetings are updated and accurate.
• Participate in the regular and ad-hoc JP Technical Working Group meetings and other types of meetings associated with the Technical Working Group, together with the UNDP Programme Staff and/or UNDP Senior Management.
• Work, in conjunction with other members of the project, on the implementation of operational plan and strategy for JP. Follow up on the work plan of the project, administration, and M&E.
• Provide timely updates to management on the status of the JP activities and initiate follow up action on the decisions made at the meetings.
• Support directly the overall implementation of the UNJP to ensure the planned activities and targets are achievable within the designated timeframe.
• Monitor the progress of the UNJP activities to ensure their timely and successful completion by leading the preparation of quarterly and annual reports.
• Work in close collaboration with Portfolio team leaders to review and update the UNJP work plan (according to evolving needs and priorities) and support the implementation of the planned activities.
• Follow-up with counterparts to expedite implementation, meet targets and maintain project momentum;
• Assist in the preparation of related documents such as background information, technical reports and periodic progress reports and statistical data on the overall activities of the UNJP on behalf of the UNDP;
• Keeping high level of coordination across the available components of UNDP Syria and PMU to ensure timely and effective implementation of project.

Support the partnership development through preparation and implementation of Administrative Agent (AA) function of JP the UN Joint Programme with other UN agencies, the UN Multi Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) and relevant stakeholders:

• Under the supervision of the Senior Management, initiate and continue contacts with MPTFO to carry out the UNDPs AA function in the JP.
• Ensure that relevant data/info is shared with the MPTFO in a timely manner so that a flow of available funding and its financial reporting by MPTFO can be facilitated.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO and among its partners on the Local Governance:

• Support to address the LG challenges and opportunities and needs in collaboration with relevant strategic partners.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues
• Work closely with communication team of the PMU as well as PARC team to identify, collect and articulate media material and communication.

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:

Development Effectiveness:

• Ability to manage complex relationships through pathways of knowledge exchange, capacity development, funding relationships and strategic engagement.

Development Planning and Monitoring:

• Ability to develop business and planning processes at the national and local level and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Operational Efficiency:

• Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency.

Internal Reporting and Accountability:   

• Ability to create internal reporting and accountability processes and standards.

Knowledge Management:

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in in public administration, planning, economics, political sciences, social sciences or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Language Requirements:

• Excellent proficiency in English and Arabic.

Important applicant information

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

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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