Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

BACKGROUND

The UN SDG Action Campaign is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and based in Bonn, Germany. To bring us closer to a just, inclusive and sustainable future, the UN SDG Action Campaign elevates unheard communities, nurtures changemakers, and leverages creativity to inspire hope and bold action. 

The Campaign’s Advocacy for Change approach aims at systemic transformation by rethinking, recalibrating, and reimagining economies and societies so that they serve people and the planet, while inspiring SDG action and sending a message of hope and possibilities.

The UN SDG Action Campaign facilitates convening spaces and supports the engagement of civil society organizations and other key stakeholders in relevant dialogues and processes, with a focus in the areas of financing for development, gender equality, climate action, sustainable food systems and justice and peace. Additionally, the Campaign leverages art and creativity to inspire action and tap into humanity’s creative power for good. And the UN SDG Action Awards programme, the Campaign’s flagship initiative, serves to identify and recognize exceptional changemakers and initiatives that are making a difference towards the 2030 Agenda.

DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES

Under the overall guidance of the UN SDG Action Campaign Global Director and direct supervision of the Deputy Director, the Programme Coordination Specialist is responsible for coordinating the Campaign’s main initiatives, including overseeing the planning and implementation of the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Awards Programme. The incumbent will also provide support with the management of the Global Director’s office.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Coordinate planning and project management for the main events and activities of the UN SDG Action Campaign

  • Coordinate the overall planning of the Campaign’s main events and activities, working in collaboration with relevant team members across workstreams to ensure that plans are clear, timelines are monitored and follow-up actions are captured. 
  • Liaise proactively with team members across workstreams to support alignment, flag gaps or bottlenecks, and help ensure that no key planning or coordination elements fall through the cracks. 
  • Coordinate planning meetings and working groups for relevant project workstreams as required. 
  • Identify gaps in project planning and coordination and activate corrective measures in consultation with Campaign leadership and relevant team members. 
  • Coordinate the overall planning of the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards, ensuring that each phase of the process is clearly mapped, sequenced and completed in line with agreed timelines. 
  • Maintain oversight across all relevant Awards workstreams and areas of work, including outreach, applications, selection processes, communications, event planning, logistics and follow-up, ensuring coherence and timely progress across the full process.
  • Liaise with relevant internal and external stakeholders involved in the Awards process to support effective coordination, information flow and issue resolution throughout the planning and delivery cycle. 
  • Build and manage relationships with partners as necessary, in coordination with Campaign leadership and the relevant workstream leads.

Coordinate ways of working and information management for the UN SDG Action Campaign

  • Coordinate the Campaign’s ways of working portfolio, including the development, maintenance and implementation of internal protocols, tools and working methods that support effective collaboration, information flow and team coordination. 
  • Support the effective use and maintenance of key internal platforms and systems, including Salesforce, SharePoint and Microsoft Teams, ensuring that information is organized, up to date and accessible to relevant team members. 
  • Identify opportunities to improve internal workflows, information management and digital collaboration, and support the implementation of agreed improvements in coordination with Campaign leadership and team members. 
  • Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing by documenting lessons learned, good practices and relevant resources linked to the Campaign’s activities and priorities.
  • Support onboarding and practical guidance for team members and consultants on the Campaign’s key tools, protocols and ways of working, as required.

Provide executive support to the Global Director of the Campaign

  • Coordinate the scheduling and management of events and speaking engagements of the Global Director, in coordination with relevant team members.
  • Manage the agenda of the Global Director, including maintaining the Director’s calendar and contacts with high-ranking visitors and partners, and arranging appointments and meetings.

Ensure provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management. 

  • Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme goals. 
  • Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners.  
  • Coordinate and ensure integrated support in development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with strategic partners. 
  • Support policy advisory services that contribute to inclusive societal digital transformation and take digital technology risks and opportunities or futures signals into account. 
  • Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms. 
  • Organize and deliver training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

N/A

COMPETENCIES

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL & TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Business Management

  • Working with Evidence and Data : Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
  • Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Direction and Strategy

  • System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

External Relations and Advocacy

  • Event planning and execution: Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate

Procurement

  • Procurement Management: The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.

Partnership Management

  • Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

  • Advance university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Affairs, Development Studies, Business Administration, International Relations or related fields is required OR
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

  • Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in providing project management support and coordinating advocacy initiatives on the Sustainable Development Goals is required. 
  • Prior experience in supporting the organization of large-scale public events for the United Nations is required. 
  • Experience in facilitating outreach to and communicating with different stakeholders is required. 
  • Experience with administrative and procurement procedures and processes is required.
  • Familiarity with UNDP- Policies and Procedures Portal (POPP) and procurement rules and regulations is desired. 
  • Technical experience in Salesforce and SharePoint is desired.
  • Experience with collecting and curating data for advocacy initiatives on the Sustainable Development Goals is desirable.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Data Privacy

Please click here to view UNDP Data Privacy Statement

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