Head of Fund Secretariat

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.

The Uzbekistan Vision 2030 Fund (the Fund) is a UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund to support principled, transparent, and effective asset restitution via programs aimed at accelerating the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s (the Government) national reform agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Fund is a country-based pooled fund providing a vehicle to enable the UN Country Team members, including UN Specialized Entities, to make strategic investments in accelerating Uzbekistan’s national SDGs. The Fund draws on multi-sectoral expertise inside and outside the UN to enhance cross-sectoral approaches to national and sub-national policymaking and policy implementation, in line with global best practice and the highest standards of aid effectiveness and transparency.

The Fund will primarily target transformative interventions focusing on the strategic priorities identified and agreed between the Government and the UN within the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 (UNSDCF) and its subsequent iterations. Additional priorities of the UN Specialized Agencies (non-signatories to the UNSDCF) or the Government that are fully aligned with the UNSDCF and the national SDGs might also be covered by the Fund.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The position of the Head of Fund Secretariat is located in the UNRCO in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and will be principally responsible for managing a new Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) in support of Uzbekistan’s national SDGs. The Head of the Fund Secretariat reports to the UNRC.

The Head of the Fund Secretariat will provide strategic, operational and administrative support in the day-to-day management of the Fund. He/she will report to the UNRC in Uzbekistan, working closely with fund stakeholders – which include the Uzbek government, the Swiss government, the UN and civil society.

Under the strategic guidance of the RC, the Head of Fund Secretariat will provide the following functions:

Leadership & Strategic Advice (20%):

• Provides strategic advice to the Management Committee, the Civil Society Advisory Council, and other governance structures on all aspects of the Fund, including on strategy, policy, communications, outreach, monitoring and compliance.
• Acts as liaison between the Fund’s governance structure and the UN Resident Coordinator/UN Country Team.
• Manages delegated authorities for the Fund.
• Supports the Fund’s governance structures to develop and implement the vision of the Fund
• Other duties as requested by the UNRC and the Fund’s governance structure.

Management of the Fund Secretariat (50%):

• Manages the Fund Secretariat to provide strategic, operational, and administrative support to the governance structure of the Vision 2030 Fund, as defined above
• Leads the implementation of the resource allocation strategy by soliciting and consolidating input from Results Group Chairs and Window C implementing partners, other internal UN mechanisms, and guiding the review and decision-making process by the Management Committee, incorporating feedback/revisions throughout the process.
• Communicates decisions of the Management Committee to relevant partners, (including eligibility, maximum allocation available, timeline for programming and any strategic requirements).
• Oversees an efficient project approval cycle, with timely submission of properly appraised project/programme proposals with supporting documentation.
• Prepares and updates (quarterly) an annual workplan and budget for the MPTF Secretariat

Support Civil Society Advisory Committee and civil society engagement (5%):

• Represent the Fund in relevant civil society for a and platforms
• Maintain close relationships with Uzbek civil society
• Ensure the Secretariat provides logistical support to the Civil Society Advisory Committee

Oversight of Fund Secretariat documentation, risk management and technical guidance (10%):

• Oversees implementation of the risk management strategy, M&E strategy and communications strategy as well as any revisions to these strategies
• Guide review and revisions to the Operations Manual
• Ensures the Secretariat pro-actively provides technical guidance to the Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs) and UN specialized agencies (non-signatories of the UNSDCF) on the programming processes and requirements as laid out in the Operations Manual

Building partnerships (5%):

• Identifies and develops strategic and innovative partnerships with other entities, initiatives and/or organizations, especially key member states, other multilateral partners, the private sector (including investors and civil society).
• Contribute to develop partnerships within the UNDS and beyond that can be leveraged to support the implementation of projects funded by the Fund.

Advocacy, Communication and Resource Mobilization (5%):

• Represents the fund in various fora as necessary and communicates its work to the public and other stakeholders.

Human resources (5%):

• Prepares job descriptions and vacancy announcements, and identifies, hires and supervises staff and consultants
• Oversees development of staff workplans and quarterly reporting on progress within the Secretariat

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

• Supervises Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Programme Specialists, Communications and Outreach Analyst, and Finance and Administration Associate.

COMPETENCIES

Core 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 Competencies:

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

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinking

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP is objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Business Management: Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Management: Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Business Management: Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Programme and Policy: Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement

• Crisis risks and early warning

Partnership management: Strategic engagement

• Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

2030 Agenda – People: Gender

• UNDP's Gender Equality Seal Initiative

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in business administration, management, economics or a related field.
• A Bachelors degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Masters degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience at international level in project or programme management, administration or related area is required, or 12 years (with Bachelor’s degree) with qualifying experience may be accepted.
• Proven experience in managing and/or providing services for the design, management and monitoring and evaluation of UN Trust Funds, or UN or similar Programmes including results-based management is required.
• Proven experience in facilitating dialogue with Uzbek civil society and government structures on key reforms in the country related to human rights, labor rights or other social issues.
• Demonstrated in-depth experience in providing policy advice and developing programmatic solutions, tools and methodologies for the attainment of the SDGs is desirable.
• Experience in partnership development will be an advantage.
• Experience working in Uzbekistan will be an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in oral and written English

Working knowledge of Russian and Uzbek are assets.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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