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.

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN development system and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work is carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, and forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. The GPN also aims to provide rapid and integrated support to UNDP country offices, combining policy advice, technical expertise, financial resources, agile tools and procedures, and partnerships.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The UNDP’s Crisis Bureau supports emergency and crisis response and ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. The Crisis Bureau assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  The CB supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts. The CB’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.   

The Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Team (CFPET) coordinates and ensures policy coherence and integration across the CB; coordinates and ensures cross-pillar coherence on thought leadership, knowledge management, and learning in CB; supports CB leadership in fostering strategic partnerships and supports CB leadership and the Joint Directorate with the coordination of partnerships and engagement in CB.

In order to improve the understanding and diffuse the good practice of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDPN) Nexus approach, UNDP has established and is running a HDP Nexus Academy on behalf of the DAC-UN Dialogue. The HDPN Academy has 3 outputs

Output 1: Global HDP Nexus Academy

The HDP Nexus Academy is managed by UNDP as a global common good to build consensus on the application of HDP nexus approaches. The academy aims to deliver training to 4 cohorts per year (45 people per cohort), thereby creating a network and community of 1,000 professionals from relevant stakeholders including bilateral, multilaterals NGOs and Standby partners to promote behaviour and system change. 200 professionals have already been connected to the Academy as participants or resource people following the successful completion of a pilot 2021 and 3 official training cohorts in 2022.

Output 2: Global HDPN Knowledge and Policy-Development Platform

The HDP Nexus Academy establishes and manages a global collaborative knowledge sharing platform on the HDP Nexus which captures and distributes knowledge, resources and best practice on nexus approaches.

Output 3: Global HDPN Practitioner Network

The HDP Nexus Academy manages and convenes a global network or HDP Practitioners, alumni and experts who collaborate to define, recognize, and solve specific HDP related bottlenecks and challenges at the global, regional, local or thematic level.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The HDP Nexus Academy is managed by UNDP as a global common good to build consensus on the application of HDP nexus approaches.  

Between October 2021 and September 2022, 3 training courses, as well as an online introductory course, the Nexus Essential Course have been developed and launched. The Nexus Academy enhanced the understanding of the HDP Nexus and built the capacity to accelerate a nexus approach of 130 trainees from UN agencies, different multilateral and bilateral organizations and INGOs. The training package includes 9 modules, with more than 150 different learning materials and resources, including lessons learned, case studies and a fictional practical exercise.

Between 2023 and 2026, the Academy aims to deliver training to 4 cohorts per year (50 people per cohort), thereby creating a network and community of 1000 professionals from relevant stakeholders including bilateral, multilaterals NGOs and Standby partners to promote behaviour and system change by the end 2026)

The HDP Nexus Academy Manager will work under the supervision of the CFPET Senior Policy and Partnership Advisor (Geneva). S/he will collaborate with other colleagues across the Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Team in New York, Geneva and Brussels and the UNDP Crisis Academy. S/he will also collaborate and coordinate closely with different substantive teams within the Crisis Bureau and the wider GPN, as relevant. S/he is responsible for the following:

  1. Project Management, Strategic Planning and Policy Advice
  2. Thought leadership, knowledge building and knowledge sharing
  3. Strategic partnerships development, donor relations and resource mobilization.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.) Management and strategic direction of the Global HDP Nexus Academy

  • Prepare the HDPN Annual Workplans budgets, and proposals in line with the UNDP Programs and Operations Policies and Procedures in coordination with all relevant stakeholders
  • Provide strategic advice and technical oversight for the HDPN Academy to ensure that all outputs are high quality and consistent with the effective delivery of results according to the Project Document
  • Ensure strategic planning, set priorities and sequence activities for the project.
  • Lead the team to implement overall activities HDPN Academy.
  • Organize the Steering Committee and lead the Technical Advisory Group meetings and ensure follow-up and communication of the decisions to partners
  • Efficiently manage all financial, material and human resource assets of the project and report regularly on project results and outcomes. 
  • Ensure compliance of project operations with UNDP rules and regulations, establishment of targets and monitoring of achievement of results, including Enterprise Resource Management (ERP).

2.) Thought leadership, knowledge building and knowledge sharing

  • Update and refine the HDPN Academy curriculum and support UNDP’s thought leadership in the Humanitarian Development Peace Nexus
  • Ensure the strategic direction of the Global HDP Nexus Academy, the delivery of 4 trainings per year and the overall outreach and impact of the HDPN Academy
  • Develop a framework for knowledge sharing among stakeholders and further expand the HDPN Knowledge and Policy-Development Platform and the Global HDPN Practitioner Network
  • Contribute written inputs to flagship products/newsletter/policy briefs, based on project results, data and information, lessons learned and best practices.
  • Ensure systemic capturing of key lessons learnt generated by the project through research, surveys to produce knowledge-based products.
  • Partnering with practitioners and members of UNDP regional and global networks. 

3.) Strategic partnerships development, donor relations and resource mobilization

  • Establish and maintain sound partnerships with the INCAF Secretariat, DAC UN Dialogue, partner agencies, donors and other strategic partners
  • Lead HDPN Academy networking with the aim to enhance coordination and cooperation among key parties concerned and advance HDP approaches at global level
  • Proactively identify potential sources of funding and assist in resource mobilization for the project expansion/scaling up through development of concept notes and funding proposals to the potential donors and promoting project deliverables at the relevant development platforms
  • Ensure visibility of the HDPN Academy, including adherence to visibility standards and templates
Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:

  • Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact. 

Think Innovatively:

  • Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems. 

Learn Continuously:

  • Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: 

  • Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 

Act with Determination:     

  • Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner:

  • Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
  • Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Programme and Policy - Humanitarian-Development Peace (HDP) Nexus:

  • Demonstrated knowledge of the Humanitarian, Development and Peace actors, including respective mandates, ways of working, and negotiation processes, in the frame of the HDP nexus approach.

Business Direction and Strategy - Strategic Thinking:    

  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with HDPN Academy objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. 

Business Development - Knowledge Facilitation:

  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.

Business Management - Project Management:

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

Business Management - Partnerships Management:

  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Partnership management - Resource mobilization:

  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Master’s degree or equivalent in development studies, social sciences, public policy, public administration, process engineering, organisational development, knowledge management, systems thinking or other relevant fields.
Experience:
  • At least 7 years of experience in multi-stakeholder coordination, analysis, planning and programming and positions of increasing responsibility in developing recovery and peacebuilding plans or strategies, humanitarian coordination including in fragile or crisis contexts;
  • Strong knowledge of the UN’s institutional architecture, policies and operations related to humanitarian, development and/or crisis settings;
  • Demonstrated experience to provide effective and coherent responses in humanitarian, development and/or crisis settings;
  • Demonstrated track-record of excellence in UN/inter-agency coordination and managing partnerships;
  • Demonstrated experience in establishing and managing multi-disciplinary curricula for humanitarian, development and peace professionals;
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth studies and formulate conclusions and recommendations. Ability to relate the issues and perspectives of humanitarian, development and peace affairs, including gender issues, to political, economic and social development programmes;
  • Experience in program and project design, execution, financing and resource mobilization will be considered as an asset;
  • Proven experience working in different geographical areas, and development settings, including crisis/fragile contexts would be advantage;
  • Strong communication skills (written and spoken) essential.

Language Requirement:

  • Fluency in English with excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • Knowledge of French, Spanish or Arabic would be considered a strong asset.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
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.
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