Administration Specialist/One UN House Manager

Details

Mission and objectives

Who we are UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help empower people and build resilient nations. UNDP has been working in Liberia since 1977 in peace and in crisis times. UNDP is committed to helping Liberia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) as well as the country’s national development priorities as set out in its newest Pro-Poor Development Agenda. UNDP provides technical assistance within the framework of the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) which is fully aligned with Liberia’s National development Agenda. What we do UNDP supports Liberia's national development agenda and works closely with national institutions and local communities to promote, advocate and contribute to good governance, peace and security. Our work focuses on engendering national initiatives and strategies that help facilitate long-term development transformation in the lives of the people of Liberia. We offer global perspectives, complementary support and ideas on strategic development projects and capacity building in continued efforts to promote and protect human rights and improve environmental management. The end result of this transformation would be a country that is characterized by peaceful and inclusive politics and diversified economy, stable institutions, enforces the laws fairly, land tenure problems have been resolved, natural resources are efficiently managed and health and education standards have reached those of other middle income countries.

Context

The Liberia “one UN house” initiative is a product of different analyses and debates since 2013 pertaining to the smooth withdrawal of the UNMIL and the peaceful political transition in Liberia. Since 2013, the UNCT has taken steps to put in place dynamic coordination mechanisms that will ensure efficiency and complementarity among various UN Agencies through the concept of “delivering as One” in the implementation of their mandates. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Liberia launched the “One Programme” in February 2013 as the first part of Delivering as One (DaO). The One Programme depicts programmatic alignment of the UN’s interventions in Liberia with the national priorities as articulated under the Agenda of Transformation (AfT) linked to the long-term vision – Liberia Rising 2030. On the Operations side, the UNCT also commissioned the development of the Business Operations Strategy (BoS), a subset of Delivering as One in Liberia in 2012. BOS is the strategic framework that ensures a smart implementation of common services aiming to enhance operational efficiencies by harmonizing business practices to reduce transaction cost and time in the areas of procurement, ICT, Human Resources, and One UN House. 20 UN Agencies and International Organization comprised of 750 staff in Liberia are co-located in One UN shared common Premises. This requires a One UN House manager who is responsible for managing the UN common premises and delivering reliable and costeffective building and facilities Management services with an annual budget of about US$3.2 million. Administratively the one UN House Manager is accountable to UNDP as the administrative agency on behalf of the UN Agencies. Member states have called for simplification and harmonization of United Nations’ business practices with a view to enhancing cooperation and integrating programmatic and operational functions. The One Un House will facilitate active collaboration, generate efficiencies across agen

Task description

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (Operations), the One UN House Manager as the principal manager of the One UN House/Common Services in the Pan African Plaza (PAP) building located in Monrovia (with 19 agencies and approximately 750 staff members). He/she is responsible for supporting the delivery of operational support for management and administration of One UN House in Monrovia. The ONE UN House Manager demonstrates a client-oriented approach, tact and ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds and support activities related to the transition of the Mission building to UNCT. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day)- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country- Provide annual and end of assignment reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.- Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers- Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant