Junior Professional Officer - UN Coordination and Coherence

IMPORTANT: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom and is addressed exclusively to United Kingdom nationals.

Background:

The UN System Affairs Group (UNSAG) is responsible for managing UNDP’s relations with the UN and its many inter-agency and inter-governmental bodies (DOCO, DESA, ECESA, DPA, CEB and its 3 pillars, HLPF, GA, ECOSOC and subsidiary bodies). It supports the leadership of UNDP by positioning, protecting and promoting UNDP in inter-agency and intergovernmental affairs and is responsible for scanning and anticipating trends that influence UNDP policy and prepares proactive strategy options, for coherent multi-stakeholder engagement. It is also responsible for positioning UNDP as leading the RC system and chairing the UNDG. The group consist of 2 teams: the Intergovernmental and Multi-stakeholder Engagement and the UN Coordination and Coherence, working collaboratively to leverage resources within the group and address the group’s functional results delivery for analysis and advocacy, strategic positioning, reporting and documentation, and coherent operations. The JPO will be working with the UN Coordination and Coherence team.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support to UNSAG UN coordination/coherence team in its engagement on the longer-term positioning of the UNDS for the Post-2015 agenda

1. Support preparation of analysis, summaries, reports and substantive briefs;
2. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge management.
3. Support to BERA/UNSAG interventions for an enhanced external relations and advocacy with other UN Entities and intergovernmental partners, with a focus on UN coordination and coherence;
   •Provide support for UNDP’s participation in, and follow-up to, intergovernmental and inter-agency meetings and conferences related to the longerterm positioning of the UNDS;
   •Support UNSAG’ monitoring, analysis and reporting on key intergovernmental processes on UN coordination and Coherence including UN Operational Activities for Devepment including monitoring of ECOSOC Dialogues on the longer term positioning of the UN Development System
   •Support UNSAG coordination of UNDG’s processes on the UNDS Fit-for-purpose in the implementation of the Post2015 Development agenda
   •Draft and provide inputs into papers, talking points, reports and briefs, as required on UNDP and interagency UN draft documents.
   •Support preparation of related guidance notes and analytical papers on UNDP’s position;
   •Provide efficient secretariat support to inter-agency meetings and relevant cross-bureau working mechanisms;
   •Support, as necessary, other functions within the UNSA Group.
4. Support in preparation of analysis, summaries, reports and substantive briefs:
   •Draft timely and high-quality background papers, briefing notes, talking points, analysis, and speech inputs for UNDP Senior Management on relevant issues, including informed political analysis of the intergovernmental and interagency issues at hand; and identification of potential challenges and opportunities for UNDP
   •Prepare periodic briefing notes on operational activities for development issues and recommended actions, for use by UNDP senior management;
   •Prepare timely submissions of high quality talking points and briefing notes as requested by senior officials; and draft and review inputs for speeches and reports as requested by senior management;
   •Perform any other relevant duties as may be assigned.
5. Facilitation of Knowledge Building and Knowledge Management:
   •Support in identification of sources of information and trends related to UN coordination and coherence;
   •Working with the team, support in identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to Intergovernmental Affairs & UN Coherence.

Competencies

Core competences:
•Ethics & Values
•Working in Teams
•Communicating Information & Ideas
•Self-management & Emotional intelligence
•Decision making

Functional competences:

•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.

Technical/Functional Competencies:
Primary:
•UN System: UN Coordination and Coherence: Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply to practical situations.
•Representation: Ability to proactively share UNDP knowledge and activities at UN and other venues.
•Partnerships/Relationships management: Ability to engage with other agencies, donors and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships
•Briefs and Speech writing: Ability to prepare quality briefs and or speeches.
•Risk management: Ability to identify and prioritize risks, and organize actions around mitigating them.

Secondary:
•Intergovernmental and Multilateral Affairs: Knowledge of the Intergovernmental bodies and respective mandates and operations.
•Knowledge management and sharing: Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
•Master's Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in a related field of expertise

Work experience:
•A minimum of two years of paid working experience in a relevant field

Languages:
•Excellent English spoken and writing skills

Other requirements:
•Work experience with UN System and intergovernmental bodies
•Experience in writing analytical papers, briefs, speeches, reports etc…

HOW TO APPLY:

IMPORTANT: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom and is addressed exclusively to United Kingdom nationals.

More details about the JPO Programme and and how to apply for this vacancy can be found at:http://www.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home.html