Development Coordination Specialist Special Assistant to the UNRCO
Development Coordination Specialist Special Assistant to the UNRCO
Details
Mission and objectives
In September 2019, then-Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok requested that Sudan be declared eligible for the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund. On 16th October, the Secretary-General in his response declared Sudan eligible to the PBF for five years. Since 2018, the PBF has approved over USD 60 million in funding to Sudan to support key peacebuilding priorities including durable solutions, rule of law, local peacebuilding, and women’s and youth empowerment. The PBF has eleven active projects in Sudan, two recently approved projects, six completed projects, and one in the pipeline. A Peacebuilding Fund Secretariat was formed in January 2021 under the DSRSG/RC/HC Integrated Office to manage PBF-funded projects. The Sudan Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) is a pooled funding mechanism that, since December 2020, has mobilized and channelled resources to UN Agencies to assist peacebuilding and stabilization in Sudan in support of the UNITAMS mandate. To improve coherence and complementarity, as well as increase impact, coordination and cost efficiency, the DSRSG decided to merge the two secretariats into one Joint MPTF-PBF Secretariat. The Joint Secretariat will be responsible for the coordination, monitoring evaluation, and communications of all PBF and MPTF investments in Sudan, and based in the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC.
Context
This UNV assignment is part of the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Sudan. RCO provides direct support to the work of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) who leads the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Sudan to ensure the strategic, coherent and efficient functioning of the UN System in Sudan. RCO coordinates the efforts of the UN Country Team to ensure the provision of efficient and effective assistance to support sustainable development. RCO leverages leadership, policy and programmatic expertise across UN development entities working together towards the common goal of improving the impact of the UN’s contribution to Sudan’s development results.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of UN RCO, Resident Coordinator’s Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Development Coordination Specialist/Special Assistant to the UN Resident Coordinator will:
Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Resident Coordinator’s Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1. Support the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team in the development, implementation coordination and monitoring of the UN Interim Cooperation Framework 2025-2026 in support of the implementation of Agenda 2030.
• Supports coordination and follow-up of the UN Interim Cooperation Framework with the RC, RCO and UNCT.
• Provide relevant support to UN coordination mechanisms and UNCT activities, including UNCT meetings and joint work through UN thematic and sub-groups.
• Support the preparation of regular background and briefing materials on the implementation of the UN Interim Cooperation Framework.
• Other coordination tasks as required.
2. Support and undertake continuous monitoring of humanitarian, development and peacebuilding (HDP) nexus priority interventions.
• Liaise with relevant UN entities to support coordination efforts.
• Follow related project activities together with the respective implementing teams and provide substantive input as required.
3. Assist the Resident Coordinator and the Head of the Resident Coordinator’s Office in the day-to-day management of the Office.
• Provide substantive and logistical support for the organization and reporting of relevant meetings of UN coordination structures and assist with key inputs into meetings (briefing notes, speeches, presentation materials, documents, etc.).
• Monitor and report on priority areas directly relevant to the Resident Coordinator’s mandate.
• Provide support to the Resident Coordinator’s substantive agenda and correspondence, including the organization and preparation of field visits.
• Coordinate analysis/research on areas of relevance for the RCO work;
During the first month of the assignment, the Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator / Development Coordination Specialist will work jointly with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The final work plan will be discussed and mutually agreed to by the Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator / Development Coordination Specialist and his/her supervisor.
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 UNV and external publications and taking an 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 self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.
13. Results/expected outputs
• As an active RCO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to RCO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
o Support to the development, coordination and monitoring of the UN Strategic Framework for Sudan.
o Support and monitoring of humanitarian-development-peace nexus interventions.
o Substantive, logistic, reporting and coordinating support to the Resident Coordinator and the Resident Coordinator’s Office.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in • Previous track record of working on partnerships with a wide range of national and international partners/interlocutors, focusing on impact and results required;
• Ability to extract, interpret and analyse data and resolve operational problems required.
• Previous experience in drafting reports/correspondence and speaking notes required;
• Previous experience with international organisations in developing countries or the institutional environment of development cooperation would be an advantage;
• Previous exposure to programmatic work would be an advantage;
• Demonstrated knowledge of/experience in Sub-Saharan Africa would be an advantage;
• Knowledge about the UN and RC systems would be an advantage
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Administration
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Arabic, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
Required education level
Master’s degree or equivalent in Experience in Administration and Programme Management
Competencies and values
• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to RCO; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to RCO procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where an appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and RCO in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: the ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing: effective organisational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathise with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards RCO’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
