Sustainable Development Officer, UNSDCF Programme and Partnership

United Nations - Resident Coordinator System

Panama City, Panama

Org. Setting and Reporting

In its Resolution A/RES/72/279, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the transformation of the Development) as a stand-alone coordination office within the United Nations Secretariat, namely the Development Coordination Office (DCO). DCO now assumes managerial and oversight functions of the resident coordinator system under the collective ownership of the members of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). The Resident Coordinator system is focused on the advancement of sustainable development, leaving no one behind, and with the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions as an overarching objective, consistent with the integrated nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The position is located in the Regional Desk of the United Nations Development Coordination Office, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN DCO/LAC) in Panama. The incumbent reports to the Senior Regional Coordination Officer and Team Leader in the UN Development Coordination Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) Partnership and Programme Officer will be responsible for the following:

Supports the Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams (RCs/UNCTs) to ensure quality and timely integrated support to Member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda through the development of the UNSDCF.
Designs and facilitates relevant UNSDCF formulation processes and other related country-level programming.
Provides quality advice on UNSDCF evaluations, Common Country Assessments (CCAs) and UNSDCFs; facilitates substantive contributions from a regional and global perspective.
Supports cross-UN system analysis.
Supports capacity development and provides help desk functions for RC/UNCT/RCOs, including disseminating standard operating procedures (SOPs) for UN-Info.
Ensures compliance and full utilisation of UN-Info, including technical support where required.
Promotes peer exchange and knowledge sharing regarding programming for the RC System, including on UNSDCF and UN-Info.
conducts data analyses on UN-Info country information and disseminates analytical findings and recommendations.
Supports UNCTs with SOPs implementation and other UN coherence efforts.
Coordinates the Regional Peer Support Group and country-level UNCT processes (e.g. retreats, strategic planning) and leads quality assurance reviews of UNSDCFs.
Trains UN Country Teams on UNSDG guidance and policies.
Facilitates knowledge management and the exchange of good practices among RC/UNCTs and RCOs, regional working groups, and UNDCO regional teams.
Supports Regional Thematic working groups to ensure efficient support to RCs/UNCTs by the UN Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP).
Advises Regional Collaborative Platform Issue-Based Coalitions (IBCs) and working groups and networks on support provided to RCs/UNCTs on specific regional/transboundary issues, fostering (sub-)regional policy coherence.
Keeps abreast of the latest emerging trends and innovative approaches in UNSDCF partnerships and programmes.
Monitors and analyses funding mechanisms and their viability to support new and emerging development opportunities; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and sustainable development issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.
Performs consulting assignments in collaboration with UN agencies, donor communities, and member states by planning and facilitating workshops and other interactive sessions on programme and partnership issues and assisting in developing action plans to manage change.
Develops draft policy recommendations on financing for development, economic and programme and partnerships issues, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of regional scans, evaluations and or other research activities and studies,
Organizes and prepares written outputs on sustainable development issues, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, and preparing documents and presentations on sustainable development issues.
Coordinates the networks of Economists and of Data Management Officers in UN Resident Coordinators Offices
Provides substantive support on sustainable development issues to intergovernmental bodies such as the Strategic Support Group on Partnerships and Strategic Finance, the UNSDG, and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Economic and Social Council, and the General Assembly.
Participates in or takes the lead in specific inter-agency or expert task forces or working groups either internally or with outside parties.
Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.
Makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including providing guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties, drafting mission summaries, etc.
Coordinates activities related to budget funding on strategic partnerships and programmes and prepares relevant documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
Coordinates the bi-annual DCO LAC Results Reporting.
Prepares speeches and other input for presentations by senior staff.
Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in resolving issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience using multiple research sources, including electronic resources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with complex problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all work areas.
PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, public administration, finance, natural resources management, engineering, law, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development project or programme management is required. Experience advising senior management on sustainable development in a context of development cooperation is desirable. Experience with setting up partnerships in development cooperation is desirable. Experience in managing a sizeable multicultural team at country, regional and global levels is desirable. Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organisation is desirable. Experience developing and maintaining multi-stakeholder partnerships in a development context is desirable. Field experience in development cooperation is desirable. Experience in development planning and policy formulation in a development cooperation context is desirable. Experience with inter-agency or inter-organizational collaboration in the development sector is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required for the post advertised, and knowledge of French and Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage. "Fluency equals a rating of "Fluent" in all four areas (read, speak, write and understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of "Confident" in two of the four areas.

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