The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.
Headquartered in New York City, the status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states. The organization operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Zonal Inter-agency Coordination & Partnerships Officer
Job Identification: 2455
Location: Enugu
Grade: NOB
Job Schedule: Full time
Contract Duration: 1 Year
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Practice Area: Management
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Background
- The Resident Coordinator leads the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) which is a representation of UN agencies (both resident and non-resident) in consultations with Government to define and agree on the UN system’s strategic response to the Government’s development priorities.
- The UN system’s strategic response is currently being provided under the 2018-2022 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) signed with the Federal Government of Nigeria. It serves as the UN system’s collective support to the Global 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Africa Union Agenda 2063.
- The Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in Nigeria coordinates the work of the UN system in support of the roles and responsibilities of the Resident Coordinator (RC) and UNCT. The RCO is responsible for: strategic analysis and planning; supporting national / sub-national coordination systems and processes of the UN; crisis management and preparedness response (e.g COVID-19 pandemic response); coordination of gender and human rights programming; joint resource mobilization and fund management; and data and results management and reporting.
- To foster stronger partnerships and collaboration, the RCO coordinates and delivers impact through the effective optimization and utilization of UN convening power and advocacy platform as a critical resource.
- This transparent engagement of the UN system has enhanced coherence and greater coordination of UN activities to increase partners’ overall interest in the UN support and in reducing duplication of efforts and unnecessary competition among agencies while supporting government at all levels.
- The COVID-19 pandemic response is a typical example of how the UN has, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, mobilized its technical and financial resources to support the Government of Nigeria via the One UN Basket Fund.
- The UN System prioritized the rapid and fast track procurement of materials for surveillance, prevention and control, and clinical management to ramp up support Nigeria’s COVID-19 response.
- Lessons learned from the UN Joint Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) were adapted in facilitating, linking, and bringing stakeholders together for a coordinated United Nations multi-agency response.
- The impact of COVID-19 response on women and children cannot be overemphasized.
- The UN system leveraged its partnership with the European Union (EU) Spotlight Initiative in intensifying support for eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) through collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Gender Affairs.
- The Initiative aims to ensure that all women and girls benefit from adequate legislation and policies, gender responsive institutions, violence prevention programs, essential services, comparable and reliable data, and strong women’s movements and civil society organizations.
- There was focus on addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and harmful practices including child marriages and genital mutilation against women and girls; and ensuring access to inclusive, timely, and quality services for victims and survivors.
- The UN Basket Fund was also used to provide cash-transfers as a form of social protection or palliatives / economic relief for vulnerable and poor households including for persons living with HIV.
- These initiatives clearly demonstrated the value added by the UN System in Nigeria and the relevance of the RCO in coordinating an effective and efficient UN response and delivering as one within the context of UNSDCF 2018-2022.
- To continue to provide catalytic and coordinated support to at the sub-national level to produce results, the United Nations Country Team in Nigeria is, therefore, seeking a Southeast Zonal Interagency Coordination and Partnership Officer to coordinate the UN’s multi-agency joint actions towards the attainment of the SDGs in the Southeast Zone of Nigeria as well as ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat in line with the recent Political Declaration.
- By delivering jointly, the UN will ensure alignment of the interagency United Nation’s support to the Southeast Zone and facilitate strategic engagement and partnership with state governments, civil society and beneficiary communities; fostering of mutual accountability of the State Government and the UN; and transparency in the response and utilization of resources.
- The Zonal Interagency Coordination and Partnership Officer will support the RCO to organize UNCT missions, special events and outreach.
- He/she will further assist the RCO with managing relationships where agencies have staff in the states (e.g WHO and UNICEF) and facilitate field activities of non-resident agencies in the state/zone.
Position Purpose
- Under the overall guidance of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and in consultation with the participating UN agencies, the Zonal Interagency Coordination and Partnership Officer will coordinate the Joint UN Programs in partnership with the field staff of the participating agencies.
- This includes planning; overseeing implementation and supporting the Southeast Zone to stay on track with their agreed deliverable and budgets; guiding communication and visibility; promoting joint monitoring of the joint workplan; joint reviews and reporting of results according to agreed timelines; and ensuring adequate flow of information to all relevant UN agencies.
- The Zonal Interagency Coordination and Partnership Officer will, in collaboration with field staff in the zone, undertake all field preparations towards joint visits of participating agencies and produce key talking points for the Resident Coordinator as well as Heads of Agencies of participating UN partners.
Duties and Accountabilities
- Within delegated authority and supervision of t Strategic Planning officer/Resident Coordinator’s Office Team Leader, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Zonal Interagency Coordination and Partnership Officer (Southeast) will be responsible for the following duties:
Coordinate the implementation of the UN Joint Program initiatives in the zone:
- Under the guidance of the RCO, build, manage and track the project portfolios of UN Country Team engagement based in the field inclusive of non-resident agencies working the Southeast zone of Nigeria to ensure a coordinated, well-functioning and aligned presence of the UN in the zone.
- Coordinate with the RCO to organize UNCT missions, special events and outreach activities by the Resident Coordinator in the zone.
- Serve as a convener and facilitate inter-agency information sharing and enhance the visibility of the work of the UN in the zone.
- Support the RCO to identify development opportunities for joint programming in the zone
- Foster stronger working relationship and knowledge of the UN staff members engaged in supporting development work in the zone.
- Facilitate and promote collaboration on UN supported projects in the zone by liaising with relevant State Government Ministries and other government institutions/departments. Build and strengthen state support in collaboration with the government and beneficiaries.
- Serve as the focal point for agencies without physical presence and liaise with the field staff of participating agencies to support the implementation of program schedules and in compliance with the approved guidelines.
- Promote strong governance structures within states in the zone for ownership and leadership of programs.
- Promote partnership with relevant agencies, donors, civil society, private sector especially with key government officials at the state Ministries of Health, Local Government Officers, communities including Network of Persons Living with HIV and women’s rights advocates towards the attainment of the SDGs and related development targets in the zone.
- Strengthen the capacity of partners to understand human rights obligations, assess gaps in the legislative and policy framework with respect to ending violence against women and promoting a framework that respond to the rights of women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and abuses.
Facilitate planning, monitoring & evaluation and knowledge management:
- Under the guidance of the RCO, manage and maintain strategic information and data repository of relevant projects and intervention by UN agencies as part of the UN Country Team contribution in the zone.
- Create and maintain summaries and knowledge products on UN agency engagement in the zone
- Liaise with the Commissioners of Health, Directors for Public Health, and other senior staff in the state in collaboration with UN Agency field staff to promote and provide support for the development of State specific/zonal strategies and their associated annual work plans and M&E frameworks for program implementation in the zone.
- Strengthening the state/zonal monitoring and evaluation and health information systems and supporting the monitoring and evaluation of the Joint Program activities within the zone.
- Strengthen capacities of key partners, including relevant M&E officers, service providers to regularly collect data, analyze and report on program performance.
- Provide oversight, working closely with the M&E Officer for the monitoring and evaluation of all projects and the conduct of risk assessments, mid-term reviews, periodic evaluation, and the independent final evaluation.
Manage technical assistance, program advisory services, human and financial resources for projects:
- Support technical coherence in the implementation approach and strategy and ensure programs draw from the relevant experts in the agencies to support joint delivery and cost effectiveness.
- Prepare and provide guidance for staff and implementing partners on results-based-management and performance indicators of agency funded projects to track outputs and outcomes.
- In consultation with the technical working groups: support the development of a resource mobilization and sustainability strategy; collaborate with the RCO to facilitate resource mobilization to support programs; and monitor use of resources.
- Facilitate efficient coordination of meetings of the Technical Working Groups as well as provide general secretariat support.
Lead advocacy, and communication effort:
- Lead and coordinate evidence-driven advocacy and communication efforts in collaboration with participating agencies, ensuring that community advocacy platforms are established/strengthened to develop strategies and programs, including community dialogues, public information and advocacy campaigns to promote gender-equitable norms, attitudes, and behaviors, including in relation to women and girls’ sexuality and reproduction, self-confidence, and self-esteem, and transforming harmful masculinities.;
- Lead the development of knowledge management strategies and methodologies and products including the sharing of best practices on Spotlight Initiative programs with input from thematic experts from the agencies and partners.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned.
Requirements
Education:
- Master’s Degree or equivalent and relevant work experience in public health, social sciences, human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development, political science, organizational development, or any area of development or humanitarian support to sustainable development.
Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:
- Minimum 5 years of progressively professional work experience in national and sub-national level programming in the areas of design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and within humanitarian contexts.
- Must be a strategic thinker, with strong political acumen and capable of analyzing issues and policies, and planning and developing operational solutions for program implementation.
- Experience in the management, monitoring and evaluation of GBV, SRH/ HIV/AIDS & COVID-19 responses as well as women empowerment programs.
- Leading and managing multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Strong advocacy, interpersonal and facilitation skills and communicating appropriately with stakeholders and beneficiaries.
- Demonstrated experience with UN strategic planning processes, mechanisms, and principles, including results-based management will be an added advantage.
- Experience with development agencies, the UN System and the civil society in the country would be an asset.
Competencies
Core:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy:
- Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations
- Entrepreneurial Thinking: Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate
- Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
Business Management:
- Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
- Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Development:
- Integration within the UN: Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English.
Application Closing Date
4th March, 2022 at 5:59 AM.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Note
- Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.
