Senior Sustainable Development Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

Formation / Diplômes

The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator – the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level – support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDGs. This position is located in the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Dakar, Senegal. The Senior Strategic Planning and Coordination Officer will provide strategic coordination support, planning expertise, and operational oversight to enable effective inter-agency collaboration, integrated analysis and programming. The position will help deliver on sustainable development results in countries in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa/IGAD region advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across both regions. The incumbent will support the Resident Coordinator Offices and UN Country Teams in the target countries and will coordinate a team of strategic planners at country level. He or she will provide management support to RCs/HCs and RCs on issues related to food systems/agriculture, transforming education, energy transition, humanitarian and development collaboration, and stabilization in the context of sustainable development. The incumbent will foster enhanced collaboration, cooperation and coordination with humanitarian action and peacebuilding efforts, including through the provision of advice and recommendations for risk-informed and agile development support, as well as resource mobilization strategies. The Senior Strategic Planning and Coordination Officer will work in close collaboration with Agencies, Funds and Programmes in both regions; Government officials, technical advisors and experts; multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors; and civil society representatives. The incumbent will support the implementation, financing traction and scaling of flagship initiatives in the Sahel, while supporting the design, co-creation and development of integrated regional and national flagship programmes and investment platforms in the Horn of Africa, including the Regional Food Systems Investment Facility under the leadership of Resident Coordinators and national counterparts. Responsibilities

Responsabilités

Within delegated authority, the Senior Strategic Planning and Coordination Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Summary of Functions Support Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams and partner institutions in advancing integrated flagship programmes and investment platforms through strategic planning, coordination, financing activation, implementation support and partnership development, while accompanying the design, co-creation and investment readiness of emerging initiatives where required. Undertake strategic analysis, policy research and advisory support to strengthen integrated programming, financing partnerships, cross-border cooperation and collective action, including opportunities for inter-agency collaboration, resource mobilization and investment activation. Description of Functions Support UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in advancing integrated programmes, ensuring synergies and programmatic and operational coherence. Steer the overall strategic planning, coordination and partnership-building processes for integrated national, cross-border and cross-regional UN interventions, supporting the implementation, financing and delivery of Flagship Programmes in the Sahel, and the design and development of investment-ready flagship initiatives in the Horn of Africa/IGAD region. Ensure coordination and information sharing among RCOs and UNCTs. Support RCs/HCs with strategic advice on sustainable development and development in emergencies, including integrated programming, financing strategies, partner engagement and resource mobilization. Provide expert advice and leadership on food systems, transforming education, energy transitions, stabilization, humanitarian-development-peace collaboration and other integrated development priorities in support of government-led initiatives and joint UN programming. Support engagement with UN entities, governments, development partners, financial institutions, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders. Undertake analysis and research on the impact of development emergencies on the design and implementation of UN programmes, including opportunities for inter-agency assistance and joint actions.

Autres informations

Ensure timely analysis and synthesis of developments to inform UN leadership and relevant regional and country-level processes. Work closely with UNCTs, RCOs, relevant UN entities, regional organizations and development partners to identify opportunities for integrated programming, financing and strategic partnerships, and promote coherence across national, cross-border and regional initiatives. Support evidence-based decision-making by identifying opportunities, risks, financing entry points and strategic partnerships to advance flagship programmes and strengthen coherence across national, cross-border and regional initiatives. Enable joined-up integrated analysis across humanitarian, development and peace dimensions and propose approaches to strengthen coherence and collective impact. Present recommendations on how the UN can strengthen integrated approaches and scale up joint planning and programming efforts. Competencies

Professionalism: Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development and strategic planning. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operations. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Proven ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving sustainable development; Solid understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals; Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and proficiency in 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 difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Planning & organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of 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. Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be « clients » and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Judgment/decision-making: Identifies key issues in complex situations, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. Education

Expérience

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, economics, law, or related area. 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 ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy and programme development and management in the context of development cooperation, crisis management or related area is required. Experience with multi-stakeholder coordination in the context of development cooperation in crisis settings is required. Experience managing multidisciplinary teams in the context of sustainable development is required. Experience providing surge/emergency support in a development cooperation context is required. Previous experience working with or advising senior UN officials is desirable. Experience in peacebuilding programming and financing is desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and French are required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https: Required Languages English: Reading – UN Level II, Writing – UN Level II, Listening – UN Level II, Speaking – UN Level II French: Reading – UN Level II, Writing – UN Level II, Listening – UN Level II, Speaking – UN Level II Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice

This position is temporarily available for a period of six months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged

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